Here we go again. Another oil spill. another coast line, more dead species and the cost - not only to our planet, but to our economies. What gives?
Last year in the sea between Timor and Australia a similar offshore oil rig disaster spewed slick into the sea. The devastation covered measured at least 85 kilometres.
A month ago a Chinese freighter crew tried to save some time by straying off course through the Great Barrier Reef. From its ripped open hull on the coral floor, two tonnes of Texas tea poured into the world heritage treasure. The year before Queensland endured a 230 tonne mishap.
This latest fiasco off Louisiana has some way to go before it reaches the 35,000 tonnes loosed in the Exxon Valdez incident. Still, eighty miles of greasy, life killing sludge isn't easy to dismiss. Sooner or later it will wash ashore and the people will be wondering if it is really worth it to take that kind of risk.
At the end of April it is expected to arrive on prime coastal wetlands landing wave after wave of petroleum tribute. Out of sight, out of mind. In a measure to minimise damage authorities have burned off some surface oil. Polluting the air, apparently, is not good. I suppose there will be plenty of accusations to throw around and some political anxiety to expect when the people actually start shampooing sea animals and counting the dead when they wash up on the beaches.
Surely, there will be other future environmental-economic disasters to cope with. Some probably much worse in terms of negative impact. Just how many more catastrophes can we absorb before it gets too unmanageable? When will we say enough of this "drill, baby drill" oil roulette mentality and really change to earth friendlier energy infrastructures?
I still find it unfathomable why Obama gave his blessing to increased offshore drilling when the answer is to put our labour into making renewables a reality as quickly as possible.
Without being too optimistic it is quite possible that the answer my friend it is literally and metaphorically blowing in the wind. There are a number of available local sources of potential energy to tap into, waiting for us to work out how to make it work. Self-sufficiency means we do not have to invade other countries to ensure sufficient supply of energy.
Is it me... I just don't understand, do I?
Surely, there will be other future environmental-economic disasters to cope with. Some probably much worse in terms of negative impact. Just how many more catastrophes can we absorb before it gets too unmanageable? When will we say enough of this "drill, baby drill" oil roulette mentality and really change to earth friendlier energy infrastructures?
I still find it unfathomable why Obama gave his blessing to increased offshore drilling when the answer is to put our labour into making renewables a reality as quickly as possible.
Without being too optimistic it is quite possible that the answer my friend it is literally and metaphorically blowing in the wind. There are a number of available local sources of potential energy to tap into, waiting for us to work out how to make it work. Self-sufficiency means we do not have to invade other countries to ensure sufficient supply of energy.
Is it me... I just don't understand, do I?
It must have been something I said. The next day after posting my comments above I read this in the local paper. Yes, Virginia there is something blowing in the wind.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.smh.com.au/world/us-approval-of-offshore-wind-farm-may-lead-way-for-others-20100429-twnf.html