And 40 million gallons later, there is no stopping the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. From today's Johnson City Press:
There is still a hole in the Earth, crude oil is still spewing from it and there is still, excruciatingly, no end in sight. After trying and trying again, one of the world’s largest corporations, backed and pushed by the world’s most powerful government, can’t stop the runaway gusher.The New York Times has a helpful map with estimates of how much oil is spurting forth. The last time this happened, the leak wasn't plugged for ten months:
As desperation grows and ecological misery spreads, the operative word on the ground now is, incredibly, August — the earliest moment that a real resolution could be at hand. And even then, there’s no guarantee of success. For the United States and the people of its beleaguered Gulf Coast, a dispiriting summer of oil and anger lies dead ahead.
Oh ... and the Atlantic hurricane season begins Tuesday.
The largest accidental spill of all time was also in the Gulf of Mexico. Ixtoc I, a two-mile deep exploratory well, leaked at an estimated rate of 10,000 to 30,000 barrels per day for almost ten months until it was capped in March 1980. The total amount spilled was estimated to be 140 million gallons of crude oil.
For Memorial Day, in addition to soldiers, I will also remember our winged, finned, multi-legged, and hard-shelled relations who gave their lives for America's energy needs.
This breaks my heart. The number of animals and people who have died, the livelihood that has ended for many in the gulf coast. And no one knows when it will end.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is indeed a tragedy. It makes me want to keep my car in the garage and stick with my bike.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this.
This is heartbreaking. Eleven people were killed in the explosion. Plus our food supply? Those whose lives are made by fishing and by life on the Gulf?
ReplyDeleteAnd we still don't fund alternative energy even though there are ways that can cut back on petroleum use (although not totally replace it yet). Alternative energy needs to be supported by income tax. That way the poor don't get screwed because we jack up the price at the pump with taxes.
ReplyDeleteOh, and ethanol from plants, particularly corn is just as polluting and raises the price of corn in Mexico high enough that the poor can't eat.
Solar energy is almost cheap enough if you make your own panels. If the government would fund it we could get rid of energy usage (oil, gas and electricity) in homes and smaller businesses. There is a church in Delaware that went totally solar energy by putting solar panels on their roof. Problem is it cost $800,000.00.
And in or near cities presbytery meetings could be held near public transportation so that the cost of going to a presbytery meeting (in Philly Presby's case) costs less to take the bus, the subway or the train to a presbytery meeting. The presbytery could even fund it by making lunch free for those who don't drive.
My rant for the day.