The Gulf Oil Crisis Continues

Just months after the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Americans find themselves 50 days into the worst environmental catastrophe in this nation's history.  Moreover, there are no credible signs that the oil spill will be completely abated anytime soon.  BP, once known for its "beyond petroleum" advertisements discussing the importance of oil companies diversifying into clean, renewable energy sources, is spending millions of dollars trying to relay that it is competently and compassionately participating in cleaning up, if not successfully stopping, the oil spilling from the Deepwater Horizon well.  Eleven men lost their lives while the rig burst into flames and subsequently sank.  Gulf communities have watched aghast as the oil, mixed with harsh chemical dispersants, spread throughout their regional waters.  Residents who have celebrated the Gulf's rich natural bounty for generations have cried out in frustration while their livelihoods and the viability of local natural habitats are threatened.  Wildlife are being devastated.  The beautiful brown pelicans, Louisiana's state birds, have become the poignant symbol of this tragedy.  Innocent victims of a man-made disaster, these birds seen gasping for air while their eyes, beaks, and feathers are coated in oil.  These birds, already brought back from the brink of extinction, remind us all of the enduring consequences.  Long after the relief wells are drilled, the media's attention is diverted, and BP CEO is able to "get his life back," this region will still be gasping for air.  

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