Thursday, July 15, 2010
Not Okay
Here's a link to a must read post on nolafemmes. It mirrors the feelings of we the residents of the Gulf as we go through this disastrophe.
Protect Gulf Wildlife, Not BP
Here's an email I got from the Gulf Restoration Network
Tell the Feds to Stop the Secrecy and Protect the Gulf!
Dear Judy,
Recently, we began receiving reports of inadequately trained BP contractors crushing bird eggs and disturbing tern nests in coastal areas. These disturbing reports were coming from independent monitors - citizens, journalists, and groups like GRN - who have been out in the impacted areas working to make sure that BP and federal officials do everything possible to clean up this mess.
Independent voices are essential for gathering the full knowledge of the disaster's impacts that is so desperately needed, but BP is working hard to stem the flow of information. Unfortunately, the federal government seems to be taking some pointers from BP's playbook.
Restrictions on air space over the impacted area continue to frustrate efforts to monitor the disaster and new rules limit on-the-ground access to cleanup operations - threatening independent monitors with felony charges and $40,000 penalties. What we need is more transparency, not more rules!
Tell the Feds to stop protecting BP, and start protecting Gulf wildlife, click here:
http://action.healthygulf.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4314
It is essential that our leaders do everything necessary to protect Gulf communities, and wildlife. As this massive clean-up and recovery effort continues, increased transparency is vital to successfully restoring the Gulf, defending our communities, and making sure this never happens again. Please add your voice to the chorus of independent voices calling for more transparency, and better protection for Gulf wildlife.
For the future of the Gulf,
Aaron Viles
Campaign Director
The Gulf Restoration Network is a diverse network of local, regional, and national groups and individuals dedicated to protecting and restoring the valuable natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico. Don't worry, GRN will never sell or share your information. To unsubscribe, visit this site.
Animal Autopsies in Gulf Yield a Mystery
Excerpts from an article in the NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/science/earth/15necropsy.html?th&emc=th
Studies show that dispersants, which break down oil into tiny droplets and can also break down cell membranes, make oil more toxic for some animals, like baby birds. And the solvents they contain can break down red blood cells, causing hemorrhaging. At least one fresh dolphin carcass found in the Gulf was bleeding from the mouth and blowhole, according to Lori Deangelis, a dolphin tour operator in Perdido Bay.
Another dolphin, its ribs broken, was hit by a boat, a catastrophe that dolphins are normally nimble enough to avoid. The veterinarian, Dr. Connie Chevis, found a tarlike substance in the dolphin’s throat. The substance will be analyzed to see if it is oil, but one theory is that the animal could have been disoriented by oil exposure, which can have a narcotic effect, rendering it incapable of avoiding a boat strike. Ms. Deangelis said the dolphins on her recent tours have been “acting like they’ve had three martinis.”
Despite an obvious suspect, oil, the answer is far from clear. The vast majority of the dead animals that have been found — 1,866 birds, 463 turtles, 59 dolphins and one sperm whale — show no visible signs of oil contamination. Much of the evidence in the turtle cases points, in fact, to shrimping or other commercial fishing, but other suspects include oil fumes, oiled food, the dispersants used to break up the oil or even disease.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/science/earth/15necropsy.html?th&emc=th
Studies show that dispersants, which break down oil into tiny droplets and can also break down cell membranes, make oil more toxic for some animals, like baby birds. And the solvents they contain can break down red blood cells, causing hemorrhaging. At least one fresh dolphin carcass found in the Gulf was bleeding from the mouth and blowhole, according to Lori Deangelis, a dolphin tour operator in Perdido Bay.
Another dolphin, its ribs broken, was hit by a boat, a catastrophe that dolphins are normally nimble enough to avoid. The veterinarian, Dr. Connie Chevis, found a tarlike substance in the dolphin’s throat. The substance will be analyzed to see if it is oil, but one theory is that the animal could have been disoriented by oil exposure, which can have a narcotic effect, rendering it incapable of avoiding a boat strike. Ms. Deangelis said the dolphins on her recent tours have been “acting like they’ve had three martinis.”
Despite an obvious suspect, oil, the answer is far from clear. The vast majority of the dead animals that have been found — 1,866 birds, 463 turtles, 59 dolphins and one sperm whale — show no visible signs of oil contamination. Much of the evidence in the turtle cases points, in fact, to shrimping or other commercial fishing, but other suspects include oil fumes, oiled food, the dispersants used to break up the oil or even disease.
