Video: The Gulf of Mexico Death Throes
I’ve avoided pictures and video of struggling wildlife, but after being on the coast all week and returning home, I am made aware just how little people outside the coast understand the complete and utter devastation that is taking place right in our own country. If they did I hope that every American would stand up and demand more from their representatives – demand that the federal government admit that the entire Gulf of Mexico is in its own death throes and demand they finally stop putting profit above our people, wildlife and environment. I know of no other way to say we are sitting idly by, as our world dies around us. And I mean “death” in the most literal sense possible.
Have we all become so complacent, so apathetic that we no longer regard nature, life… human life, with enough regard to fight for it? What more must it take to outrage this nation??
Have we all become so complacent, so apathetic that we no longer regard nature, life… human life, with enough regard to fight for it? What more must it take to outrage this nation??
| This entry was posted by Jennifer Roth on June 27, 2010 at 10:33 am, and is filed under BP Oil Spill. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
Please let us know if you hear of anything done to rescue live dolphins or whales. That footage made my heart bleed. Thank you for what you are doing to help get the truth out!
ReplyDeleteI AM outraged but what can we do!?
ReplyDeleteI live in North Alabama, my husbnd is in the gulf now works for wildlife response agency. Seems there is so much more they could do if they were able, I mean if they had control of their own work. How do we get BP out of the driver seat and put them on the back of the bus?
ReplyDeleteI live in Sarasota Florida where we are blessed to have clean, beautiful beaches. For now. On saturday mornings I teach an early morning boot camp at 7:30am on Lido Beach-we have seen many porpoise, dolphin, and even a few Manatees swim close to the shore where it's safe from the powerboat traffic for a short while. Birds thrive and turtles next here too-this broke my heart-animals of all kinds are also important to our survival. They should not have to suffer for our greed and stupidity-posted this on facebook, Twitter, and my email. I would like to help.
ReplyDeleteDrilling a relief well? Who's to say the same won't happen again, drilling at those depths. If there is a 'guarantee' that this can be done successfully, then go for it. A nuke is very risky, but has successfully been done before. Radical as it may seem it's starting to look like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteYou think we had learnt the lesson from a similar Gulf oil spill from 1979 at a depth of only 200 ft. I'm sorry for the wild-life and I'm sorry for the people who have lost their livelihood and lives, but how does that saying go,‘Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.’ Hopefully from now on there will be rigorous regulation and supervision to prevent this from happening again 30 years from now, just enough time for the Gulf to recover from this spill. I doubt it though. Prevention has been proven to be an unnecessary expenditure, unless it only concerns ones own offspring. BTW nice vid, hopefully it'll be remembered in 30 years as a cautionary tale.
You couldn't have said it any better - just ask your neighbors or people walking down the street about the gulf disaster and you'll find most either don't know or don't care. There's no excuse for ignorance, and apathy is a polite word for evil.
ReplyDeleteWe can't point fingers at the corporate destroyers when the everyday citizen is as destructive, self-centered and greedy as they are.
Thank you for posting this blog. I saw most of the John Wathan interview in Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and came immediately to my computer to check out the blog.
ReplyDeleteThe ecosystem is dying, while a legislative minority that is beholden to the oil companies keeps blocking legitimate measures.
We have to vote those who continue to fight de-regulation out of oofice.
Those obstructionists are doing nothing more than lining their own pockets as shills for the oil companies.
The endless filibustering has got to stop!
I suggest we begin planning a protest in Washington and try to get as many people as possible to NOT buy gasoline for at least one month. Even if it means not going to work and riding a bike for groceries and stocking up before the boycott. Do the protest first and then boycott. I also suggest everyone who can to take their car and trade it in or sell it and then purchase an electric car.
