Dr. Susan Shaw, Director of the Marine Environmental Research Institute talks about oilspill

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A House Divided

Louisianans, One Year After the Spill

Following the news about the Gulf of Mexico one year after the Deepwater Horizon disaster can be like reading “A Tale of Two Places.” The ocean, the wetlands, the fish, and the birds are recovering, according to some people. Others say the mess left at the bottom of the sea by the BP blowout threatens to wreak havoc on the ocean food web for years to come. Most people, we hear, are all right. Or, we are told, some are getting sick.

Which tale is true? For many Gulf residents, especially those from Louisiana, the state hardest hit by the spill, the answer might be Both.

The choice of what to say about the BP spill reveals a tension between the private narratives Louisianans tell themselves and their families and the public narratives they share with the rest of the world. Many Louisianans express frustration at the national media’s habit of showing images of oiled birds and dead dolphins; it only depresses tourist bookings and seafood sales, they complain. Other Louisianans say the pictures of destruction are necessary, a way to hold BP accountable for its actions; there’s no use jumping on what one local wit dubbed “The Streetcar Named Denial.”

The tough decisions about how to describe the spill reflect Louisianans’ split loyalties, which are divided between the fishing culture – the heart of the state’s identity – and the oil industry, the backbone of its economy. Since the 1930s, the two have been intimately connected: Many fishermen work the rigs in the off-season, and some of the best fishing spots are found near abandoned platforms, where sea life flourishes. In Louisiana, there’s nothing odd about celebrating the annual Shrimp and Petroleum Festival.

The tension is exacerbated by the widespread resentment over BP’s settlement process. Out of the $20 billion set aside for damage claims, only $3.4 billion has been disbursed by settlement czar Kenneth Feinberg. Some fishermen have been made whole. Others have received nothing. In New Orleans, dishwashers at restaurants unaffected by the spill have received $10,000 checks. Louisianans say the system is opaque, arbitrary, and just plain unfair. There are complaints about the sudden appearance of “Spillionaires.”

Then there’s the issue of the spill’s impact on the health of shoreline communities. Residents whisper darkly about a “Gulf Plague” – odd ailments and illnesses, especially among those involved in the cleanup effort. On YouTube, there are legions of videos featuring fishermen and cleanup workers describing their health problems. Yet not until this March did federal officials decide to launch a long-range study of Gulf residents’ health. While some Louisianans warn of a coverup, others snicker at the conspiracy theories of those they’ve branded “Gulf Truthers.” The pendulum of public opinion swings between paranoia and the glib assurances of the Pollyannas. One local calls it “analysis paralysis.”

The swirl of rumors, the logjam of lawsuits, the annoyance with national reporters who parachuted into the area on April 20 and left the very next day – all of it has cooked into a gumbo of cynicism. If the feelings of Louisianans a year after BP’s disaster seem contradictory, that’s because they are. They are contradictory just like the pain of life, the pain of a place and a people that are wounded. The stories of those wounds can be hard to convey to outsiders. Which is why it’s best to let Louisianans speak for themselves.

photo of a man speaking on a dock near fishing gear

The Sportsman

As the editor of a hunting and fishing magazine called Louisiana Sportsman, Todd Masson hears often from friends, relatives, and readers who are concerned about eating Gulf seafood in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. There’s no need to worry, he tells them. “Our fish, crabs, and oysters are no less safe to eat today than they were two years ago,” he wrote recently. As for those who might have made a killing in the BP settlement process? “If you actually came out ahead, then my hat’s off to you.”

Sport fishing is an essential thread in the fabric of Louisiana’s culture. We have 40 percent of the nation’s coastal wetlands, built over millennia by the Mississippi River, and as such we are the nursery grounds for the Gulf. Our fishing is spectacular, and most weekend family gatherings involve something from our local marshes – fried, boiled, baked, or broiled. When commercial and recreational fishing was outlawed last summer in the wake of the spill, it isn’t overstating things to say that people grieved. It was like a pillar of our society had been severed.

Business is certainly down. The media presented so many misleading stories during the days of the spill that everyone in the country now has the perception that the lower fringes of Louisiana’s marsh are just dripping with crude oil. That’s obviously not the case. I had some national writers down in October, and for three days we fished the marshes all around the mouth of the Mississippi River – ground zero for spill impact – and they were absolutely astounded that we didn’t see one drop of oil.

The BP oil spill had absolutely no impact on the health of current-day seafood or the prospects for its progeny. Unrefined crude oil is a natural substance that is broken down, weathered and absorbed by nature remarkably quickly in a warm, dynamic system like that of the northern Gulf. To wit, there have been literally thousands of studies of Gulf seafood, and not one single sample has come back contaminated. After conducting these studies, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals determined a diner would have to consume nine pounds of fish, five pounds of oysters, or 63 pounds of shrimp every day for five years to reach any level of concern.

The Activist

Linda Leavitt’s Cajun roots go back to the 1700s, and though her family’s tradition of news reporting may not be as long, to Leavitt, whose parents both worked for NBC News, it feels equally strong. “My mother would say, ‘You go on down there, Linda, you get the story.’” Which she has, working as a citizen-journalist to gather photographs and video of the spill’s consequence, coordinating campaigns on Facebook, and watchdogging BP on Twitter. “You got to get the word out,” she says.

It was so sad, when you saw the oil coming over the boom, that we were so helpless engineering-wise to keep this out. That sediment can wash up with the tide, and the sad part is they know there are submerged tar mats. Hurricane season is 45 days away. That tar mat is going to wash ashore.

photo of a woman in a cypress woodland, holding an umbrella with 'save the gulf' written on it
Linda Leavitt

You can rage against the machine all you want, but the reality is you have a corporation that is incredibly negligent from a safety perspective. I’m a great believer in the truth. I’m a great believer in giving people the information so they can make the honest judgments. The more you cover it up, hide it, and whitewash it, then you get crazy-assed conspiracy theorists, everybody out there thinking the worst. That’s what happens in a closed society with closed information. That’s not the America I grew up in. I grew up in an America where information should be made public for public safety.

