OCEAN 911

The devastating oil “spill” in the Gulf (how can it be called a spill when it is gushing millions of gallons of oil?) has deeply saddened and distressed me. Who would have ever reasoned that oil will still be pouring into the ocean more than 11 weeks after the explosion at the BP oil rig that claimed 11 precious lives?

The lives lost can never be replaced, and the grief the affected families face is incomprehensible. Perhaps the accident could have been prevented. Time and investigations may reveal the whole truth. I hope so.

But, the environmental impact grows exponentially each day. With tar balls now washing up in Galveston, Texas, this environmental disaster has reached all 5 Gulf States, from Florida to Texas. Worst hit has been Louisiana where sticky oil has coated rare marshlands, home to a large variety of wildlife. I can no longer bear to watch the images of helpless oil coated pelicans unable to even stand up. Ironically, just last year the brown pelican was removed from the endangered species list after efforts in Louisiana to restore their natural habitat enabled the bird population to thrive. Sadly, this tragedy may put this magnificent bird back on the endangered list.

Some people believe that stopping deep water drilling is unacceptable because of the jobs that will be lost. But, those lost jobs are a minute consequence in the big picture. An entire, precious ecosystem is threatened by this unprecedented catastrophe. The gulf coast fishing industry, a $3 billion annual micro-economy, could be ruined for decades, financially devastating thousands and thousands of Americans. Scores of restaurants, dive shop owners and others will be negatively impacted. The affect on tourism in numerous beach areas across the Gulf States may never be fully measured, but to be sure it will be crippling to countless businesses, communities and families who rely on vacation dollars spent by people who want to enjoy pristine white beaches and swim in clear clean ocean water.

We all need to be concerned about the future of our oceans and our planet. All of us should take action to help protect against the contamination of our natural resources. Since fish supply the greatest percentage of the world’s protein consumed by humans, what are the long term consequences if we pollute our oceans until our food is toxic?

Make no mistake - this is one of the most critical issues of our time. If our oceans become a polluted wasteland we will perish. I urge you to take action to protect and restore our planet. Here are some things you can do right now.

• Contact your federal representatives and let them know you want to protect our oceans
• Reduce your energy use – drive less often, use less electricity, be energy efficient
• Use less plastic and don’t put it in our landfills – reuse containers
• Don’t litter and pick up litter when you can
• Use only organic fertilizers and pesticides
• Avoid phosphates and use eco-friendly detergents like Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyers
• Buy or make your own eco-friendly household cleaners (see http://www.yellowrosenaturals.com/pages/tips.php)
• Use washable cleaning rags, sponges and napkins
• Start a compost bin or pile
• Eat local produce and sustainable seafood
• Recycle – recycle - recycle