ReplyDeleteTo any of you who believe that a nuke or bomb has been done before, sucessfully, you are wrong. It has never been done successfully in WATER !! Under miles of water with only mud for surface below water. Same with the level to which they drilled this particular site. No one had ever drilled so deep IN WATER! That is why there are a ton of other things to consider, including setting off an earthquake which can cause a Tsunami!! On ground, there is no concern with the instability of water, waves which can erupt above the explosion. Not to mention the methane gas bubble that is known to be there, which is still being denied by Washington. The methane, benzene and other more deadly chemicals will be released along with the oil. All while idiots are counting on mud to fill in the drill hole while claiming there is enough rock below the surface. What isn't mud is the OIL !! WHICH runs through caverns that never end. So sure LETS JUST BLOW IT UP!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI live on the coast. What can we do?
I want to do something, but don't know what or how. Who is supposed to rescue the animals? I will do anything necessary--- I don't have a boat, but will ride in one to help.
I agree with the previous poster. Think about this.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone even consider detonating a nuclear device there in the first place?
Nuke an asteroid millions of miles out in space? Sure. Why not? No one around.
Set one off on the sea bottom, near highly populated regions? Are you crazy?
All the waters would become irradiated, and hazardous for decades to come.
Not to mention all the blast-effect water, tarballs, and whatnot (dead fish, etc.) that would get blown miles in all directions (including ashore!).
That's all we need: irradiated coastline, along with the waters.
The Gulf of Mexico would likely have to be placed off-limits until radiation levels dropped enough.
We need to get this leak secured, yes. Then, we need to ban -- not just enact a moratorium while we pretend we're really finding a way to do it safely -- deep water drilling.
If we can't get to it personally to cut it off when the worst-case scenario happens, we have no business doing it in the first place.
The amount of nuclear radiation would be very minimal and they would never tell us if they were going to actually use a very small level nuclear reactor, they will simply use the word bomb. They are already doing everything in their power to keep people from understanding the extreme threat that is present right now without doing anything more. Ultimately yes the word nuclear has been used but they will not tell us if that is the type of device they use. More importantly it doesn't matter if it is nuclear or NOT. That was my point in the original post regarding structural integrity of the bottom of the ocean and what lays below it. What has devastated me from the beginning is that our government or any govt. would allow any drilling on US ground or at sea without knowing exactly how to close off, immediately, a blow out like this one. And don't think BP and someone is Washington didn't understand the risks. The amount of pressure is being caused in large part to the amount of OIL they tapped in to. Knowing full well that the depth and the pressure in this area were highly tenative, ie. dangerous. And they all knew that with the amount of oil and tested areas before drilling, there is a massive build up of miles of methane and other more deadly toxins that are what YOU REALLY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT. That and a Tsunami which can hit Florida and other coast lines within minutes if erupted. If you don't know about these matters, you need to search on line for these specific topics. A good article was in the HuffingtonPost a week or so ago. There are several that discuss the shear SCIENCE of this matter without the drama. That should be enough. If only we were living in a reality based society! People are more interested in man made apocolyptic theories of the second coming or dillude themselves in to thinking it will all take care of itself, like Rush. Another thing I cannot believe is the Republican parties real estate interest's. You would think they would at the very least understand that anything on the Coast of Florida, Texas and eventually even the upper East Coast is going to be devastated. Even more proof of how completely dillusional everyone is, with the exception of around 5% of the US population. I am truly humilated to be American at this point. I can just hear the Europeans now! You all may as well look forward to a sea of black chemically toxic oceans and acid rain because it's coming sooner than you think. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN WORKED OUT HOW TO CLOSE IT YET !!! If someone is working on population control, Tsunami here we come. Bye Bye kiddies. -W
ReplyDeleteI wanted to comment on an earlier post that made the comment "I could have done without the soupy ..whatever" else he said. Are you kidding? I'm sorry did you see the whale floating with his back flaming in sinders. This photographer, filmographer, is out there EVERYDAY ! Just so we can see what is happening for 2 minutes of Tele. Give me a break! I give up on people completely. I can't imagine how that guy can stand it. I would have killed myself a month ago if I was in his place. I, like many people really see no hope anymore. Ridiculous
ReplyDeleteThank-you for clearing up some of what I had written (this is to the Anonymous poster who immediately followed my previous post).
