Blog

Jerome Ringo is an oil-rigger turned activist. From Louisiana, Ringo’s career has taken him from the world of big oil to community organizing to being the first African American in history to chair a major conservation organization. Earlier this week he was in Toronto, at a lunch hosted by the Laidlaw Foundation, to talk about the Gulf oil spill. “It’s way worse than you see it on TV,” he said. “You can’t smell the oil on TV. You can’t taste the oil on TV.”

His message was sobering, depressing at times even. But his real message is one of hope. He argues that we have an opportunity unlike any other to push for energy, transportation, and climate legislation at an accelerated rate. Ringo’s answer is to reactivate activism. Big complex problems can require big complex solutions but not necessarily, not always. He spoke about his journey through the writings of Martin Luther King Jr. discovering his roots in community organizing. “The civil rights movement was won one community at a time.”

Talking to a bunch of Torontonians, he was quick to emphasize that this isn’t just an American issue. “Canada has its own Gulf of Mexico. You have the oil sands. Just most Canadians aren’t aware of its impact because you haven’t seen a catastrophic event yet.” Catastrophic event or no, Canadians are becoming aware of its impact, particularly at the local level where change starts. Groups like those profiled on Small Change Fund are working for grassroots change one community at a time. Legislative change and audacious solutions are as important here in Canada as they are in the United States but we mustn’t forget the power of small change and grassroots action to challenge the world of big oil.

To see the full article on Now Public click here.