In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon blowout last year, BP repeatedly misled the public about how much oil was spewing into the Gulf of Mexico. Now, as we mark the one-year anniversary of the blowout, company executives would like us to believe that the spill has been cleaned up and the Gulf of Mexico is back to normal.
The people who actually live along the Gulf Coast tell us something different.
In a powerful new documentary airing on Saturday on Planet Green called Stories from the Gulf, residents make it clear they are still suffering the aftermath of the largest oil spill in American history.
The movie is based on interviews produced by NRDC and Bridge the Gulf and recorded by Story Corps. I had the opportunity to provide the opening narration for the film, but most of the voices come right out of the Gulf.
Finally, the people whose voices were so often drowned out by BP's multimillion dollar PR machine have a chance to speak for themselves.
They describe the struggle to feed their families after fishing grounds were closed and tourism dried up. Captain Darla Rooks talks about the persistent rashes, headaches, and other illnesses she's experienced after coming into contact with oil and dispersants.
Rosina Philippe laments the dead porpoises and star fish she still sees washing ashore. Eric Tiser says, "I've been in the bayou my whole life, and ain't never seen so much dead stuff in the last six months."
These Gulf Coast residents also worry what the spill will do to the future health of marine life. "My community is a fishing community," says Wendy Billiot. "And we're concerned about the long-reaching effects that the dispersants are going to have on the seafood. Are the fish going to continue to follow their life cycles? Are they going to grow past the larval stage? How much of all of these natural resources are going to be affected long-term? I think it's a lot of question marks."
Uncertainty weighs heavily on most of the people in the film. "I never thought at the time that it would impact us the way it has," says Ryan Lambert. "After 30 years of building the largest guide business on the Gulf Coast, here we are down 90-something percent, we're going to have to rebrand and put the perception that everything is fine. But how do you do that if you don't know that it's fine?"
Listening to people describe how much the bayou means to them, you realize how painful it must be not to know if their way of life can survive. But to know that the damage was wrought not by the caprice of a hurricane but by the greed and negligence of oil companies is just plain infuriating.
Numerous investigations, including President Obama's National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, found that while BP, Halliburton, and Transocean made many reckless decisions before the blowout, the entire oil and gas industry lacks a culture of safety and risk assessment. The federal government, in turn, lacks the power and capacity to oversee offshore drilling.
The oil industry, the government, and Congress must take steps to strengthen the safeguards that protect workers and the Gulf environment. America, meanwhile, must reduce the addiction to oil that drives companies into ever riskier conditions, like the deepwater.
But even as we put these changes in place, we must not disregard the people on the frontlines of this spill. We must not minimize their struggle or the sense of loss and sorrow that persists to this day.
Instead, we should listen to what they have to say.
Don't miss Stories of the Gulf: tune in Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on Planet Green. Find Planet Green on your TV.
The weird part is when the rig blew, the top brass of BP was on it, celebrating a "successful" drilling project. It is my understanding that BP over rulled objections from both Haliburton and the owners of Deep Water Horizon on safety procedures. It is all in court now, I guess we will see.
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/news-and-blogs/campaign-blog/just-released-30k-pages-of-bp-oil-spill-docum/blog/34337?m=approve
“Slightly OT, but not by too much:
"....shortÂly after the first Earth Day, a Daughters of the American Revolution member lamented to Time magazine, "SubversivÂe elements plan to make American children live in an environmenÂt that is good for them."
http://newÂs.nationalÂgeographicÂ.com/news/Â2011/04/11Â0422-earthÂ-day-googlÂe-doodle-wÂeb-green-tÂech-2011-eÂnvironmentÂ/â€
"The data being released, which was collected by the NASA missions to the Gulf, shows that the toxic compounds released from the BP spill became airborne, and significant quantities were brought onshore by precipitation, thereby exposing coastal populations to chemical poisoning. This represents something new and unique not observed in previous oil spills. It helps explain why there were numerous reports by people living along the Gulf Coast that it was raining oil and dispersant during the summer months.