The dynamic with a lot of people who may be afraid to come forward and talk is fear that other people’s livelihoods are based on the oil companies and they don’t want to rock that boat, or shrimping is their livelihood, so they don’t want to rock the boat. There is a lot of that in small communities, fear of being the first one to come out and say something on the record.

Here’s the crux: There’s always been this unspoken acknowledgement between the oil industry and the fishermen, the Cajuns and other people who made their livelihoods on the water, that if something goes down, if something happens, we’ll take care of you. And that’s not happening. It’s a big disappointment.

The Philanthropist

When BP began spraying Corexit, Joannie Hughes, a single mom from Plaquemines Parish, started worrying about the rain. Could the chemical oil dispersant evaporate and return via precipitation? She had tests run, garnered some local news, then someone posted a sign on her front yard that read, “It’s not the rain water that’s going to kill you.” Frightened for her family, she decided the best she could do was to start a nonprofit, Coastal Heritage Society of Louisiana, to assist out-of-work families. “I backed off, right or wrong, and continued the humanitarian part of the work, because that’s where I felt I could at least make some difference.”

Murky Waters

“A deathtrap of mucus gashing through the water like flypaper.” That’s how Samantha Joye, a professor of marine sciences at the University of Georgia, describes the effect of the oil and gas from last summer’s disaster on the delicate marine organisms that inhabit the depths of the Gulf of Mexico.

When BP’s Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded on April 20, 2010, Joye’s research team was among the earliest on the scene and the first to report huge underwater plumes …more…

It’s been an interesting road. We knew we couldn’t clean up the oil. We knew we couldn’t stop people from drilling. What we could do is feed some families that were suffering who had not been paid. Because legitimate claims have been denied.

We’re a bunch of moms, not a million-dollar organization. We delivered to one family and she asked if another family got a box of food. She immediately called the other family to come over and split the food, so instead of one family eating for five days, two families ate for two and a half days. That’s the kind of community it is. No one can ever say people here don’t help themselves, because they do. So far CHSL has given food box deliveries to over 300 families. We’re very good shoppers.

With saltwater intrusion, we’re losing the cypress at a phenomenal rate, and that’s pre-spill. So if we don’t start restoring by planting new ones, it’s going to be gone before my grandchildren are ever out there in a pirogue.

We are planting seedlings of cypress trees complete with nutria-resistant wire. You can plant a tree in someone’s honor, we send you a picture, GPS coordinates, and long term it helps fight erosion in our wetlands. We’re doing it all the way down in the marsh. We’re literally down there with our waders planting the trees and we love for volunteers to come down and help us plant them too.

I try to explain that we are part of that ecosystem. We haven’t been the best stewards, but we do count at least as much as the grass shrimp.

The Fisherman

Jason Adams has known only shrimping or working for the oil industry. He started fishing with his parents, he says, when “I was in diapers.” When the Macondo well blew out, Adams, a native of the bayou town of Galliano, worked briefly for BP doing cleanup work, but soon became resentful of how many jobs were going to guys from Houston. Today, he’s working as a tugboat captain. But, he says, “I’d rather fish.”

I worked it with my boat and let me tell you, I got into some of that oil with the Corexit. I thought I was going to die. Sick, can’t breathe. And the other side effect, I’m mentally sick because there’s such uncertainty. The postlarva of the white shrimp and the brown shrimp [are in danger] – once that contamination reaches the estuaries and all that, it’s a done deal. You know my little boy, sometimes he cries. He said, ‘Dad, what if I won’t be able to go shrimping anymore?’

photo of a man, thoughtful

It’s fine right now way up in the estuaries. But what’s it going to be like five years from now? The bottom line is that they sunk the oil. I don’t know how many millions of gallons of the Corexit they put in there.

I’m going to tell you what’s going to make that catastrophe – that first tropical depression. The first real southeast wind we had the other day, that’s when the oil came up on the beach.

A lot of the fishermen, it messed up their livelihoods. They can’t work, they’re sick. Their backs are against the wall right now. They tell me, ‘I won’t be able to work, but yet they want to come offer me $300,000, not for my livelihood, they’re offering me that for my life.’ The people that were in it, that got sprayed, that worked in that oil – they’re just buying their life.

Ninety percent of the people would rather be doing what they love to do. Fishermen are resilient people. You think a fisherman wants to collect money from BP and sit in his house? He’d go stir crazy. When it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood. You’re doing what you want to do.

Karen Dalton Beninato is a freelance writer from New Orleans who has covered the BP oil spill for The Huffington Post. Her website is KarenDaltonBeninato.com. A resident of New Orleans and a Bayou Lacombe Choctaw Indian, Stacy Revere’s photography can be viewed at slrevere.photoshelter.com.

This story was partially funded through micro-donations via Spot.Us


NAD metabolism in Vibrio cholerae.

NAD metabolism in Vibrio cholerae. J W Foster and C Brestel Abstract Extracts of Vibrio cholerae were assayed for various enzymatic activities associated with pyridine nucleotide cycle metabolism. The activities measured include NAD glycohydrolase, nicotinamide deamidase, nicotinamide mononucleotide deamidase, and nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase. The results obtained demonstrate the existence in V. cholerae of the five-membered pyridine nucleotide cycle and the potential for a four-membered pyridine nucleotide cycle. The data presented also suggest that most of the NAD glycohydrolase in V. cholerae extracts is not directly related to cholera toxin. Full text Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (619K), or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Links to PubMed are also available for Selected References.

