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Oil

hydrocarbons

Photo by annorion
Published on Project Noah
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29.1783, -90.0684

Field Notes

Description:

On my last visit (http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7560085) I wasn't sure if what I seen was oil, but I'm sure now that both that spotting and this spotting is oil. The tide was lower than last time and there was this black border between clean beach and the water. Speckled in the streaks of black are these black and brown balls of what smells like asphalt. It is sticky but the sand ball falls apart fairly easily. I think the black streaks are these balls of oil breaking apart. From Elmer's Island to Grand Isle was like this. Along with tons of dead jelly fish, a dead pelican, and what I believe is a dead gull. However I do not know what caused the death of these critters.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (16)
Ava T-B
If solar was subsidized at the same rate the oil companies are subsidized by the US govt., solar would cost less BY FAR than oil does now. Not only have the oil companies not learned their lesson yet, they have learned to lobby even harder to keep things just as they are. http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/387368_10150436662007722_281168802721_8371632_1026910313_n.jpg
KarenL
annorion, you've hit the nail on the head. What we need is legislation to force the oil companies to BP to get their act together.
Joltik
wow.....this is tragic.
Sergio Monteiro
May God hear you, Annorion, and things change in the near future, because right now, I think the right people listen (promisses), and politicians get the money...
annorion
The sad truth is we keep buying it so they keep drilling for it. If they are not forced to do clean business they will not. If they don't have to tell they will not. It's more expensive to run a business when you have to clean up after yourself. And first and foremost an oil company is a business. Yes I have heard of potential money for potential research but that's if BP's fine money is used to do research. Hopefully the right people get the money and the politicians listen in the end.
Sergio Monteiro
Well, KarenL, Chevron took one full week to report the incident, and has given only fragments of information, till now. And, of course, things are not very bad, according to them...
KarenL
Sergio, this is why constant lobbying is required. We can't let them forget - our oceans are too precious for that.
KarenL
Sergio, I wasn't aware of this incident. Surely the oil companies have learned the lesson by now?
Sergio Monteiro
KArenL, do you REALLY believe it? I don't. As time passes, people forget...
KarenL
Presumably the data gathered from the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Impact mission is being used to develop a long term plan to restore the environment (as much as it can be restored)?
annorion
Yeah I agree Emma. It was a very uncomfortable trip.
Sergio Monteiro
It's unbelievable the extent of the devastation that such disasters can cause. At this time, Brazil is investing in oil exploration offshore, at depths never before reached. Two weeks ago, a well dug by Chevron caused a crack in the underwater bedrock, and tons of crude oil escaped to the surface. So one of the most beautiful and full of life coasts in the world is threatened, just like the Gulf's waters. And all we can do is to pray for the disaster don't be so cruel, because it WILL come.
annorion
What's scary too is I don't think everyone realizes that this is truly a long term problem. BP came out and hired a bunch of people and cleaned the beaches right after but there is still a big mess out there.
HemaShah
Find it difficult and painful when animals suffer.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Gulf Coast Oil Spill Impact
Photographed
PublishedDecember 6, 2011

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