Just a quick post to provide links to information on the BP oil drilling disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, and some of the key organizations and agencies that are working to minimize the impacts of it and provide emergency rescue and recovery assistance. The oil slick is shaping up to be far worse than BP originally said it could be, and probably even worse than the Exxon Valdez spill. It’s going to be devastating for the ecosystems and animals, as well as fishermen and other people who live in the region. These are a few groups you might want to support, as well as articles linking to other efforts:
Gulf Restoration Network (Donate. Volunteer. )
Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, MS
If you’re on the Gulf Coast, and you see marine mammals (e.g., dolphins, manatees) or sea turtles that have been affected by the spill, please call this hotline: 1-888-767-3657.
To report oiled birds or other wildlife, call this hotline: 1-866-557-1401.
Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana: Volunteer registration
“Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Impact: Get Involved“ article (w/ more links) from Huffington Post, posted on GlobalGreen.org
“Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: The What, When and Where…and How You Can Help” article (w/ more links) on Planet Green (Discovery)
For additional info on the spill, see these sites:
- NRDC info and updates on the disaster
- “The Anatomy of an Oil Spill Cleanup: What Works and What Doesn’t” article on Treehugger.com
- Fish and Wildlife Service response
- NOAA public advisories and press releases
- EPA response to the spill (e.g., air and water quality monitoring)
And for an overview of BP’s previous accidents and the company’s controversial environmental record, take a look at this Wikipedia page.
As for longer-term solutions to prevent this type of disaster from recurring, the best things that each of us can do are: 1) to demand that all of our governmental representatives support energy conservation and clean/renewable energy legislation, and 2) to decrease our own consumption of oil, gasoline, fossil-fuel-generated electricity, and petroleum-based products, including plastic. (Reducing our demand for oil will help to reduce the need for drilling and exploration to boost the oil supply.) Look for more details on these topics in later posts.