ReplyDeleteNuclear -- and all that came with it in my post -- is what I had heard in the mostly-excellent coverage on Rachel Maddow's program. Your points about the tsunami risk and the potential instability of the sea bottom are well made.
We agree on the point of halting deep-water drilling until we have proof (not "assurances") that it can be conducted safely.
Which is never, based on the current response.
You would think the Republicans' self-interest in all this would be huge; these are largely Republican states that are suffering. This is their base.
To them, however, it's just another opportunity to grandstand.
They are more interested in helping their BP brethren, then blaming the whole mess on the current administration, in the name of looking good for the upcoming elections.
When the Gulf finally does heal, it'll be well after the current crop of candidates/posers is long gone.
We also need to halt (not pause) progress right now on the Arctic project that is being planned.
This is like Jaws, only with oil. Haley Barbour looked like an idiot. Cast him as the mayor of Amity in the remake!
Meanwhile, we can at least send a small message by using public transportation, trains, walking, biking, and just cutting out some of the overly-frivolous waste of gas and oil that are so much a part of our lives.
We don't have to jam-pack every moment of our lives with a zillion different things to be done.
Pick a few, and enjoy the journey. The leisurely pace will double your appreciation.
Now is the time to find new ways to re-apportion our energy usage.
Every little bit helps...and sends an important message.
Jeff, good point about posing for election. Republicans would let everyone and everything burn before risking an election. I am sure someone is going to have something altruistic in their naivetae to say to what I am about to right, but I suggest someone find Rush Limbaugh, yell out to him "Don't worry Rush, It will take care of itself", and them throw crude oil on him and a very large torch! With that point made I am going to say I turned on Colbert and Stewart and thought to myself, Why the hell aren't every single Liberal Democrat, particularly if they do not have to be home, why isn't there a flood of those SOBs sitting on the beach in Louisianna. I know if I didn't HAVE to stay home and keep my job or if I could take off I would. those people have enough money to go there and pay for an entourage to go with each one of them. I'm just sick. I have totally quit with people.
ReplyDeleteThere is no reason anyone needs to be using plastic when there are alternative vegetable products and hey guess what....we still have GLASS unbelievable. Anyway, IF THIS ISN'T HELL ON EARTH, THEN HELL DOES NOT EXIST. And look around at the ones' who are calm about it and you can equate them with Satan himself. I am a realist an atheist, but if these religious fanatics keep making us live through their self full-filling prophecies, I see no hope at all.
By the way Jeff, you should really take a look at the comparison between how European countries run their population and environmental concerns, like transportation compared to the U.S. They have trains because their govt. pays for trains and proper levee's and damns, and as you have to know by now, investment into alternative fuels.
I am not opposed to immigration either, however don't you think we might have some good realistic reasons to put a hold on the quantity when we cannot manage the cost of people we have already. That is only one and enough of a reason to put at least a minimum or temporary stop. If people, particularly the Republicans keep worrying about Gays, transexuals, abortions, keeping gasoline dependence, low to zero regulation and the second coming of Christ, they are going to find themselves burning(Literally) in their fat seats and they will take us with them. In stead of worrying about getting into heaven they are truly creating Hell on Earth. The Democrats need to get off the soap box and get off their rich asses. I know for a fact that the little guy, the average person has virtually NO power, not even close to back in the 50's and 60's. Too many people and too many laws keeping everyone in place. We are completely screwed. -W
One other little thing. I am living 5 blocks from the beach in South Florida. I have a small rental property and need to rent it out. I was going to bring people over from England through friends of mine over there. I HAVE NO CHANCE IN HELL of doing that now. And I owe more than I pay for that tiny piece of real estate. Will I be reimbursed? RIGHT.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you hear anyone saying they have DONE SOMETHING BEFORE regarding anything to do with this oil well, I strongly suggest you listen very closely and do your research. 99% of the time they are referring to well's on land NOT IN WATER. When we get hit with that Tsunami you'll see what a BIT difference it makes. (or the gasious cloud that can cover all of FL or all the dead fish and animal life on your shores) -W
I was stationed in Naples, IT, for three years, so I know a little bit about European travel.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that makes it all possible is the fact that those countries are so small! We have states larger than many European countries.
