A friend of mine lives and works in southern Mississippi. She wrote me this morning to say she’s taking the day off from work today. She is driving to Dauphin Island, AL, just south of Mobile where she grew up, to walk the beaches one last time before they are destroyed by the hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil that are sure to destroy the beach she’s grown up making sandcastles on and searching for sea life. 210,000 gallons of oil per day, to be more accurate; and that is after The Coast Guard raised the estimate on Wednesday. It’s sure to continue to rise. The spill, which was caused by an April 20 explosion of BP’s drill rig Deepwater Horizon off the coast of Louisiana, is threatening to surpass the devastation of the Exxon Valdez disaster back in 1989.
Exxon Valdez made something right.
Luckily, the 1990 Oil Pollution Act, which was a reaction to the Valdez spill, requires BP to foot the bill for the cleanup… luckily our tax dollars are not paying for that. But when is enough, enough? When are we going to stop tearing apart the earth that we claim to love so much? WHEN will we take the necessary steps to ensure that 200 years from now our great grandkids will actually have a place to live; that they will be able to go to places like Dauphin Island on their family vacations? When will each and every individual take responsibility for his actions and recognize that those actions do, in fact, have consequences?
Be a person of action.
You know, I’ve written about personal responsibility, I have written about generational differences and how younger generations possess a disconnect between their actions and the consequences associated with those actions. I have even written about this persistent need for immediate results, and we have discussed the affects of this economic recession on individual’s attitudes and consumer’s spending and saving habits. We’ve done enough talking and writing. I am sure I am guilty of this, but it seems the ones talking are the same ones NOT acting.
On Thursday, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency and warned that the oil spill has already covered as much as 600 square miles of water. He is asking the Defense Department for funding for the deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops to the state.
You may not live in an affected area. But some do.
The possible loss of 11 oil rig workers is merely the beginning of the havoc that will inevitably ensue on our animal and plant life. The Coast Guard is arming the coastlines with cannons, planning to shoot them off to scare the birds that try and make their way back to their nests. It’s the middle of reproduction season for most coastal birds, and many are already caring for their eggs. If they do not return to their nests, the eggs will unlikely hatch. If the birds do hatch, they will be too young and fragile to endure the hardships brought by the oil.
The brown pelican, the state bird of Louisiana, was just taken off the endangered species list less than six months ago. Their low reproductive rate means any threat to their habitat could have serious effects on the bird’s survival. And this is all before the oil hits.
My friend closes her letter, “… truly one of the saddest days of my life…and I feel powerless to do anything that will protect the area I have loved for so long.” How long are we going to be powerless in THE nation in the world built solely FOR the people, BY the people?
If the shear devastation of our ecosystems doesn’t shake you up, please check out the possible repercussions on drilling plans and the affects on oil prices, or even the affects of offshore drilling on Americans.
To help, please visit these sites – I’m doing research on exactly how donated money will be used so that you can direct your donations toward the most effective cause. If you have found a good place to donate your money or time to, please add it in the comments section below.