The Mississippi Coast as photographed by me on Oct. 7, 2010

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Saturday, July 31, 2010

Gulf update: The toll on Grand Isle | Need to Know | PBS

Gulf update: The toll on Grand Isle Need to Know PBS

Fishermen arrested in Bayou La Batre after blockade protesting little oil cleanup work | al.com

Fishermen arrested in Bayou La Batre after blockade protesting little oil cleanup work al.com

Gulf Oil Spill's Toll on Nation's Beaches

Report Cites Thousands of Beach Closings, Advisories, and a Host of Possible Health Problems
By Denise Mann
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
July 28, 2010 -- One in five beaches off the Gulf of Mexico has been closed this season because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according to a new report issued by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental action group headquartered in New York City.
There were 2,239 beach closings and advisory days issued along beaches in Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi since the April 22 spill -- a number that is 10 times higher than beach closings and advisory days in these areas for any reason in 2009, says David Beckman, director of the NRDC's water program. To date, there have been no official beach closures or advisories in Texas, which also is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. cont.

Gulf Oil Spill's Toll on Nation's Beaches

Gulf Oil Spill's Toll on Nation's Beaches

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve update

Oil Spill Response



 
Trees are reflected in the waters of a canal stretching into the distance
The Barataria Preserve's bayous and canals are part of a system of waterways that connect to the Gulf of Mexico.
July 28 (date will change whenever new information is added): None of Jean Lafitte's six sites are directly in the path of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The park's Barataria Preserve is the most vulnerable site since it is linked to the Gulf of Mexico via waterways (click here for a 1791kb pdf satellite map of south Louisiana).
No oil from the spill has been observed in the preserve. Oil has fouled the shoreline of the Barataria Waterway about 12 miles south of the preserve boundary and has penetrated marshes on the north edge of Barataria Bay, about 15 miles south of the preserve. Booms are in place and cleanup is underway. Park staff continue to monitor the situation and work with experts to prepare defensive actions. When Tropical Storm Bonnie threatened south Louisiana in late July, park staff collected pre-storm baseline soil and water samples in case pre- and post-storm comparisons were needed.

BP oil spill: A Louisiana tragedy | Environment | The Guardian

BP oil spill: A Louisiana tragedy | Environment | The Guardian

Life in Grand Isle after the BP oil spill: 'We live off the water' | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Life in Grand Isle after the BP oil spill: 'We live off the water' | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Devastation of birds and habitat in Gulf is a warning about our addiction to oil | Susan Casey-Lefkowitz's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC

Devastation of birds and habitat in Gulf is a warning about our addiction to oil | Susan Casey-Lefkowitz's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC

Optimism That Cement Will Shut Down Gulf Oil Well - NYTimes.com

Optimism That Cement Will Shut Down Gulf Oil Well - NYTimes.com

On Our Radar: Oil Spill Larger Than China Admits - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

On Our Radar: Oil Spill Larger Than China Admits - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

Friday, July 30, 2010

*ALERT* Senior EPA Analyst: Feds think public can’t HANDLE THE TRUTH about toxic dispersants (VIDEO) | Florida Oil Spill Law

*ALERT* Senior EPA Analyst: Feds think public can’t HANDLE THE TRUTH about toxic dispersants (VIDEO) Florida Oil Spill Law
FACTBOX-Oil spill adds to environment insults on US Gulf Coast




28 Jul 2010 21:05:07 GMT 28 Jul 2010 21:05:07 GMT ## for search indexer, do not remove



--> Source: Reuters
By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent



WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - The BP oil spill is the latest in a series of environmental insults to the U.S. Gulf Coast, from wetlands eradication to flood control measures that have starved marshes of new sediment deposits.



WETLANDS CLEARING: Early European settlers cleared coastal swamps and marshes in the Mississippi River delta to control malaria they believed was caused by the fetid air in wetlands. This destroyed coastal wetlands that filter pollution, shelter native species and act as buffers to slow down hurricanes that spawn in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.



RIVER CHANNELIZATION: To keep the Mississippi navigable and protect against floods, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers channeled the river and built a series of levees along its banks. This prevented the natural variation of the river's course in the lower delta, essentially blocking the formation of new wetlands or the building up of existing wetlands with sediment from the river's vast watershed, which draws from 31 states and two Canadian provinces over 1.2 million square miles (3.1 million square km). Louisiana has lost an estimated 2,000 square miles (5,180 square km) of territory since channelization was authorized in 1928.



SUBSIDENCE AND COMPACTION: Without new sediment deposits to build them up, as would occur if the river followed its natural varying course, coastal wetlands sink and squash down, allowing the salty waters of the Gulf to inundate them. Scientists are looking at this area as a kind of preview of what might happen to other river deltas and low-lying areas if global sea levels rise due to climate change. Species that thrive in marsh or swamp don't necessarily adapt to ocean habitat.



DEAD ZONE: Agricultural chemicals applied to farms throughout the Mississippi watershed flow toward the Gulf of Mexico, and because of the river's channelization, these chemical-laden waters and sediments are shunted away from wetlands and out into the deep Gulf. The nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizers have created a recurring summer "dead zone" with oxygen levels so low in parts of the Gulf that few species can survive. The 2009 dead zone extended over about 3,000 square miles (7,770 square km), smaller than the average but more deadly because the hypoxic area was closer to the water's surface.



OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION: Drilling for oil and gas in the lower Mississippi delta can accelerate subsidence and compaction by creating empty underground pockets that are ripe to sink down. The pace of this kind of subsidence has slowed because much of the oil and gas has already been extracted; its peak was in the 1970s. Some engineers believe that the constant stream of heavy vehicles on a single two-lane road that leads to Port Fourchon, Louisiana, which supplies offshore drilling, also contributes to subsidence in the area.



