MoveOn's "Oil Free Congress" Initiative: Gas Station Rallies on June 28

We need to tell Congress it's time to go Oil Free. Will you host an early evening gas station rally on Wednesday, June 28th?

Dear Operation Democracy volunteer,

Gas prices are off the charts, the situation in the Middle East is unstable, scientists are warning that global warming is at a tipping point, and last month, MoveOn members decided that "clean, sustainable energy" should be one of our key goals. That's why we're launching a major push for an "Oil-Free Congress."

This is going to be a big campaign for us. Together, we'll spend the next month exposing the ties between oil companies and politicians in Washington and pushing Congress to go "oil-free." A critical part of our strategy is spreading our message to folks when they're feeling the effects of oil-dependence the most—at gas stations.

On Wednesday, June 28th—right before the 4th of July when gas prices will be front and center as folks plan for the long weekend—we're going to be holding rallies at gas stations across America. And we'll expose how your representative is tied to Big Oil. Can you join us by hosting a rally for an "Oil-Free" Congress at a gas station in your community?

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1871&id=8044-3325316-_0FODCGnSaYM6BZWCrQbxg&t=3

Hosting a rally is really easy. All you have to do is a pick a gas station and we'll give you everything you need. We'll invite other MoveOn members in your area and help you make your event a success by turning out the press so the media understands how important it is that Congress go "Oil-free."

With all the problems we're facing because of our oil addiction, it's fair to wonder, why aren't our representatives doing something about it? The answer is that politicians get a lot of money from oil companies not to.

Since 1990, Big Oil has given more than $190 million to members of Congress and 75% ($142,635,314!) of those donations have gone to Republicans.1 That money has guaranteed energy policy that serves the oil industry rather than the public interest.

We can't afford the costs of Congress's addiction to oil money—it keeps gas prices high, keeps us dependent on the Middle East and prevents progress on energy independence. Until we stop politicians from taking that money, it'll be hard to stop global warming and move into a clean-energy future.

Can you host a rally for an "Oil-free" Congress?

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1871&id=8044-3325316-_0FODCGnSaYM6BZWCrQbxg&t=4

Clean energy experts and advocates agree, the obstacles to energy independence are mostly political. And as Al Gore says in An Inconvenient Truth, "political will is a renewable resource."

These events are designed to help push the will of Congress to make real progress on energy independence.

Thanks for all you do,

–Adam Ruben and Nita Chaudhary
Thursday, June 15th, 2006

P.S. I just wanted to take a second to introduce myself. My name's Nita Chaudhary and I'll be leading our initiative for an "Oil-Free Congress." Over the next month we're going to be organizing on the ground, hitting the airwaves and spreading our message across the country to tell Congress that we're ready to kick our addiction to oil if they're ready to kick their addiction to oil money. I'm exited about this effort and really hope you'll join us.

Sources:

1.) Center for Responsive Politics, Oil & Gas:Long-Term Contribution Trends http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1872&id=8044-3325316-_0FODCGnSaYM6BZWCrQbxg&t=5

Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.3 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:

http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=8044-3325316-_0FODCGnSaYM6BZWCrQbxg&t=6


PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://political.moveon.org/?id=8044-3325316-_0FODCGnSaYM6BZWCrQbxg&t=7
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------