The Presidential Commission on the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico wrapped up two days of testimony from politicians, oil industry executives, fishing industry executives, environmentalists and an audience that broke out into shouting more than once in the Hilton, New Orleans. When given the chance to speak out, audience members covered issues including the use of Corexit dispersant, disposal of oil waste, the drilling moratorium and coastal restoration. One audience member in particular has become an internet sensation since the hearing.
Drew Landry spoke to the panel about lost jobs among oil workers and fishermen, then pulled out his guitar and sang "The BP Blues." A live version is posted on his web site, The Dirty Cajuns. The panel version is posted on YouTube as, "Hero woos commission with soulful crooning." NOLA.com wrote, "The show-stopper came from Drew Landry, a musician and crawfisher from Lafayette." Karoli of Crooks and Liars said, " During the public comment portion, local residents came forward to tell their own stories of loss and fear and frustration over the oil spill and the moratorium. When words failed, music prevailed."
And the slightly snarkier site Gawker wrote a post titled, "Crawfisher Busts Out Folk Song During Oil Spill Commission Hearing" concluding, "The commission's plutocrats were reportedly amused."
Landry introduced himself to the panel saying, "There's millions of volunteers who want to do something that are willing to work for almost nothing and instead we're hiring all these contractors and wasting our 20 billion dollars. And we only have a certain amount of money to spend on this deal. And I feel like if we waste all those assets we have now years from now we're not going to have anything."
After performing "BP Blues" he told the commission, "We're not ready for hurricane season. There's a gulf full of oil and we're sitting here worried about this right now when we need to be give people hazmat training so they can defend their homeland. This could be the next expulsion of the Cajun people, I mean people who love this place. I know the EPA said not to use Corexit and they did it anyway. It feels like BP's in charge and the Coast Guard does what they say. The press can't be around. And more importantly people don't have a voice. Landry concluded by asking that the committee "do the right damn thing."
Lyrics, full post and VIDEO at NewOrleans.com: HERE.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMvPDK8oJBk
I wonder which one was written first. Anyway, may both songs serve to keep us all focussed on the problem until it is solved, and the coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico are restored.