Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Louisiana Weekly

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The Department of Justice has reached a $1.4 billion settlement with Transocean for its role in BP’s 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, which polluted the Gulf of Mexico with upwards of 4.9 million barrels of oil in 2010.

“What’s important to understand,” says the Environmental Defense Fund’s Elizabeth Skree, “is that this settlement represents the first significant funding specifically alloted for Gulf Coast restoration.”

The $1.4 billion will be paid under the Clean Water Act, with a portion of those funds being used to restore the Gulf, as directed by the RESTORE Act, passed on July 6, 2012, by President Barack Obama. Thursday’s Transocean settlement will direct 80 percent of Trans­ocean’s civil and criminal penalties to the Gulf Coast.

“By sending the vast majority of the $1.4 billion in fines to the areas damaged by the oil, we will rebuild and protect one of the most important ecosystems in the country,” said U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond in a statement issued to the press. “This settlement is extremely important because 80 percent of the Clean Water Act fines will be sent directly to the states hardest hit by the oil spill pursuant to the RESTORE Act.”

“This is a great day for the Gulf environment and the communities that rely on a healthy ecosystem for their livelihoods,” read a joint statement issued by Greater New Orleans Inc., National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Oxfam America and Ocean Conservancy. “We thank the Department of Justice for [its] leadership in holding Transocean accountable,” the coalition added, “and [we] look forward to full resolution of the case with other responsible parties, which will allow restoration efforts in the Gulf to get fully underway.”

In November, BP agreed to pay $4.5 billion after pleading guilty to 14 criminal charges. “Yesterday’s settlement resolved both civil and criminal litigation with Trans­ocean,” said National Audubon Society’s Media Relations Director David Ringer. “Once BP settles for civil fines—which will also be distributed through the Clean Water Act—the whole thing will represent the largest single investment in environmental restoration in our nation’s history.”

The RESTORE Act

The RESTORE Act designates 80 percent of all penalties resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to a Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, to be spent in the Gulf Coast where the damage occurred.

“With this settlement,” said Senator Mary Landrieu in her own statement yesterday, “the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council finally has some funding to begin implementing a comprehensive plan for ecosystem restoration that will rebuild the environment of the Gulf and the communities that rely upon it.”

Money for the Gulf Coast States

According to Landrieu’s statement, 35 percent of the Clean Water Act civil penalties in the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund will be allocated directly and equally to the five Gulf Coast states for ecological and economic recovery along the coast.

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, established in the RESTORE Act (and comprised of both federal agency and state representatives) will develop and fund a comprehensive plan for the ecological recovery of the Gulf Coast. Thirty percent of the funds in the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund will be allocated to the Federal-State Council to implement the comprehensive plan.

Another 30 percent of the funds in the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund will be allocated to the states based on actual impact, to implement state plans, which must be approved by the Federal-State Council.

In Louisiana, 30 percent of the state’s portion of that money will be allocated directly to its 20 coastal zone parishes. The funding allocated to said parishes will be based on a formula that considers shoreline miles oiled, population and land mass.

Landrieu’s statement also warns that, “Eligible parishes will have a comprehensive land use plan in place prior to receiving funds.”

Funding New Programs

The Louisiana legislature unanimously approved the 2012 Coastal Master Plan on May 22, 2012. The Transocean settlement will go a long way toward funding that Master Plan. “The RESTORE Act will provide the significant downpayment needed to jumpstart the restoration and protection projects included in the plan.”

Two and a half percent of the funds in the Gulf Coast Rest­oration Trust Fund will be allocated for the establishment of a Gulf Coast fisheries monitoring program. Another 2.5 percent will reportedly be allocated to the five Gulf Coast states for the establishment of a Gulf Coast Center of Excellence in each state.

According to Landrieu’s statement, the Clean Water Act also allows the collection of $1,100 per barrel of oil spilled, or $4,300 per barrel if there is a finding of gross negligence, from any party found responsible for an oil spill in federal waters. Based on the estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico, BP could face fines between $5.4 billion and $21.1 billion.

“By putting in place new safety measures,” Richmond says, “I’m pleased that this agreement will make deepwater energy exploration safer and prevent a disaster of this magnitude from ever happening again.”

For a more detailed breakdown of where the money is going, visit the Dept of Justice’s statement: www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/January/13-ag-004.html.

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - President Barack Obama won the state of Virginia’s 13 electoral votes in the November 2012 election. Not everybody is satisfied with the outcome.

Fliers reportedly distributed by the Ku Klux Klan of Virginia in the wake of the election boldly read, “Stop Racism!” and “There are thousands of groups working for the interests of blacks and other non-whites, but how many groups stand up for the cultural values of whites? Not many!”

The flier, reportedly circulated in Mechanicsville, goes on to say, “We are determined to maintain and enrich our cultural and racial heritage! We are growing fast and strong because we have NEVER nor will we ever compromise the truth!”

Aston Haughton, president of the Stafford, Va branch of the NAACP says its branch is unaware of Ku Klux Klan activity in his county, but will stay vigilant for anything that may arise.

“If that has come to light and we are aware of it, then we will take aggressive action to bring it to light and to make the law enforcement community be aware of such activity.”

The Klan portrays themselves as a “kinder, gentler” group in the media. Members have attempted to become involved in “Adopt-A-Highway” and other volunteer opportunities. But many Americans are unable to look past the Klan’s dark history.

James Moore of the “Loyal White Knights” of Virginia believes that his organization is grossly misrepresented in the media. In an emailed statement he said, “People tell us to drop the name KKK and pick up another. But the fact of the matter is that it don't (sic) matter what we call [ourselves], the liberal media will still brand us [racist.] Anti-racist is the code word for anti-white!!!”

Moore believes that the Klan is not a hate group, a claim Haughton dismisses.

“The Klan is a hate group,” Haughton says with a bitter laugh. “It’s not a religious group, they’re not out there [passing out] Bibles. The Klan is a hate group.”

Haughton believes the fliers were circulated in an attempt to intimidate people. “It just signifies that they are making every effort to intimidate voters and intimidate the community; to start a resurgence.”

Indeed, Mechanicsville area residents reported a surge in Klan literature as the Klan uses the President’s re-election to promote their agenda.

The Klan may not claim to be a hate-group, but according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are at least seven known Ku Klux Klan factions in Virginia, and dozens more with ties to the organization. The letters ‘KKK’ were spray-painted on three vehicles in Chesterfield last year.

Richmond resident Destiny Wilson says that the fliers put her on edge. “In any city where there are people of a different race, you’re bound to come across people who don’t agree with your race,” she says.

“But at the same time, they have rights just like I have rights,” she continues.

The First Amendment protects the Klan and permits the distribution of fliers. But the thought of the Klan leaves a sour note in the minds of people who have experienced prejudice first hand. The NAACP says it is doing everything possible to combat racism.

Haughton says firmly, “We continue to fight racism on a daily basis…we are a Civil Rights organization [and] our mission is to stomp out racial discrimination…it’s a constant battle. We never go to sleep on that subject.” 

January 13, 2013

Congressional Black Caucus Offers Diversity Boosting Obama Cabinet Suggestions
By Zenitha Prince

U. S. Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.)

U. S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.)

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Afro American Newspaper.

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Amid criticisms that President Obama’s new administration seems to be dominated by White men, the new chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus has offered some diversity-boosting suggestions.