The BP Oil Spill Update

Oil is making it's way into Lake Ponchartrain, reportedly a psychological blow to Big Easy residents barely recovered from Katrina. You can read quick facts in the Reuters Fact Box. As of this writing we are at Day 78. US scientists estimate, according to the Fact Box, that the Deepwater Horizon is leaking 60,000 barrels a day. That is 1.89 Million gallons of oil a day.

June 18, 2010

Oil-covered baby pelicans perch on an island in Barataria Bay, La., home to thousands of nesting birds. Protective booms surround the island, but oil has managed to seep into the fragile environment. "I feel like this is the apocalypse...The only thing that gives me hope is that with every great disaster comes a great awakening," said Summer Brookes, activist

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

(Fair Use of Washington Post Compilation on the basis of percentage of whole and attribution clearly given)

The update from Oiled Wildlife Network:

Amazingly, Mike Ziccardi is under the mistaken impression that only three people read his blog. If you want to prove him wrong (don't be shy, think of what these people with OWCN have been doing and what they've had to endure seeing...) please, go leave him a comment over at: OWCN Blog. It's a snap to set up a WordPress account. The vets and students and volunteers working with OWCN are putting so much of themselves into what they do. The least we can do is let them know we read, we care and that BP isn't succeeding in getting any of us to tune out.

June 18, 2010

Elizabeth Bell of Covington, La., performs a medical exam on an oiled pelican at the Fort Jackson Bird Rehabilitation Center in Buras, La. Donna Gee, who also works at the Fort Jackson center, recounts the difficult loss when a pelican dies: "He had Frank Sinatra blue eyes. He was gorgeous but in looking at his eyes you knew that he was very tired and his body temperature was very low, which told us he was in a lot of distress. Finally, my friend was holding him and she felt him take about four more breaths and he passed away."

Carol Guzy-The Washington Post

(Fair Use of Washington Post Compilation on the basis of percentage of whole and attribution clearly given)

Pictures say more than words. But I still want to comfort those who are living through the hell of trying to save these creatures with the thought that so many, many people thank them for their work.

Also, those of you not using a mobile connection will see the new toolbar at the bottom of your screen. You can click on a photo gallery of BP Oil Spill photography by the many brave and hardworking folks that are in Buras, Houma and all around the Cape Breton Island refuge. Check out the images. And when you've had more than you can bear, I put a link to a gallery of best photos on Flickr. Remember the beauty in the world and why you should be telling your legislators that you'll be more careful with your petroleum related consumption if that's what it takes to prevent offshore drilling.

© Bright Nepenthe, 2010