(Editing by Eric Beech)

Gulf of Mexico Has Long Been a Sink of Pollution - NYTimes.com

Gulf of Mexico Has Long Been a Sink of Pollution - NYTimes.com

Images: Island Aid 2010 - Photos - WDSU New Orleans

Images: Island Aid 2010 - Photos - WDSU New Orleans

Wildlife Groups Want $5B From BP For Wetlands - Gulf Coast News Story - WDSU New Orleans

Wildlife Groups Want $5B From BP For Wetlands - Gulf Coast News Story - WDSU New Orleans

Governor Jindal Meets with Coast Guard, BP on Next Steps for Oil Spill Response Efforts | EMERGENCY.louisiana.gov

Governor Jindal Meets with Coast Guard, BP on Next Steps for Oil Spill Response Efforts | EMERGENCY.louisiana.gov

South Florida, East Coast Likely Spared Oil Impact - New Orleans News Story - WDSU New Orleans

South Florida, East Coast Likely Spared Oil Impact - New Orleans News Story - WDSU New Orleans

La. Foundation Will Administer Oil Workers Fund - New Orleans News Story - WDSU New Orleans

La. Foundation Will Administer Oil Workers Fund - New Orleans News Story - WDSU New Orleans

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Op-Ed Columnist - Want the Good News First? - NYTimes.com

Op-Ed Columnist - Want the Good News First? - NYTimes.com

Mental Health Claims From Oil Spill Probably Won’t Be Paid - ProPublica

Mental Health Claims From Oil Spill Probably Won’t Be Paid - ProPublica

Oil catastrophe wasn't just an accident - CNN.com

Oil catastrophe wasn't just an accident - CNN.com

Crews work to cap new La. oil leak near Gulf

Published: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 10:45 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 10:45 a.m.
NEW ORLEANS — A parish councilman in Louisiana says the oil, gas and water spewing from an abandoned well north of Barataria Bay will soon be stopped if all goes well.


Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts says the well not far from the Gulf of Mexico could be shut off by noon Wednesday.
A wild well company is working on the spewing wellhead that was hit by a barge in a coastal inlet early Tuesday.
About 6,000 feet of containment boom is in place around the site. Authorities say the mile-long slick from the latest leak is small compared with BP's massive Gulf spill.
The Coast Guard says a towboat was pushing the barge on Mud Lake when it hit the wellhead. The Coast Guard says the towboat captain told investigators the well was not lit as required.

Saints coaches hand out supplies to oil spill victims | DailyComet.com

Saints coaches hand out supplies to oil spill victims DailyComet.com

Oil causes roughly 2,000 beach closings so far | DailyComet.com

Oil causes roughly 2,000 beach closings so far DailyComet.com

100 days of oil: Gulf life will never be the same | DailyComet.com

100 days of oil: Gulf life will never be the same DailyComet.com

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Picture of Health: Gulf Coast residents suffer mentally from the oil spill - Your daily dose of wellness, health care, nutrition, fitness, medical research and more - baltimoresun.com

Picture of Health: Gulf Coast residents suffer mentally from the oil spill -

NOT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE

Wellhead hit, leaking oil and natural gas near Bayou St. Denis

Wellhead hit, leaking oil and natural gas near Bayou St. Denis
by Staff and wire reports
wwltv.com
Posted on July 27, 2010 at 9:15 AM
Updated today at 11:27 AM

JEFFERSON, La. – Officials in Jefferson Parish said that a wellhead was hit overnight and it is leaking oil and natural gas near Bayou St. Denis.
Councilman Chris Roberts said he is getting reports of oil in the marsh from the Jefferson Parish emergency management staff.  Vessels of opportunity are en route to beginning cleaning up the area.
“There is a pretty good amount of oil flowing there,” said Roberts, though the exact amout is unknown. However, reports now say that mostly natural gas is spewing from the well.
The Coast Guard said the tow boat Pere Ana C. struck the wellhead near Mud Lake early Tuesday. The boat was moved to LaRose after the incident. No injuries were reported.
Boats are being stopped about a mile from the site by the Coast Guard and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, including the vessels of opportunity boats.

Louisiana DHH Releases Oil Spill-Related Exposure Information | EMERGENCY.louisiana.gov

Louisiana DHH Releases Oil Spill-Related Exposure Information EMERGENCY.louisiana.gov

Monday, July 26, 2010

Heart of Louisiana: Aquatic Navigator

Heart of Louisiana: Aquatic Navigator

For oyster clan, just another disaster

For oyster clan, just another disaster in a series -

Oil response workers relieved hiatus is over - New Orleans News

Oil response workers relieved hiatus is over - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

What others are writing about the Gulf oil spill: Obama will be on 'The View' Thursday | NOLA.com

What others are writing about the Gulf oil spill: Obama will be on 'The View' Thursday NOLA.com

324 people blame illness on Gulf oil spill | NOLA.com

324 people blame illness on Gulf oil spill NOLA.com

The Associated Press: Some oil spill events from Monday, July 26, 2010

The Associated Press: Some oil spill events from Monday, July 26, 2010

Barges on their way back to the Rigolets | NOLA.com

Barges on their way back to the Rigolets NOLA.com

Censored Gulf news: People bleeding internally, millions poisoned says 'EPA whistleblower'

Censored Gulf news: People bleeding internally, millions poisoned says 'EPA whistleblower'

China oil spill: Officials say oil spill is cleaned up - latimes.com

China oil spill: Officials say oil spill is cleaned up - latimes.com

Report on Coastal Skimming Activities in Louisiana | EMERGENCY.louisiana.gov

Report on Coastal Skimming Activities in Louisiana EMERGENCY.louisiana.gov

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Reuters AlertNet - BP to place last pipe in relief well in next week-US govt