The Emotional Impact
BP’s massive and ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is not Louisiana’s problem or a Gulf coast problem or America’s problem, says Frank Brigtsen. It’s a world problem, he states firmly. And, the ripple impact is beginning to be felt in every corner of the country. We have to figure out a better way of doing things and how to help each other during times of crisis, he says.
Even though a successful restaurant owner and chef, Brigtsen is unusually candid about the grief he’s feeling these days about the magnitude of destruction inflicted across his beloved southern Louisiana and the Gulf coast region by BP’s pollution of the Gulf, and the widespread unemployment it has caused.
“Once again, we in New Orleans are on a strange adventure we don’t want to be on,” he says. “The BP oil spill has taken parts of our lives away.”
To understand the scale of the human suffering that is today being caused by the BP oil spill, Brigtsen says you’ve got to actually see it.
Brigtsen says that ever since he and his wife drove to Grand Isle, La., to stand on a pier and actually see the oil floating on the water, he’s been having sleepless night, depression and periods of just crying.
The real tragedy, he says, is the human side … a lot of people who cannot go to work and are in need … lives pulled out from under their feet … and a feeling of helplessness.
On a more positive side, Brigtsen talks about the leaders of his industry – the famed New Orleans restaurants – pulling together to during this crisis, as they did during Katrina and other times, to help others by providing food.
Frank Brigtsen and his family own Brigsten’s, a landmark eating place on Dante Street in New Orleans.
From Louisiana Seafood Board News
Even though a successful restaurant owner and chef, Brigtsen is unusually candid about the grief he’s feeling these days about the magnitude of destruction inflicted across his beloved southern Louisiana and the Gulf coast region by BP’s pollution of the Gulf, and the widespread unemployment it has caused.
“Once again, we in New Orleans are on a strange adventure we don’t want to be on,” he says. “The BP oil spill has taken parts of our lives away.”
To understand the scale of the human suffering that is today being caused by the BP oil spill, Brigtsen says you’ve got to actually see it.
Brigtsen says that ever since he and his wife drove to Grand Isle, La., to stand on a pier and actually see the oil floating on the water, he’s been having sleepless night, depression and periods of just crying.
The real tragedy, he says, is the human side … a lot of people who cannot go to work and are in need … lives pulled out from under their feet … and a feeling of helplessness.
On a more positive side, Brigtsen talks about the leaders of his industry – the famed New Orleans restaurants – pulling together to during this crisis, as they did during Katrina and other times, to help others by providing food.
Frank Brigtsen and his family own Brigsten’s, a landmark eating place on Dante Street in New Orleans.
From Louisiana Seafood Board News
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A Louisiana Hero-Drew Landry
During the hearings held on July 12-13 a crawfisherman named Drew Landry used music to eloquently portray the trials and tribulations of the Gulf region because of the oil spill. Here's the video
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Moratorium impact to Louisianians
Granted, offshore drilling is dangerous. But right now there is no alternative for energy awaiting to be embraced. So face it folks, we need oil for the near term until there is a safer, greener alternative.
That said, the impact of Obama's blanket moratorium is going to have a HUGE impact. No one knows the exact numbers, but here's a guess by Loren Scott, professor emeritus at Louisiana State University.
video courtesy of heritage dot org
Add those 32,000 jobs lost to the thousands of jobs lost in the fishing industry, the ~12,000 jobs lost* by Avondale shutting down and the 1,000 jobs lost due to the cancellation of Orion program by who else: Obama.
That's about 50,000 jobs, counting the jobs lost for indirect support services. In one state.
And I'm being laid off in the 4th quarter. Oh well, I'll just go on unemployment, which was the president's answer to the job losses.
What a mess.
*12,000 jobs include the 5,000 direct and the rest are indirect jobs.
That said, the impact of Obama's blanket moratorium is going to have a HUGE impact. No one knows the exact numbers, but here's a guess by Loren Scott, professor emeritus at Louisiana State University.
video courtesy of heritage dot org
Add those 32,000 jobs lost to the thousands of jobs lost in the fishing industry, the ~12,000 jobs lost* by Avondale shutting down and the 1,000 jobs lost due to the cancellation of Orion program by who else: Obama.
