Louisiana’s oil spill is releasing 42,000 gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, sure to threaten wildlife and resources.
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It’s not hard to wonder why people are seemingly apathetic when it comes to environmental issues when there isn’t more focus going towards environmental emergencies that could cause severe degradation to natural resources and wildlife. Did you know that right now approximately 42,000 gallons of oil per day is pouring into the water just 36 miles from the Louisiana coast? You may have if you’ve known where to look, but sadly this environmental emergency of epic proportions isn’t receiving the media attention that it should be.
If you missed it above, let’s just revisit – yes, 42,000 gallons of crude oil is finding its way into Louisiana’s waterways each day now. The oil spill, which now measures approximately 42 by 33 miles, is leaking from a sunken offshore oil drilling ship in the Gulf of Mexico. Why would that be a big deal? After all, although the leak may not stop anytime soon, it’s not expected to get quite as bad as the Exxon Valdez incident. But tell that to the wildlife that inhabits that region of the Gulf of Mexico and others who rely on the resource for a clean source of water. Not to mention the living things on shore that will be impacted if the leak reaches shore by the end of the week as expected.
There are efforts being taken to curb the leak and sift the oil from the water, but that’s not really the point. The point is that this issue should be receiving far more coverage than it is. The reason it likely isn’t? Offshore oil drilling is a huge industry, too much chatter about the environmental impact might put it back in the forefront of the line of fire.
Is this an example of economy coming before the environment? That’s one perspective; you tell me and is that the way priorities should be aligned?
Image Credit: MarinePhotobank from flickr with a CC license
I suggest that even the first 68 million for cleanup is too little. BP should be fined for billions for not having an adequate EMERGENCY PLAN in place and then billiions more for the clean up. This is a disaster of monumental proportions. 11 workers died, a whole fishing industry has died, the eco system is dying and so is the marine life and wildlife. Obama has come across as if he just doesn’t care.
About the oil spill in Louisiana. Far too little too late. This area should have been declared a disaster the first week it occurred. All oil and gas companies are required to have an emergency plan and contingency plan for each oil and gas site onshore and offshore. BP obviously did not have an EMERGENCY PLAN in place for this site. An emergency plan should be set up in case of an accident, incident or disaster. It outlines the steps the company will take to control the emergency. BP should have had 2 or 3 emergency plans in place for such a deep offshore well. It is not the workers that are at fault. They may have been saved too. It is BP management. They did NOT have an EMERGENCY PLAN in place. They thought they where above that and did not think ahead. There only interest was in making the billions that oil and gas companies are famous for. Definitely BP was not thinking of safety.