| Twenty-five coastal residents – fishermen, artists, nurses, teachers, environmentalists, business persons, scientists, community workers, film makers, researchers, … – brainstormed for two hours at the Coastal Response Center in Coden, Alabama on September 30, 2010. Discussions revolved around the safety of seafood, exposure to toxic dispersants, incidence of area cancer, gulf and marsh ecology, coastal recovery from hurricanes and the gulf oil catastrophe, economic needs, public awareness, political leadership, education at all levels, and truth-trust-and-transparency issues relative to big oil and the government.
The group shared disturbing news about people suffering from exposure to dispersants and oil, the unusual numbers of deep water crabs around shores of Dauphin Island, sightings and collection of oil on Alabama shores during the past two weeks, recent use of dispersants, and numerous coastal people’s needs going unmet (similar to what happened after Hurricane Katrina five years ago). In the political arena, the group will seek to work with elected officials and those running for office to achieve a clear end to the use of dispersants and gain better representation on governor’s task force for commercial fishermen, seafood businesses, the ship building industry, and the Asian community. Additionally efforts toward the independent testing for seafood will be pursued. The group will also work to inform the public in brief easy-to-understand materials about the dangers of dispersant use and the ongoing effects of the gulf oil catastrophe. Participants discussed the importance of supporting businesses in coastal communities, helping the needy, and providing high quality educational experiences and service opportunities for the youth. Participants also encouraged one another to serve the community practically and positively in whatever opportunities can be found. If you would like to help in any of these endeavors, please contact me at denton2100@gmail.com or 251-861-4012 or plug in with local groups and local environmental groups. Our next Future of the Gulf – Community Brainstorm will be held on October 28 at 6:30 P.M. at Coden’s Coastal Response Center which belongs to the South Bay Communities Alliance. |
 Discussions happened in both the full group and small groups, photographed by Dawn McKinney, September 30, 2010  Each person was given the full attention of the group, photographed by Sheila Hagler, September 30, 2010.  Ervin and Betty Royal of Coden and South Bay Community Alliance, photographed by Sheila Hagler, September 30, 2010.  Rachel Guillory of Oceana and my wife, Rosie Denton, photographed by Sheila Hagler, September 30, 2010. |
Future of the Gulf Community Brainstorming
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