That's about 50,000 jobs, counting the jobs lost for indirect support services. In one state.
And I'm being laid off in the 4th quarter. Oh well, I'll just go on unemployment, which was the president's answer to the job losses.
What a mess.
*12,000 jobs include the 5,000 direct and the rest are indirect jobs.
Saving White Pelicans
From a clarionledger.com article about a zoo in Jackson, Ms. helping oiled, handicapped white pelicans:
Cautiously shifting from right to left in opposition to Dave Wetzel's motions, the 20 American white pelicans have not adapted to their temporary home - a large wire holding cage with two kiddie pools that has become their sanctuary since the Gulf Coast oil spill damaged their habitat and forced their removal.
Volunteers rescued the pelicans being rehabilitated and housed at the Jackson Zoo until permanent homes at animal facilities can be found.
Wetzel, the zoo's deputy director, has a degree in zoology fueled by an interest in birds. That's one reason the Jackson Zoo was able to become a bird holding hub.
"We volunteered because it's our state that is going to be affected," he said Tuesday.
Read the full article here
Cautiously shifting from right to left in opposition to Dave Wetzel's motions, the 20 American white pelicans have not adapted to their temporary home - a large wire holding cage with two kiddie pools that has become their sanctuary since the Gulf Coast oil spill damaged their habitat and forced their removal.
Volunteers rescued the pelicans being rehabilitated and housed at the Jackson Zoo until permanent homes at animal facilities can be found.
Wetzel, the zoo's deputy director, has a degree in zoology fueled by an interest in birds. That's one reason the Jackson Zoo was able to become a bird holding hub.
"We volunteered because it's our state that is going to be affected," he said Tuesday.
Read the full article here
Jazz Funeral
On July 8th the final external fuel tank manufactured at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East was delivered to NASA. We celebrated the way only New Orleans celebrates: with a Jazz Funeral. Here is a short film put together by Lockheed Martin.
that methane bubble
There has been a rumor going around about a huge methane bubble in the Gulf of Mexico that is going to cause the evacuation of the entire Gulf Coast and create an oil tsunami. Wow, some people have too much time on their hands.
Here is a blog that puts this crazy myth to rest:
Thanks to Maitri for the link. (http://vatul.net/blog/)
Day 85 Numbers
From deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
By the Numbers to Date (7/13/2010)
:
· The administration has authorized the deployment of 17,500 National Guard troops from Gulf Coast states to respond to this crisis; currently, 1,564 are active.
· More than 45,000 personnel are currently responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife and cleanup vital coastlines.
· More than 6,800 vessels are currently responding on site, including skimmers, tugs, barges, and recovery vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts—in addition to dozens of aircraft, remotely operated vehicles, and multiple mobile offshore drilling units.
· More than 3.15 million feet of containment boom and 6.34 million feet of sorbent boom have been deployed to contain the spill—and approximately 892,000 feet of containment boom and 2.66 million feet of sorbent boom are available.
· More than 31.4 million gallons of an oil-water mix have been recovered.
· Approximately 1.81 million gallons of total dispersant have been applied—1.07 million on the surface and 735,000 sub-sea. Approximately 502,000 gallons are available.
· 330 controlled burns have been conducted, efficiently removing a total of more than 10.3 million gallons of oil from the open water in an effort to protect shoreline and wildlife. Because calculations on the volume of oil burned can take more than 48 hours, the reported total volume may not reflect the most recent controlled burns.
· 17 staging areas are in place to protect sensitive shorelines.
· Approximately 550 miles of Gulf Coast shoreline is currently oiled—approximately 311 miles in Louisiana, 102 miles in Mississippi, 66 miles in Alabama, and 71 miles in Florida. These numbers reflect a daily snapshot of shoreline currently experiencing impacts from oil so that planning and field operations can more quickly respond to new impacts; they do not include cumulative impacts to date, or shoreline that has already been cleared.
· Approximately 83,927 square miles of Gulf of Mexico federal waters remain closed to fishing in order to balance economic and public health concerns. More than 66 percent remains open. Details can be found at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
· To date, the administration has leveraged assets and skills from numerous foreign countries and international organizations as part of this historic, all-hands-on-deck response, including Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Spain, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization, the European Union's Monitoring and Information Centre, and the European Maritime Safety Agency.
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