Reuters AlertNet - BP to place last pipe in relief well in next week-US govt

Concert boosts beleaguered island’s morale | DailyComet.com

Concert boosts beleaguered island’s morale DailyComet.com

Unleashing river to fight oil causes massive oyster kills | DailyComet.com

Unleashing river to fight oil causes massive oyster kills DailyComet.com

Ongoing air testing along Gulf Coast is a first | DailyComet.com

Ongoing air testing along Gulf Coast is a first DailyComet.com

Effects of a Brazilian oil spill 10 years on | Al Jazeera Blogs

Effects of a Brazilian oil spill 10 years on Al Jazeera Blogs

UPDATE 1-BP says relief well rig back at Gulf spill site | Reuters

UPDATE 1-BP says relief well rig back at Gulf spill site Reuters

Op-Ed Contributors - Where Oysters Grew on Trees - NYTimes.com

Op-Ed Contributors - Where Oysters Grew on Trees - NYTimes.com

As BP Lays Out Future, It May Not Include Tony Hayward - NYTimes.com

As BP Lays Out Future, It May Not Include Tony Hayward - NYTimes.com

Friday, July 23, 2010

Wildlife rescuers note conditions prior to arrival of Bonnie | NOLA.com

Wildlife rescuers note conditions prior to arrival of Bonnie NOLA.com

Federal records show steady stream of oil spills in gulf since 1964

Federal records show steady stream of oil spills in gulf since 1964

As Storm Nears Gulf, Tension Among Officials Grows - NYTimes.com

As Storm Nears Gulf, Tension Among Officials Grows - NYTimes.com

Oil Rig Sirens Were Kept Off, Technician Says - NYTimes.com

Oil Rig Sirens Were Kept Off, Technician Says - NYTimes.com

Day 94 - The Latest on the Oil Spill - NYTimes.com

Day 94 - The Latest on the Oil Spill - NYTimes.com

Gulf oil spill: Computer glitches plagued the Deepwater Horizon rig, technician says | Greenspace | Los Angeles Times

Gulf oil spill: Computer glitches plagued the Deepwater Horizon rig, technician says Greenspace Los Angeles Times

Storm could be a blessing and a curse for oil spill | Reuters

Storm could be a blessing and a curse for oil spill Reuters

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Second Federal Analysis Gives Further Clues about Location and Movement of Subsurface Oil

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Second Federal Analysis Gives Further Clues about Location and Movement of Subsurface Oil

Governor Jindal Says State Preparing for Tropical Storm Bonnie

Governor Jindal Says State Preparing for Tropical Storm Bonnie

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Concern raised about methane at oil spill site - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

Concern raised about methane at oil spill site - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

Off death watch, BP's future still up in the air - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

Off death watch, BP's future still up in the air - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

BP workers sleep on barges - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

BP workers sleep on barges - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

BP and Obama Administration disagree on how to handle capped well - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

BP and Obama Administration disagree on how to handle capped well - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

Looking for folks in Fourchon

How are things at Fourchon?


Published: Friday, July 16, 2010 at 2:03 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, July 16, 2010 at 2:03 p.m.
HOUMA -- It's now seven weeks into the moratorium.

We're looking to talk with workers at Fourchon about how things are. Is there still work to do? Are layoffs going on?
We'd like to speak to some people who work in and around the port for possible inclusion in a story.
Give a call to Kathrine Schmidt at 857-2204 or    kathrine.schmidt@houmatoday.com.

Scientists find ‘alien’ coral species off Fourchon's coast | HoumaToday.com

Scientists find ‘alien’ coral species off Fourchon's coast HoumaToday.com

I found this on a blog today, and thought it should be shared with all of you.

These are some very interesting facts/figures.

· Tony Hayward, CEO Of BP, Dumped Approximately 1/3 Of His Own Stock In BP Less Than 30-Days Before The Explosion!!! (London Telegraph, June 5th, 2010)

· Goldman Sachs Sold Over 50%, Wachovia Sold 98%, And Suisse Bank Sold 97% Of All BP Holdings Just Months Before The Incident!!! (John Byrne; RawStory, June 2nd, 2010)

· Peter Sutherland, The Current Chairman Of Goldman Sachs International (1995-current) Was Also The Chairman For BP International (1997-2009) Until Just Last Year!!! (Sutherland Biography)

· The ‘Hydraulic Control System’, Designed To Automatically Seal The Well In An Emergency, Was Modified Sometime Shortly Before The Explosion, And No One Seems To Know By Whom, Or To What Extent…”The Extent Of These Modifications Is Unknown At This Time.” (BP Internal Report )

· Just Days Before The Explosion, Halliburton Purchased An OIL RIG FIRE EMERGENCY COMPANY Called ‘Boots & Coots’, The Same Company That Put Out The Oil Fires For Halliburton In Kuwait After The First Gulf War In The Early 1990’s!!! (Halliburton Press Release, ‘Yahoo Finance’, April 9th, 2010)

· Halliburton Contractors Were Working On The Blow-Out Preventer Almost A Mile Down Under The Gulf Of Mexico Less Than 24-Hours Before The Explosion!!! (Halliburton Internal Report To Congress)

· BP Has Admitted To Buying Yahoo And Google Keywords In An Attempt To Control Publicly Available Information In The Wake Of The Catastrophe, Conveniently Drawing Attention From Halliburton. (Digital Trends, June 8th, 2010)O

· Officials Estimate More Than 1-Million Gallons Oil Per Day Have Spilled Into The Gulf; Realistic Conservative Estimates Now Total 150-200 Million Gallons!!!

