The Gulf Oil Spill...What WE CAN DO...

[ReefGeek-George]

As we all know, the Gulf Oil Spill is a catastrophe that we just can not ignore. The Gulf Oil Spill has already officially been called the Worst Oil Spill in US history, already surpassing the Exxon Valdez in amount of oil spilled, possibly more than twice as much. For the past month or so, we have seen it on the news, we hear about it on the radio, on the net, and Im sure from the people around us. Hopefully all parties responsible are doing what they can to stop the leak, and to finally end the already damaging effects it has had on not only the people and communities surrounding the Gulf, but the ecosystem and marine life within it.

This link talks about how the oil spill is endangering the reefs.

http://www.bnd.com/2010/05/17/1258639/deep-sea-oil-plumes-dispersants.html

Here is a recent slideshow with some images taken a week ago.

http://www.examiner.com/examinerslideshow.html?entryid=1282787

WHAT CAN WE DO?

We know that as individuals, whether in the Gulf area, the US, or globally, it is hard to feel like we can actually do something that would make an impact in the relief effort. The Huffington Post has teamed up with Meetup Everywhere (a group that helps bring concerned parties together to discuss ways that individuals can take action), the Sierra Club, the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, Global Green, and the National Audubon Society (we love the fishes and coral, but the birds don’t like OIL either)

As some may know, June 8th is WORLD OCEAN Day. The Meetup Everywhere link will allow you to see where people are meeting to simply discuss ways they can help. On June 8th, World Ocean Day, people are meeting in almost every state. Just click on the link, and it will display the cities and states where people are meeting. There are groups of 2 people to as many as 60 that are planning to meet at local venues to discuss these issues.

So please visit the webpage below and review the different ways that you can help. And please, spread the word.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/24/meetup-everywhere-work-to_n_585007.html

http://www.meetup.com/HuffPostGreen/

http://www.theoceanproject.org/index.php


Thanks for stopping by the forum and we at ReefGeek hope that everyone has a safe holiday weekend.

ReefGeek, INC.

[Parrothead]

Why would I care to donate money or time to something that could have been avoided 40 years ago, we all need to realize that the internal combustion engine is antiquated and has been for decades, as long as we allow oil companies to scarf up the patents on stuff that will seriously cut done on gas use, we will always face this problem.

Fine the hell out of BP, and I mean the hell, hit them in billions, not millions, not hundreds of thousands, but billions, make them pay for the clean-up, or shut them down globally.

I am not a tree hugger, but let me show you an example of what I'm talking about. The state of idaho produces 95% of it's electric via hydro plants, the rest is nuc. we don't need fossil fuels and haven't for many years, but big oil and a couple of other industries won't let us.

I hate to see the wildlife and enviroment suffer, but I also refuse to bail out a company that makes more money in a day than all of us do in a life time.

MAKE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THE CLEAN-UP, NOT US, IT'S TIME THEY ANSWERED FOR THEIR F@#$ - UPS.

JMHO

[ReefGeek-George]

Point well taken...

Even in my own backyard (california) the agricultural industry has been contaminating our groundwater for years with Nitrates. To treat this water would only cause other harmful substances. And even with the many violations through the years, these companies have only been getting slaps on the wrist for their actions. and we are talking about water that can cause birth defects and other ailments.

I understand your frustration, especially regarding financial responsibility for ALL damages. We do not want to bailout BP. Im sure you have heard of the mass boycotts on BP and its products. BP should and i would hope, take full financial, environmental, and social responsibility.

In any case, thank you for your comments. We are in no way attempting to use this forum to solicit time or money on behalf of BP, just on behalf of the communities and marine life that were affected, and for our environment as a whole. I just hope that we can somehow move forward from all of this in a positive way.

ReefGeek-George

[Parrothead]

George,

Our goverment has been passing down fines that are a minute amount of what these corps make each day, it is in their best intrest to continue to do what they do, because the fines are nothing compared to what the make each day, while I would love to drop some hard earned cash on clean up efforts, I have lost all faith any most charities over the years, sorry, fry BP, shut them down and break loose the patents that can save us from frying our planet

[ReefGeek-George]

Understood PH...

and believe me i understand and know what you are talking about.

In any case, i do thank you for your comments. And i just hope that the passion that you and i show, will jar something in all of us to at least THINK about what is going on. Each person will have his/her own way to move forward, and although it may not always be the case, as you have mentioned, lets just hope that we learn from these atrocities. Easier said than done right PH? but lets just hope anyway...

Take care

ReefGeek-George