I took a bus trip from the northwest coast of Belgium (Brugge), to Paris. Three hours! You can travel through three or four languages in a day!
We have been raised on the nonsense that we can travel the U.S. the same way, except doing it by car. Just go! And go. And go.
Also, am I the only person who abhors TV commercials that glorify tearing up the terrain in SUVs and other recreational vehicles?
What does that say about our values?
I spent 20 years in the Navy, and was stationed in Naples, IT, for three years. I also made port visits to many other countries.
ReplyDeleteTravel in Europe is so easy, but a prime reason is because it is so compact! We have states larger than many European countries.
I took a bus trip fom the northwest coast of Belgium (Brugge) to Paris. Three hours! That left three hours for shopping/climbing the Eiffel Tower, and three hours for the ride back.
It would take you more time to get through most states.
In the U.S., we have been fed a load that we can do the same thing...except, by car. Just go...and go...and go.
Also, am I the only person who abhors the endless stream of commercials for SUVs and other vehicles that are shown tearing up the countryside?
What does that say about our values?
I did TRY to make the point regarding population. I would think it would be rather obvious. However, the good ole American pride would never allow our government to say somethng sensible like, "We just can't handle anymore people, Nothing personal". That would be unromantic and completely sensible! Yikes. Jeff, I just posted on this site linked below here. 'Oilbamas death site' I marked mine with a W as usual. Let me know if you get a read. -W
ReplyDeleteWho wants to bet they'll be some coastal water fires this weekend? The Republicans might light the whole thing up and wear gas masks, just to get rid of some of the evidence. They won't think one step past that to the gasious air. Anyway, I am seriously surprised that we haven't been hearing warnings about lighting fireworks off piers or the big shows that are always around the coast here. Seems pretty strange. Like we aren't supposed to be thinking about it maybe? You think? No more fourth of July celebrations for the South.....-W
ReplyDeleteWords can't describe the disappointment that I feel about how BP is permitted to continue its existence. They are permitted to continue operating and make billions of dollars as though this ordeal is no big deal at all, as though nothing is happening to our beautiful Gulf, the sea-life, our Earth, and atmosphere from all of the burning of the oil which is leading to toxic rain. Their stock is still being bought by millions around the world. Our U.S. President and Prime Minister of England make statements "BP must not go down" despite of BP's horrific and continual destruction, despite the loss of 11 lives at sea. This entire situation is a slap in the face to our great Planet Earth and the people who live here. I love this planet, the Sea-life, and all that is being effected by this great disaster. However, without getting religious, if the relief wells fail and everything mightily worsened beyond our imaginations, True Justice might be served from all of the lying and dishonesty that BP and our government are doing......
ReplyDeleteIf only every generation of every decade and each new century didn't perceive itself as highly evolved, sophisticated, gentile and all the others falsities that lay within the lining of the same form of human that comes one after the other. If only people, the majority that is, were taught to be aware of ideas larger than themselves with critical thinking skills. As a nation and a world perhaps it would be possible for the majority to understand that there is NO consequence for the going's on of the deals between nations. That the world is running with very little order and organization. With counter parties being encouraged within the US simply to win the next match. There is NO ADVOCATE for the common man and woman. Greed Rules with absolutely no recourse. If there were order and just' consequences all operations of BP would have been seized, all assets of every CEO would have been frozen and each person thrown into a Federal prison. As soon as they found out BP had no contingency plan. Every other oil company should have been fined for operating while endangering the public. There is no force to control Global enterprises on this level. If I can understand these basic premises, where are all of the rich SOB's that would like to see change and the intelligent minds to vote for? It truly is '1982' and we are just fools. Once we are out of drinking water, out of fuel, out of money, out of order all together, we will be taken over. Count on it. Proud to be American is a sentiment that has truly blinded everyone to history and what happens when the individual gives up power to sentimental ideologies instead of personal responsibility, realism and critical thinking. -W
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