This report is about interview of an independent documentaries maker (James Fox), and an attorney. They were inspired to visit and personally investigate what is the situation at the scene of very massive BP oil spill off the Gulf Coast beaches of Alabama.
The interview was conducted by Whitley Streiber – – a writer who operates the web site, unknowncountry.com . This site contains the section, Dreamland, which contains Listen Now item for 5 interviews which may be listened to using Windows Media Player.
Their findings are that this is turning out to be one of the Biggest disasters in recent decades. At 3 million barrels per day continuing spillage estimated rate, this is about 10 fold higher than the figures widely published in the regular news media.
The situation going on is that of “the foxes have been put in charge of guarding the hen-house”. BP itself has been designated as the entity to take charge of the cleanup.
The film maker has been, every 48 hours, posting his video coverage from the scene of these events, to the Youtube.com site. On YouTube, search for ‘Day 50, flight over Grand Isle’, as one example, James Fox said.
The primary treatment being used on this spill is application of detergents (also called dispursants). Scientists who in past have evaluated the effectiveness of this kind of treatment are in agreement that it makes such a situation 10 to 100 times More Damaging than even NO Treatment. Even the EPA took this knowledge into account and has issued instructions that this method not be used here. Apparently, spraying of detergents by airplanes under cover of night is done in order to make the activity less obvious non-alert observers.
The problems with using detergents on such an oil spill were described. If untreated, the spilled petroleum would float on sea surface (where inflated floating barriers plus surface skimmer equipment could be effective). However, in reaction with detergents, the petroleum clumps up into tar balls, which are usually slightly heavier than water. Depending on temperature variations, they can again rise in water, or settle in sea water. These products can then be shoved around by the sub-surface sea currents, un-seen by observers watching the surface.
This petroleum spill constitutes a major toxicity threat. Firstly, petroleum products are unhealthy if breathed in by air or swallowed in water being drunk. Secondly, the mixture contains especially threatening levels of heavy metals. There may be a risk that in case of major storms, some of the material, in particulates form, could perhaps become airborne, and thus further spread possibilities of acute poisoning, and also triggering of cancers.
In their own observations, and by questioning of the locals, these 2 witnesses were utterly amazed. Apparently, activity by teams on the ground (on land and in marine vehicles), is almost totally non-existent! The only exception is that of very small (ineffective / overwhelmed) efforts on the part of local volunteers, encouraged by a few local officials. This is in stark contrast to the assessment of the size of the event – – compared to a tidal wave, although the defenders have just a few brooms.
The local fishermen have reason to be upset, these witnesses find. The fisherman are not able to harvest their normal catch, so they are left to sit idle. Their offers to provide services to help with clean up ops, given their skills and intimate knowledge of local marine conditions, even as volunteers, is consistently declined by BP. Offers of aid and expertise sent from foreign nations is likewise declined.
These witnesses conclude by calling for government agencies to start to enforce their own already existing mandates. Furthermore, the continuing applications of detergents to the spill (which federal officials already say should not be used at all), ought to be immediately stopped.
This write up is based upon hearing, Sun. 20 June 2010, an interview dated 16 June.
Spread the word. Resolutions that help in clean up, not just encourage even greater damage, are an immediate need.
– – pwbmspac – –
This whole situation just leaves you stupefied, BP has failed in my opinion. They have no credibility left. What I find hard to believe is that a multinational cooperation like BP, with over a 100 years experience in the business, couldn’t do more. Companies like BP really have gotten too much of our trust for too long. Sad, very sad. The saddest part of the whole situation is that many people have lost their livelihood. BP will go on, this won’t slow them down that much. But what about the small local businesses? They won’t see much of the money BP has to pay.
oil spills can really damage the environment so bad that it would take years to repair the damage;*”
oil spills always do great environmental damage and it would always cost millions of dolalrs to repair –