Gulf coast residents crossing their fingers while Obama shows no concern

Gulf coast residents crossing their fingers while Obama shows no concern

Busy Coast Guard lab yields answers for beach communities worried about oil - St. Petersburg Times

Busy Coast Guard lab yields answers for beach communities worried about oil - St. Petersburg Times

TRAUMATIC INCIDENT STRESS PREVENTION, REPOST FROM EARLIER

VIII. Traumatic Incident Stress Prevention




Workers and volunteers may experience stress and fatigue when they respond to environmental disasters, both natural and human-caused. Deepwater Horizon response workers and volunteers are at risk of feeling uncomfortable levels of stress from what mental health professionals refer to as a traumatic incident. The term traumatic is used because of an unexpected and troubling change in the natural order of things, such as the untimely death or injury of oil-covered wildlife and the impact on fishing communities and the environment. It is important that responders monitor their health and well-being during their response activity period, and even months after their response work has ended.

Specific recommendations to help manage responder stress and fatigue during and after a response (in addition to tips for parents, teachers, and response workers) can be found on the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) website at http://samhsa.gov/Disaster/ and the NIOSH website at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/traumatic.html.

Boost for the beach: Baldwin beaches show signs of life | al.com

Boost for the beach: Baldwin beaches show signs of life al.com

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Tattoo artist’s roadside display gets international attention | DailyComet.com

Tattoo artist’s roadside display gets international attention DailyComet.com

Mural at school memorializes oil spill | DailyComet.com

Mural at school memorializes oil spill DailyComet.com

After Much Bad News, Wary Acceptance of Good - NYTimes.com

After Much Bad News, Wary Acceptance of Good - NYTimes.com

The Gulf waits: Oil is plugged, but for how long? - Yahoo! News

The Gulf waits: Oil is plugged, but for how long? - Yahoo! News

With Well Shut for 2 Days, BP Sees No Signs of Damage - NYTimes.com

With Well Shut for 2 Days, BP Sees No Signs of Damage - NYTimes.com

Louisiana authorities report oil sightings from Gulf of Mexico spill | NOLA.com

Louisiana authorities report oil sightings from Gulf of Mexico spill NOLA.com

BP reports no sign of leaks as tests of capped oil well near 48-hour mark | NOLA.com

BP reports no sign of leaks as tests of capped oil well near 48-hour mark NOLA.com

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Oil Spill Takes Emotional Toll on Gulf Residents | The Rundown News Blog | PBS NewsHour | PBS

Oil Spill Takes Emotional Toll on Gulf Residents The Rundown News Blog PBS NewsHour PBS

Oil Claims: 6 Months Of Payments Per Each Request - WWL - AM870 | FM105.3 | News | Talk | Sports

Oil Claims: 6 Months Of Payments Per Each Request - WWL - AM870 FM105.3 News Talk Sports

Delta Steel closes in face of drilling ban | DailyComet.com

Delta Steel closes in face of drilling ban DailyComet.com

Terrebonne spent one-third of BP’s $1 million | DailyComet.com

Terrebonne spent one-third of BP’s $1 million DailyComet.com

Cleanup methods are best available, experts say | DailyComet.com

Cleanup methods are best available, experts say DailyComet.com

NOAA Gulf of Mexico oil spill trajectory forecasts for Saturday through Monday | NOLA.com

NOAA Gulf of Mexico oil spill trajectory forecasts for Saturday through Monday NOLA.com

Second-hand accounts of BP oil spill can't substitute for seeing it yourself: An editorial | NOLA.com

Second-hand accounts of BP oil spill can't substitute for seeing it yourself: An editorial NOLA.com

Gulf oil spill puts oyster shuckers, traditions on ice | NOLA.com

Gulf oil spill puts oyster shuckers, traditions on ice NOLA.com

Oil spill taints the shores of St. Tammany: Ron Thibodeaux | NOLA.com

Oil spill taints the shores of St. Tammany: Ron Thibodeaux NOLA.com

Houston-based company may buy some BP assets for $12 billion | NOLA.com

Houston-based company may buy some BP assets for $12 billion NOLA.com

BP happy with new oil-leak effort, but no promises

TBO.com - News From AP

BP Oil Spill Leaking Deadly Toxic Gases, Huge Explosion & Tsunami Possible – PT 1 of 4 - US Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill News

BP Oil Spill Leaking Deadly Toxic Gases, Huge Explosion & Tsunami Possible – PT 1 of 4 - US Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill News

J Squared: ‘Cajun ingenuity’ - A real leader in war against BP oil spill | Universe.byu.edu

J Squared: ‘Cajun ingenuity’ - A real leader in war against BP oil spill | Universe.byu.edu

CDC | Gulf Oil Spill 2010 | What to Expect from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

CDC | Gulf Oil Spill 2010 | What to Expect from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

Friday, July 9, 2010

Shore Up Your Resilience to Manage Distress Caused by the Oil Disaster in the Gulf

Shore Up Your Resilience to Manage Distress Caused by the Oil Disaster in the Gulf

Traumatic Incident

VIII. Traumatic Incident Stress Prevention


Workers and volunteers may experience stress and fatigue when they respond to environmental disasters, both natural and human-caused. Deepwater Horizon response workers and volunteers are at risk of feeling uncomfortable levels of stress from what mental health professionals refer to as a traumatic incident. The term traumatic is used because of an unexpected and troubling change in the natural order of things, such as the untimely death or injury of oil-covered wildlife and the impact on fishing communities and the environment. It is important that responders monitor their health and well-being during their response activity period, and even months after their response work has ended.
Specific recommendations to help manage responder stress and fatigue during and after a response (in addition to tips for parents, teachers, and response workers) can be found on the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) website at http://samhsa.gov/Disaster/External Web Site Icon and the NIOSH website at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/oilspillresponse/traumatic.html.

