Thursday, June 29, 2006
The group urged Democratic and GOP legislators to stop taking oil money.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- MoveOn wants you to send your congressman this message: Stop taking money from big oil companies. Stop subsidizing those companies and giving them tax breaks. Fund research for vehicles that are more fuel-efficient, and support research to develop clean and renewable fuels.
As gas prices hover not far below $3 a gallon and people gear up for Fourth of July travel, the political activists of MoveOn staged 300 rallies across the country Wednesday, including one in the Mahoning Valley.
About 15 to 20 people gathered in Austintown in front of the BP gas station on Mahoning Avenue and state Route 46.
Horns honked as signs waved: "Grand Oil Party. Campaign for an Oil-Free Party."
The group is protesting the record of the Republican Party -- also known as the GOP -- in dealing with Big Oil. But Kim Kengor, host for the Austintown rally, said the protest is not strictly partisan.
"We're asking both parties: Stop taking oil money," she said. "I'm happy with any legislators that would help us."
Stressing conservation
Tom and Jennifer Diggins of Youngstown came out to support the group.
They said they believe people aren't doing enough to conserve fuel.
"We see single drivers, gas-guzzling vehicles," said Tom. "He who dies with the biggest SUV wins."
Diggins, a YSU professor who teaches biology and ecology, said sensible land-planning would also help to conserve fuel.
"It [development] goes farther out, and we drive farther," he said.
He said he'd like to see incentives for developing renewable energy sources and higher-mileage vehicles.
Sue Hammond, a MoveOn member who lives in Austintown, said she believes alternative fuels that have been around "for years" are being blocked from reaching consumers.
"I'm a grandmother, and I want to see a different world for my grandchildren," she said.
Not everyone at the rally was protesting issues over oil.
Against the war
Ron Dull of Liberty Township was there with Roslyn Sims of Youngstown. Members of the Valley Coalition for Peace and Justice, they protested the war in Iraq and rallied to bring home U.S. troops.
"You can't find a more senseless war [than Iraq]," said Dull. "It has nothing to do with reality."
Dull said members of the coalition protest the war somewhere throughout the Valley every week. They were invited to join the MoveOn rally by a friend, and Friday, they'll be in downtown Girard.
Kengor said she was pleased with the rally's turnout and with the support the group seemed to be getting.
There are about 3,000 MoveOn members in the Mahoning Valley, she said. The organization says it has 3 million members nationwide.