"I think it is important to establish for the record that the unique aspect of this [BP blowout] is that the volatiles were continuous, it was not a one-day exposure. The chronic nature of the spill and the therefore chronic nature of its health impact is a pretty unique aspect of this event. The reason I think it's important to call it unique is that it gives a way to explain why various government agencies using protocols developed for a single coast spill didn't get it right because it's not the same. I think it's important to give the people we really want to take responsibility a way of saying ah, yes, you're right and jump on the bandwagon with us.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jerry-cope/nasa-data-toxic-rain_b_830481.html
"If a spill isn't contained quickly, oil can lie beneath the surface of beaches and the sea, severely affecting marine organisms that burrow, such as crabs, for decades. Since these burrowing creatures are a food source for other animals, the cycle of poisoning can continue for many years."
http://www.murrenhil.com/index.php?id=12
How Oil Spills Hurt Marine Life
http://marinelife.about.com/od/conservation/tp/effectsofoilspills.htm
Don’t believe people spreading false stories and rumors.
“Before waters were opened to fishing, NOAA and FDA extensively tested seafood from those waters, and NOAA has now completed two additional rounds of sampling and testing from each of those reopened areas. Thousands of test results, all publicly available, prove Gulf seafood is safe from oil and dispersant contamination.â€
“In June 2010, NOAA, FDA and the Gulf states agreed upon an extensive sampling and testing procedure. Areas once closed to fishing were reopened only when all seafood sampled in the area passed both the established sensory and chemical testing for oil and dispersant.â€
“Gulf seafood is consistently passing FDA’s safety tests by a wide margin,†said Eric Schwaab, assistant NOAA administrator in charge of NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “We are continuing to test, and we are making the data available to the public, so they can make fully informed purchasing decisions.â€
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110324_postopening.html
NOAA Data and test results:
http://www.noaa.gov/deepwaterhorizon/data/seafood_safety.html
“The results of the tests, all publicly available, should help Americans buy Gulf seafood with confidence"
“NOAA and FDA:
In October, the agencies announced the results: every sample tested was far below the safety threshold established by FDA, and over 99 percent of the thousands of samples tested showed no detectable residue.â€
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/Seafood/ucm251969.htm
Doesn't say samples have to be taken in areas known to have been impacted by oil. And taking sources straight from government agencies known to have buckled to BPs will cannot be seen as highly reliable.
Unreal, what is it about the truth you have such a hard time with? Read careefully:
“Driven by science and with human health as the highest priority, the extensive sampling and testing plan allowed areas to open only when every piece of seafood sampled there passed both sensory and chemical testing. We were precautionary on purpose: when there was a potential for tainted seafood, waters were closed, and they could only be opened when we could prove the seafood from those waters was safe to eat.â€
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/Seafood/ucm251969.htm
Crude Oil Effects on Living Cells and Living Organisms
"Crude oil, which directly contaminates land, sea or the air, often has toxic effects on life and living organisms of all types. Cell membranes of all living cells have large hydrophobic or an oil-like composition. The lipid or naturally-oily components of cell membranes interacts strongly with many of the toxic components of oil. Benzene, toluene, xylene, gasoline, naphthylene are just a few of the chemical compounds of crude oil that can dissolve or deform cell membranes and cause cell death. Membranes contain enzymes and transport proteins that are critical to the cell. When the cell membrane is damaged or disrupted the working membrane may not work to transport or permit passage of molecules. Furthermore, damaged cell membranes permit critical cell molecules to leak out of the cell and this contributes to cell death."
http://www.sciencesuperschool.com/crude-oil-spills-mdash-biological-medical-chemical-dangers.html
Look, it get you hate nuclear power, OK fine. Now you hate fishermen too? What's the connection?
What in the world could be your motivation for putting Gulf fishermen out of business??
I live in Texas, I have friends who work on fishing boats in the summer, they are good people.
They are not rich mega corporations, they are just regular people. Why spread completely false information to hurt them?
They are not BP, they are not oil compaines, what do you have against regular working people.
I do however love the idea that somehow we humans do not completely ruin this planet through corporate greed and arrogant irresponsibility.
You can keep spinning until the cows come home, Charles, but then, that is what you are getting paid for. You are shooting the messenger, not the perpetrator (BP in this case)
Good Night!