La. asks BP for $10M for mental health services - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

La. asks BP for $10M for mental health services - New Orleans News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - FOX 8 Live WVUE-TV Channel 8

Drilling ban is wrong response | DailyComet.com

Drilling ban is wrong response DailyComet.com

Navy blimp arrives in New Orleans for Gulf duty | DailyComet.com

Navy blimp arrives in New Orleans for Gulf duty DailyComet.com

Rescuing future sea turtles one egg at a time | DailyComet.com

Rescuing future sea turtles one egg at a time DailyComet.com

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill trajectory ensemble forecast from different numerical models

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill trajectory ensemble forecast from different numerical models

New Orleans News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather | wwltv.com

New Orleans News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather wwltv.com

Oil spill strikes Lake Pontchartrain | Capitol Hill Blue

Oil spill strikes Lake Pontchartrain Capitol Hill Blue

A Gulf Fisherman Speaks Out About Surviving the Oil Spill | Louisiana Seafood Newsroom

A Gulf Fisherman Speaks Out About Surviving the Oil Spill Louisiana Seafood Newsroom

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Doomsday: How BP Gulf disaster may have triggered a world-killing event - by Terrence Aym - Helium

Doomsday: How BP Gulf disaster may have triggered a world-killing event - by Terrence Aym - Helium

More tar balls found in Lake Pontchartrain this morning | NOLA.com

More tar balls found in Lake Pontchartrain this morning | NOLA.com

LDWF Modifies Recreational Closures to Allow Catch and Release Fishing for Finfish

LDWF Modifies Recreational Closures to Allow Catch and Release Fishing for Finfish

Gov. Jindal to Feds: No Is Not A Plan, Lead Or Get Out Of The Way

Gov. Jindal to Feds: No Is Not A Plan, Lead Or Get Out Of The Way

Many deckhands lack documentation for spill claim

The Associated Press: Many deckhands lack documentation for spill claim

Buffett hopes to boost Gulf spirits with concert - Oil Spill - SunHerald.com

Buffett hopes to boost Gulf spirits with concert - Oil Spill - SunHerald.com

Oil spill reaches Lake Pontchartrain - latimes.com

Oil spill reaches Lake Pontchartrain - latimes.com

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Oil Spill Threatens to Shutter Family Business | Louisiana Seafood Newsroom

Oil Spill Threatens to Shutter Family Business | Louisiana Seafood Newsroom

Ecodwell International - Economical Solutions for Environmental Protection

Ecodwell International - Economical Solutions for Environmental Protection

Analysis: BP clean-up leaves U.S. vulnerable to another spill | Reuters

Analysis: BP clean-up leaves U.S. vulnerable to another spill | Reuters

Britain drafting contingency plans for BP: report | Reuters

Britain drafting contingency plans for BP: report | Reuters

BP gives Gulf of Mexico Corexit overdose: Submerged oil more deadly than surface oil slick

BP gives Gulf of Mexico Corexit overdose: Submerged oil more deadly than surface oil slick

Oil entering New Orleans through back door - Disaster in the Gulf - msnbc.com

Oil entering New Orleans through back door - Disaster in the Gulf - msnbc.com

7-6-2010 FACTBOX-Developments in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill

Reuters AlertNet - FACTBOX-Developments in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill

BP Board Game From The 70s Ominously Predicts Oil Spill (PICTURE)

BP Board Game From The 70s Ominously Predicts Oil Spill (PICTURE)

Blast at BP Texas Refinery in ‘05 Foreshadowed Gulf Disaster - ProPublica

Blast at BP Texas Refinery in ‘05 Foreshadowed Gulf Disaster - ProPublica

Gulf “Safety Zones” Restrict Access With Criminal Penalties for Press and Public - ProPublica

Gulf “Safety Zones” Restrict Access With Criminal Penalties for Press and Public - ProPublica

Determining oil spill's environmental damage is difficult

Determining oil spill's environmental damage is difficult

Gulf recovery falls short of BP's promises - U.S. news - Washington Post - msnbc.com

Gulf recovery falls short of BP's promises - U.S. news - Washington Post - msnbc.com

Wildlife agency missed badly with prediction on oil’s effects - Oil Spill - SunHerald.com

Wildlife agency missed badly with prediction on oil’s effects - Oil Spill - SunHerald.com

Another Gulf mystery: Who’s in charge of oil spill research efforts? - Oil Spill - SunHerald.com

Another Gulf mystery: Who’s in charge of oil spill research efforts? - Oil Spill - SunHerald.com

Navy blimp to be used in oil cleanup efforts - Oil Spill - SunHerald.com

Navy blimp to be used in oil cleanup efforts - Oil Spill - SunHerald.com

NOAA Gulf of Mexico oil spill trajectory forecasts for Tuesday through Thursday | NOLA.com

NOAA Gulf of Mexico oil spill trajectory forecasts for Tuesday through Thursday | NOLA.com

Tar balls reach Lake Pontchartrain | NOLA.com

Tar balls reach Lake Pontchartrain | NOLA.com

Corps denies Jefferson Parish's requests to use rocks to block oil from Barataria Bay | NOLA.com#incart_mce#incart_mce

Corps denies Jefferson Parish's requests to use rocks to block oil from Barataria Bay | NOLA.com#incart_mce#incart_mce

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Churches, nonprofits fight for survival in face of Gulf of Mexico oil spill | NOLA.com

Churches, nonprofits fight for survival in face of Gulf of Mexico oil spill | NOLA.com

Incident GULF_OF_MEXICO_OIL_SPILL QuickLook, POSTED 11:00 CDT 07/04/2010

Incident GULF_OF_MEXICO_OIL_SPILL QuickLook, POSTED 11:00 CDT 07/04/2010

Sinking oil threatens historic Gulf shipwrecks - Regional Wire - SunHerald.com

Sinking oil threatens historic Gulf shipwrecks - Regional Wire - SunHerald.com

Fourth Grader Inspired to Help Pelicans in the Gulf

http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/731239

Oil Spill May Spell Disaster for Atakapa Indian Tribe.

