We’ve heard about a lot of oil spills over the years, so it wasn’t really much of a surprise for some of us to hear about the April 20th Deepwater Horizon explosion that sent oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico at a horrendous rate. To call it a, “Spill” is a gross misnomer; it is a gusher and a disgrace.
With upwards of 5 million gallons of oil spewing into the waters of the gulf, and travelling more than 500 miles a day, it is clear that with time, it will make it to all waterways that are connected to the gulf and given that all oceans, rivers, lakes, streams, tributaries and creeks that are naturally formed are connected across the world; this oil and the clean up toxins will probably make it across the entire world, eventually. That’s a frightening thought and despite the fact that much of it will eventually become diluted by the waters, there is still potential danger from eating seafood that is contaminated by these toxins, for years to come.
After 3 months of the huge and continuous gush of oil into the ocean, BP has yet to complete its relief wells in order to stop their terrifying gusher. With many people out of work as a result, seafood restaurants, hotels, motels, fisheries, seafood processing plants and more closing down as a result of the gusher, many people may wonder what the long-term effects of this careless and unnecessary disaster may do to the people, marine life and environment.
Obviously, the jobless rate is going to be up for a while longer; it already was and now with the fisheries and other businesses in major vacations spots, out of work, the unemployment and jobless rates are going to continue growing.
Vacations at the beach are definitely out of the question for several weeks to come and given that BP cannot be 100% certain that their plans will result in stopping the gusher, there is potential for these resort areas to be closed for quite a while.
Even though Mother Nature has a way of taking care of her own and eliminating the oil and dispersant residue, it doesn’t take the proverbial, “mental heavy weight”, to figure out that many species of marine life, such as North Atlantic Blue fin Tuna, various species of whales, dolphins, seals, manatees, sea turtles, fish, shellfish, oysters, shrimp, the Blue Crab, pelicans and other birds and more are dying, rapidly, the oil burning them alive and there is the possibility that many who are on the brink of extinction already, will indeed disappear from the planet forever. The Brown Pelican just came off of the endangered species list in 2009; now it is again an endangered species with many of these birds burning, suffocating to death in hot oil. Many of these beautiful creatures are washing up on beaches dead or dying and covered in hot oil sludge. Many will die in the upcoming days, weeks, months from the toxic chemicals and carcinogens in both the oil and dispersants
A recent CBS news article lists 10 tops species that have already or will be harmed by this toxic gusher. It cites that, “seven of the worlds sea turtle species live, migrate and breed in the Gulf.” With one environmental group reporting that it’s crews were only able to save about 5 turtles a day from BP’s creation, that’s a frightening amount of potential extinction and what are we going to tell our grandchildren some day when they ask, “What are sea turtles?”
The very building blocks of all life on the planet, water, carbon, nitrogen, proteins and amino acids in algae and various marine plant species; all organic life, will eventually die off and rot along with these other species of marine life. Already more than 1850 birds, 450 sea turtles, almost 60 dolphins and at least one whale carcass has been found; some evidence suggesting that many may contain toxins and other ingredients that are in the BP oil and studies are underway to determine the connection.
Rotting carcasses are also a threat to relief and cleanup workers and those living in the Gulf area. They put off hazardous fumes and gasses; this can cause many respiratory diseases and other health problems for anyone working or living in the area of BP’s disaster.
Many of our oil-soaked beaches and wetlands will take years to clean. Removing the blobs of oil from beaches, marshes and other wetland areas will take time, possibly years. Humans cannot possibly clean it all up; it has to be tracked, isolated and eliminated which takes time, equipment, people and money and many would-be volunteer citizens and organizations are not being allowed in the area because it’s simply too hazardous. Neither BP nor our government wants to be responsible for the potential harm caused to the health of volunteers by this entire mess.
The effects of not only the oil itself, but the toxic dispersants being used to clean up what little of this oil that they are getting, are just as toxic as the oil, even more. The effects are already being seen in the cleanup crews, BP employees; many are experiencing respiratory problems, rashes and more as a result of their exposure to toxic chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic. Those living and working in the area of the BP gusher have been warned to wear masks, gloves, respirators and other protection at all times, both at home and at work to prevent health problems
Given that many of these chemicals, such as Benzene, are carcinogenic, (cancer causing), it will indeed be a long while before the effects of this exposure will be seen; it could take months to years for many innocent individuals to develop bronchial problems, allergies and asthma. Leukemia, Cancer and I doubt that BP executives will foot the bill for their health care. How many of these will be innocent children who haven’t yet had a decent chance to live their lives?
