Feb 21 2009
Oil Spills Have a Minor Impact on the Oceans!?! Are you Kidding Me?
The other day I was catching up on the local news when an article in the St. Pete Times in Florida caught my eye! The gist of the story was this: An 80 ft fishing boat collided with a 95 foot barge in Tampa Bay. The collision caused nearly 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel to be poured into the mouth of the bay.
That would be the short of it. Now, here’s the part that has my knickers in a twist; and I quote “the impact on the environment and ship traffic appeared to be minimal” WHAT?!?! 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel just spewed into Tampa Bay and the environmental impact was minimal? Tell that to the wildlife while they’re coughing up a gill! This kind of ‘just sweep it under the rug’ attitude kills me! Just because you can’t see it in the ocean does not mean that it does not exist!
Between the sewage, trash, storm drain and river run off from commercial farms and oil spills; we are killing our oceans! Even the chemicals that are used to clean up an oil spill can be toxic to the marine life. We’ve all seen the pictures of the birds with matted down feathers, struggling to fly, let alone breathe!
A gasoline/oil spill can cause fish gills to stick together, disrupt breeding and poison both the plants and the fish. Please forgive my ignorance, but I would not call this a “minor impact” on the environment!
ok…I’m stepping off my soapbox now!
~Wind
Stupidity and greed, stupidity and greed. How sad and awful. On large scales and small scales, it’s all unacceptable.
Small item: GUM/Crayola Kids Dental Flossers come in packs of 40 for about a buck. People are to floss their kids teeth with a little plastic wand, and then throw it away. Yesterday I saw one of those pointy little plastic flossers laying in the mulch next to a parking lot.
I don’t know how such things on either a large scale or small are allowed, on land or sea.
Good post. I feel
your passion
Oil spill is not “minimal”! I love the passion you’ve put in this post, and totally understand how you feel!