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The oil rig explosion and subsequent oil leak, which has been leaking for over a month now, has completely destroyed the Louisiana Gulf Coast Line. Our barrier islands, which were our main line of defense against hurricanes and have been suffering from errosion even before the oil leak, are saturated with thick oil, and the vegetation (grass, etc...) is all completely dead. The oil has penetrated our National Wildlife Reserve.
Thus far, the "official" reports sight at least 1 dead dolphin, over 2 dozen dead brown pelicans, at least a dozen sea turtles and thousands of fish, jellyfish and other marine life have also died. Dozens of other birds and wildlife are being cleaned and treated for oil and toxic chemical dispersant exposure.
SHAMELESSLY, British Petroleum has made 4 attempts to stop the leak and none of them were successful. At a time when the economy in our region is just starting to recover from Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Ike, we have now been dealt a TREMENDOUS blow. Hundreds, if not thousands, of oystermen, shrimpers and other commercial fishermen now find themselves without a career and without a paycheck. Seafood processors, suppliers and restaurants are feeling the pinch just as much.
There's a simple process that could have contained and filtered the tainted waters before the damage was done. Actor Kevin Costner has funded research that has led to a machine which can seperated 97% of the oil from the Gulf waters at a rate of 2,500 gallons per minute. The technology works, and the company that built them has 20 of these machines ready to go at a moments notice. This was made available to B.P. almost 3 weeks ago, but, instead, B.P. chooses to experiment with HIGHLY toxic chemical dispersants and various methods (none of which have worked) to try to stop the leak. (To learn more about how the machine works. go to YouTube.com and search for the video "Kevin Costner Helps To Fight Oil Spill".)
SHAME ON YOU BRITISH PETROLEUM! AND SHAME ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR NOT STEPPING IN AND TAKING CHARGE OF THIS SITUATION. Right now, the Federal law states, basically, "it's their mess so let them clean it". That's NOT good enough. Oil has been inundating our region with extremely minimal resistence for over a month now. That water does NOT belong to B.P. Only the rig and oil do. I may be wrong, but my common sense tells me that, since their crap is spewing into OUR water and B.P. isn't doing more than trying to put a band-aid on a bullet wound, if you will, the Federal Government has a RESPONSIBILITY to it's citizens to take charge when their is a disaster.
Hurricane season starts for us in Louisiana on June 1, which is less that a week away. Another hurricane in this area would be catastrophic, but a hurricane that brings in oil AND water, will leave this region uninhabitable.
As for me, I'm going to send President and Mrs. Obama an email to let them know...If we get wiped out, I'M MOVING IN WITH THEM!!!
