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Last week, DeSmogBlog contributor Brendan Demelle broke a story about a campaign being run in the Gulf of Mexico called “Be the One” that listed its “sponsor” as America’s Wetland Foundation - an organization backed by major oil companies like BP, Shell and ExxonMobil.

Subsequent to Demelle’s article, Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock withdrew her public support for the “Be the One” campaign and has recieved a lot of positive coverage and praise for her decision.

The organizers of the Be the One campaign - a group called Women of the Storm - has now reassigned America’s Wetland Foundation from its status as the sole sponsor of Be the One campaign to that of a partner.

Lucky we took this screenshot last week [click to enlarge]:

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UPDATE: Sandra Bullock has issued a statement through her publicist saying that,

“Ms. Bullock was originally contacted through her attorney to be a part of the PSA in order to promote awareness of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. At no time was she made aware that any organization, oil company or otherwise had influence over Women of the Storm or its message. We have immediately asked for her participation in the PSA be removed until the facts can be determined. Her commitment to the Gulf region has been apparent for many years and she will continue to pursue opportunities that will bring awareness and support to the plight of the Gulf region.”

A group of oil companies including BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Citgo, Chevron and other polluters are using a front group called “America’s WETLAND Foundation” and a Louisiana women’s group called Women of the Storm to spread the message that U.S. taxpayers should pay for the damage caused by BP to Gulf Coast wetlands, and that the reckless offshore oil industry should continue drilling for the “wholesale sustainability” of the region.

Using the age-old PR trick of featuring celebrity messengers to attract public attention, America’s Wetland Foundation is spreading a petition accompanied by a video starring Sandra Bullock, Dave Matthews, Lenny Kravitz, Emeril Lagassi, John Goodman, Harry Shearer, Peyton and Eli Manning, Drew Brees and others.

The video urges petition signers to “Be The One” to demand the government devise and fully fund a plan to restore the Gulf. There is no mention that BP, Halliburton, Transocean, Cameron, or any other oil industry player “be the one” to pay for the damage done to the Gulf. Why call on the government to once again foot the bill for this dirty industry’s reckless behavior?