Gulf of Mexico oil spill13 May 2010
On Thursday 22 April the deep-ocean oil-drilling rig, Deepwater Horizon, sank in the Gulf of Mexico.
Prior to its sinking, the rig, owned by Transocean Ltd. and leased by BP, burned for 36 hours after a blowout in which 11 workers lost their lives.
This spill has the potential to become one of the biggest and deadliest in the history of the United States.
And it shows that oil drilling is inherently dirty and dangerous.
As of now, BP and the Coast Guard have been unsuccessful at stopping multiple leaks on the ocean floor.
This spill will also likely have significant political, economic and environmental repercussions.
Friends of the Earth US released a TV advert to counter the "Drill Baby, Drill" sloganeers in the wake of the mounting oil spill catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico.
The oil catastrophe in the Gulf should serve as a wake-up call. Offshore drilling is inherently dirty and dangerous, and it doesn't belong in our nation's energy policy. Unfortunately, instead of acting in the nation's interest, President Obama has followed the lead of Sarah Palin.
Erich Pica, President, Friends of the Earth US
Political Implications
In March 2010, President Obama announced plans to open up huge swaths of the Atlantic, Gulf, and Alaskan coasts for offshore drilling exploration.
For more than twenty years, these areas had been off limits due to presidential and congressional moratoriums on offshore drilling.
President Obama has since suspended offshore drilling authorizations in these areas while a report on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is generated.
Economic Implications
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will have serious economic consequences, especially for tourism and fishing.
BP has no idea how to stop the flow of oil.
Drilling a relief well would take several months, and as oil has already reached the shoreline, it's feasible that it could be washing ashore throughout the summer.
Environmental Implications
The environmental implications of the oil spill in the gulf are vast.
At a rate of 5,000 to 20,000 barrels of oil being spilled per day, the spill's volume could eclipse that of the Exxon Valdez spill in two weeks to a month.
Marine life can be poisoned through ingesting the oil. Coming into contact with the oil can cause animals' skin to lose its waterproof, thermal and buoyant qualities.
Contamination from oil can also disrupt the food chain as a whole.
Press for change
President Obama, Drilling Is Not the Answer
President Obama announced March 31 that he plans to open large swaths of our coastline. If you'd like the President to focus on investing in clean energy instead of reverting to more drilling, please sign this petition.
Further information
The Gulf Oil Spill
More information from Friends of the Earth US on the unfolding and lasting disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
