Stepping up on my soapbox
As I listen to the Senate hearings and the news every day concerning British Petroleum I am deeply affected.
The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off the Gulf coast one month ago killing 11 people injuring many more. Why? One conclusion was a failed shut off valve known to be down before the explosion and there will be many more discoveries before it’s all over.
The original claim from BP was that only 5000 gallons a day were being released under the Gulf. My jaw dropped at this statement from CBS news report “… the video footage of the blown-out well has thrown intense scrutiny on those estimates. Steve Wereley, a mechanical engineer at Purdue University in Indiana, told The Associated Press that he is sticking with his estimate that 3.9 million gallons a day is spewing from two leaks….” BP states that the estimate is possibly overestimated and believes only 2.9 million is flowing from the pipeline. Oh, I feel so much better now! What a joke and have you seen the underwater videos that BP has reluctantly released?
With all the technology, science, and manpower why can’t we stop it? Why do we go blindly in search of resources knowing that disasters are possible but no tried and true contingencies in place to solve them if they do? Greed, power and the simple fact that nothing else matters to them. The livelihood of the fisherman whose sole income as well as the wildlife could be affected in worst case scenario for the next 5-10 years before recovery. The Gulf waters and floor that harbors corals, oyster beds, and feeding grounds poisoned. The beautiful and fragile marshes that are nesting and breeding grounds for so many marine and bird species are now at high risk. Today the pictures provided on the news of thick, orange-black, toxic oil beginning to seep into grassy marsh areas. The coastal marshes act as a filtration system as well for the Gulf. The grasses already starting to die from the latex-like coated toxins in Louisiana as it slowly drifts east along the coast. Now they believe the oil is entering the loop current drawing it down and around Florida’s coast and up the Atlantic coast who knows how far and what lies in its wake. I feel utterly helpless deeply despaired knowing the loss of marine life that is to come. Hurricane season opens in 2 weeks what then? Today it was reported that the oil has now entered the mouth of the Mississippi River.
I am angry that some of us choose not to stand up and speak out against such important issues. Instead we watch shaking our heads thinking what a shame yet we contribute nothing to the solution. Speak out! “We the People..” I’m speaking out as I stand on my little soapbox tapping out these words. We can make a difference in this world by standing strong together. Speaking of advocating alternative power resources such as wind and solar attempting to eliminate to some degree our dependency on oil. We can take small steps individually in our homes to conserve energy and can be as simple as replacing your light bulbs with “green” bulbs saving energy as well hundreds of dollars in the long run. Take a stand to save the eco-system that balances our very existence.
I have lived along this magnificent coastline all my life swimming, fishing, and playing in the sun on the beaches. My neighbors and I have endured many devastating hurricanes in the past as recent as Ike and Rita. We rebuild and start again drawing on our strength and power to help each other in the face of disaster. We survive. I am not a scientist or engineer, just someone that loves my little part of the world. I care deeply about the planet and the life it holds.