Even with the new health care package already costing the American government money that it doesn’t have; another long term effect of BP’s carelessness will be more expense to an already costly health care package for which the taxpayers will eventually end up covering with their hard earned dollars. Even if the current administration doesn’t raise taxes to cover this package; no doubt some other cash strapped administration will.
There is also the question of how and whom is going to clean the oil from the property of private citizens? Insurance companies certainly aren’t covering it nor will BP. With the horrific federal deficit, primarily created by the late Bush administration, still rapidly increasing and many states enduring financial difficulties of their own, it seems pointless to even think of asking for help from the government. So, innocent citizens are left with a rapidly increasing and unnecessary expense to clean up their own property; many of whom may already be unemployed. They, their children, pets, neighbors and others are at risk of harm to their health from the toxins and carcinogens in these tar balls of oil blobs which encrust their private landscape. Yet you don’t hear BP volunteering to clean up their property or provide protective respirators or clothing because they are a state or two away from the actual BP gusher.
Financially, economically, this gusher is costing billions. 1.4 billion of our government funds and still accruing at a rate of approx. 33million per day, per incident. Despite the cost to the government, BP seems to put more emphasis on giving us a daily, play-by-play of the billions the cleanup and relief wells are costing, BP. There’ll be more in civil and criminal costs to BP when its’ all over; then there are the prosecuting costs to our government. Wake up, BP! None of us care what this is costing you; you created this mess knowing full well that it might cost you! This is one of the areas where a phrase from William Shakespeare’s, “A Midsummer Nights’ Dream”; “Lord what fools these mortals be”, pops into my mind whenever I hear how much BP is spending. Why don’t they just shut up and clean up?
Add to all of this, the possibility of an explosion from methane gas buildup beneath the Gulf’s waters which could cause earthquakes, even tsunamis that could obliterate a huge portion of the Gulf states and you have the bloody slaughter of innocents and a disaster that could take more than a decade to clean up and rebuild and who are going to give the lives back to those people and the marine lives that such an explosion would take away from us, forever?
Yet, BP executives want us all to trust them. Their corner and cost-cutting carelessness and neglect, coupled with their numerous lies, deceit and cover-ups, along with the slanderous references such as, “…small people”, are more than enough reason to never again trust them or to even allow them to continue their offshore drilling in our waters. They even argued about having to set up an escrow account for those who have suffered because of their deliberate greed and carelessness.
It has been reported by Mother Earth Magazine that there is an existing cover up where BP has instructed its’ contractors not to show dead animals. Well, they may be able to hide some dead animals, but they can’t hide the numerous human beings whose health has been already affected and who have been sent to the hospital as a result of their gusher and related toxins with blurry vision, running noses, coughing, respiratory problems and skin rashes. BP simply does not want to pay for its’ crimes and there is the possibility that they won’t have to; like other companies, they may end up filing for bankruptcy.
Given that there is more than enough oil beneath the land and deserts of America to keep us going and oil companies profiting for decades to come, some judge sees fit to allow this to continue because of his own investments in oil. Apparently, neither marine nor human life matters to such people or offshore drilling would be completely stopped, now.
BP’s creation of a second and potential, Dark Age, simply must not go unpunished. Every individual whether directly or indirectly effected should write their senators, representatives and other elected officials and demand that the BP and Halliburton employees that are responsible for this be incarcerated for life 3 times over, with no parole. They must not be allowed to take chances with so many lives, ever again. So, people, stand up, speak out and fight, literally for your lives and those of future generations, as well as, innocents who can’t speak for themselves.
Sources:
http://americanaffairs.suite101.com/article.cfm/the- long-term-economic-effects-of-the-bp-oil-spill
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20003738-5035 43.html
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/77/151/Gulf_a_dangero us_place_for_workers_and_residents.html
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/77/151/Gulf_a_dangero us_place_for_workers_and_residents.html
Further Reading:
http://www.helium.com/items/1865868-the-moral-implic ations-of-the-bp-oil-spill
http://www.helium.com/items/1868329-why-bp-executive s-should-be-prosecuted-for-the-gulf-oil-spill