April 2, 2020

350.org to Trump: Meet with People Impacted by the Pandemic, Not Polluters Wreaking Havoc on Our Climate

(Washington D.C.) On Friday, Trump will meet with U.S. oil executives to discuss financial assistance for the industry and tariffs on oil imports from Saudi Arabia. The meeting, which will take place at the White House, will include executives from Chevron, Exxon, and Occidental Petroleum.

In response to Trump’s meeting with Big Oil executives, 350.org North America Director Tamara Toles O’Laughlin made the following statement: 

“The President of the United States should be meeting with the 10 million Americans who have filed for unemployment due to the pandemic. He should be reaching out to the nurses and doctors who are non stop caring for sick patients, without enough protective gear or equipment. It’s disrespectful that instead he’s chosen to roll out the red carpet for Big Oil executives. It’s shameless! 

With no leadership in the White House, we are looking to Congress to hold the line and ensure no more bailouts or regulatory rollbacks for Big Oil. We need investments in people and the planet, healthcare for all, protection for workers impacted by the pandemic, and direct relief to communities, regardless of immigration status. Now is the time for Congress to put their foot down on Trump’s fossil fueled agenda. It’s up to our representatives to take the crises seriously and invest in a long-term, climate-resilient recovery plan that charts a bold path forward to a regenerative economy and a livable future for all. 

“In the last week, we saw the Trump Administration brazenly rollback enforcement on environmental regulations and push for gross kickbacks to the oil industry, all the while COVID19 wrecks the country. We will not stand for the consistent disregard that endangers millions of lives for the profit of a filthy few. Now is the time to change politics-as-usual and we are rising up as a movement to demand our dignity and rights.” 

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Press Contact: Thanu Yakupitiyage, [email protected]; [email protected]

 

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