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For almost 10
years, a huge oil refinery lay dormant on St. Croix in the
U.S. Virgin Islands — as it should have. After committing
dangerous environmental breaches, Limetree Bay Refining was
beset by lawsuit after lawsuit, finally forcing it to shut
down. That is, until Donald Trump chose to reopen it during
his last weeks in office, with his full plan going into effect
on February 4, 2021. Then, three days later, the sky
rained oil. A vapor cloud released by the refinery
wafted up into the air and glided to the nearby community of
Clifton Hill, filled with homes and gardens and children's
toys. Then, the vapor — a mix of petroleum and water —
burst, covering cars, toys, pets' water bowls, and more with
oil.
This occurred more than
two months ago, and it's continued to have terrifying
impacts. Residents say the oil is still stuck to food sources,
like avocado and fruit trees, and can't be washed out.
Additionally, the island of St. Croix is surrounded by rich,
abundant marine life, including turtles, sharks, whales, and
coral reefs. If the oil continues to seep into the soil and
water supplies around St. Croix, it could poison humans and
animals for a long time to come.
On top of that, this is a
massive human rights issue. St. Croix is an island with a
highly disenfranchised population. The vast majority of
residents are Black, the descendents of enslaved Africans
brought to work on sugar and cotton plantations. For
generations, the U.S. government has cared little about the
well-being of people there. Luckily, the Biden administration
has already begun an investigation and revoked several
permits. But the plant is still open, and its pollution
remains. Tell the Biden administration to shut down this
toxic oil refinery once and for all, and force its operators
to clean up their foul pollution!
Thank you,
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Miranda
The Care2 Petitions Team
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P.S. With a
legacy of serious ecological violations, Limetree Bay Refining
cannot be trusted to keep the people or animals around it
safe. President Joe Biden must shut down this
untrustworthy plant immediately. |
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