Published June 8, 2010

The town of Grand Bayou, Louisiana, has no streets and no cars, just water and boats. And now the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico threatens the very existence of the Atakapa-Ishak Indians who live there. "We're facing the potential for cultural genocide," says one tribe member.

© 2010 National Geographic; videographer and field producer: Fritz Faerber

RELATED

Gulf Oil Spill News and Pictures

Blog Post: Oil Spill May Spell Disaster for Atakapa Indian Tribe

UNEDITED TRANSCRIPT

In the town of Grand Bayou, Lousiana, the main thoroughfare is the water.

There are no streets, no cars. Everyone gets around by boat.

Just recovered from Hurricane Katrina, the oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon well now threatens this community.

SOUNDBITE: Rosina Philippe, Atakapa-Ishak Tribe

“Well this is the Grand Bayou Village and we are a subsistence community. We have been here for centuries. And we live here. We make our living from the harvest of the waterways and this is also where we get our food that we eat.”

Rosina Philippe is Atakapa-Ishak, a Native American tribe. Like others, it is not recognized by the federal government.

For decades, the Atakapa and other native groups here have adapted to the loss of wetlands, the encroachment of the oil and gas industry, and hurricanes.

But the latest spill could be the final straw. Fishing and shrimping is at a standstill, and the oil keeps creeping into the marshes.

SOUNDBITE: Maurice Phillips, Atakapa-Ishak Tribe

“I can’t even think about leaving it. And the way the economy is, where are you going to go and live?”

The largest oil spill in U.S. history is killing wildlife, contaminating beaches and marshes, closing fishing waters and… threatening an entire way of life.

Tens of millions of gallons of crude have spewed into the Gulf of Mexico since the BP oil rig exploded April 20 and sank two days later.

Coastal Louisiana is closest to ground zero. Its fragile wetlands and beaches are oiled and wildlife faces possible mass die-offs.

But on top of the ecological disaster, unique cultures of the people living in Louisiana’s bayous could also vanish.

SOUNDBITE: Rosina Philippe, Atakapa-Ishak Tribe

“The oil spill has the potential to imperil all of us. We’re facing the potential for cultural genocide. “

Shrimp is a way of life here. Shrimp boats line the canals. Locals lower nets and scoop up the shrimp carried by the current.

SOUNDBITE: Maurice Phillips, Atakapa-Ishak Tribe

“I’ve been a shrimper all my life, and trapping. That’s all I ever did. We live off the land. We get all our wildlife, seafood, and everything off the land.”

Maurice Phillips has seen the ground vanish beneath his feet. Canals dug for oil and gas exploration decades ago let in saltwater that kills the marsh grasses – hurricanes wash away the soil left behind. And levees keep the nearby Mississippi River from replenishing the soil. A University of New Orleans map graphic shows how wide open water now fills areas once rich with freshwater marshes and wildlife.

Scientists say the Mississippi delta is vanishing at an alarming pace.

Matt Bethel leads a program to combine satellite and other data with the traditional ecological knowledge of Grand Bayou’s residents to try and find a way to restore some land.

SOUNDBITE: Matt Bethel, Environmental Scientist, Univ. of New Orleans

“What they are facing especially in the context of today with the oil spill and everything, they are facing their way of life being changed forever and not being able to keep doing what they love to do, which is shrimping, fishing, trapping.”

The Atakapa recently hosted visitors from Alaska. And while they are distinctive culturally, individuals at this gathering found much in common.

It might seem like they are from worlds apart, but Eskimos and the natives from Louisiana found much in common.

SOUNDBITE: Stanley Tom, Yup’ik Eskimo

“The people here are subsistence here just like in Alaska. The climate is a little warmer, but the landscape is just like my hometown. It’s just like tundra. And when we went boat riding it reminded me of my home.”

Tom and the other visitors from Alaska were attending a conference in New Orleans to focus on climate change and other threats to native communities around the world. The oil spill brought back memories of the 1989 Exxon Valdez accident.

They offered emotional support and advice to their hosts – who are used to a hard life, but fear the spill could be too much to overcome.

SOUNDBITE: Ruby Ancar, Atakapa-Ishak Tribe

“Nature, you can’t control. You can’t control a hurricane you can’t control a tornado. But when you have things that are man made: that destroys a person’s life or an entire village or an entire community, I mean, that’s uncalled for.“

The Atakapa hope the Gulf disaster will open eyes around the world to the importance of protecting the environment.

SOUNDBITE: Maurice Phillips, Atakapa-Ishak Tribe

“This land to me is like them movie stars in Beverly Hills. That’s my Beverly Hills – Grand Bayou. I love it. I love nature and I love everything about it. It’s everything God created and I love it.”

Oil Spill Threatens Native American "Water" Village

Oil Spill Threatens Native American "Water" Village

oil-lurks-beneath-beaches-gulf-breeze-florida--s990x658--p.jpg

oil-lurks-beneath-beaches-gulf-breeze-florida--s990x658--p.jpg

AJ video

For all of us living along the Gulf Coast, did you have the worse "sinus infection" of your life this past winter? I sure did. My ears still hurt. Doctor looks at them and sees nothing there causing my ear pain. WHOA, then I came across this video. I am adding a comments box right below this. Please add how you are feeling if you are in any of the Gulf Coast area affected by the BP OILSPILL. Thank you! Leesa