Conclusion of local authority is as would be expected. No BP oil to blame.
WHY do this????
sls11 list all that info like it pertains to the Gulf coast today, and it does not.
Thats how preople mislead, the report he sites was written in 2002!
It has nothing to do with this oil spill or the Gulf coast today!!!
Go read it for your self, it says:
FOR INFORMATION OR COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT, PLEASE CONTACT:
ruth.yender@noaa.gov
PLEASE CITE AS:
Yender, R., J. Michel, and C. Lord. 2002.
The report on TODAYS Gulf seafood was also written by NOAA, it says:
"The following is an Op-Ed written by officials from FDA, NOAA, and Louisiana. It published in a number of newspapers in early March 2011."
Co-Authors:
Eric Schwaab, NOAA's Assistant Administrator for NOAA's Fisheries Service
Donald Kraemer, Deputy Director, FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Dr. Jimmy Guidry, Louisiana State Health Officer, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals"
That's how false fears get spread!
STOP IT!!
What does that tell you, Charles? NOAA is politicized.
The Environmental Appeals Board has four members: Edward Reich, Charles Sheehan, Kathie Stein and Anna Wolgast. All are registered Democrats and Kathie Stein was an activist attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund. Members are appointed by the EPA administrator.
The FDA has declared Gulf Seafood to be "perfectly safe", no further details given. See Charles77 link below.
Parts 1 and 2 are excerpts from the report to which I link (pdf)
response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/963_seafood2.pdf
More false statements:
"FDA are not the first sources of informatioÂn when in doubt about safety of one thing or another"
Read your own link, it says:
"The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act authorizes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to protect and promote public health. The USFDA’s responsibilities include keeping “adulterated†food off the market. The USFDA has jurisdiction over seafood that crosses state lines in interstate commerce."
Your report is just about how the FDA determines safety, it has nothing about this spill in it.
I urge everyone to go to this report, here is the correct link.
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/963_seafood2.pdf
If the seafood is "perfectly safe", why doesn't the FDA release the data?
You are as always trying to deliberately mislead, Charles. The report's title says it all.
"Managing Food Safety After An Oilspill"
ANY oilspill, not the Gulf Oil Spill in particular. The guidelines are great, and if the FDA went by them, awesome!!
WHERE IS THE DATA???
used to generate risk estimates and action or advisory levels."
Fetuses may be susceptible to maternal PAH exposure because their enzymatic systems are too immature to eliminate toxic metabolites that readily pass through the embryonic and fetal blood-brain barrier. Therefore, it is important to inform women of reproductive age if action levels and consumption
limits for PAHs are generated for a carcinogenic endpoint. The elderly, people with certain diseases, and people who may be exposed to PAHs through smoking or at high levels occupationally also may be more susceptible to the effects of PAH exposure from seafood consumption than the general
population. Consequently, it may be advisable for people in these groups to limit their consumption"
Part 2
Why to try to mislead people?
ALL GULF seafood has been tested and is perfectly safe for all these groups.
Fetuses may be susceptible to maternal PAH exposure because their enzymatic systems are too immature to eliminate toxic metabolites that readily pass through the embryonic and fetal blood-brain barrier. Therefore, it is important to inform women of reproductive age if action levels and consumption
limits for PAHs are generated for a carcinogenic endpoint. The elderly, people with certain diseases, and people who may be exposed to PAHs through smoking or at high levels occupationally also may be more susceptible to the effects of PAH exposure from seafood consumption than the general population. Consequently, it may be advisable for people in these groups to limit their consumption of contaminated seafood to levels below those considered safe for the general population.
response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/963_seafood2.pdf
Part 1
NONE of the information you give relates to the Gulf spill, it is general issues involved in determining when seafood is safe.
I see you fixed your link so it would not work so people could not see that.
Managing Seafood Safety After An Oilspill
And NO, dear Charles, I did NOT fix the link.
response.restoration.noaa.gov/book_shelf/963_seafood2.pdf
(copy and paste into browser if hyperlink doesn't work here)
The title of the report is: Managing Food Safety After An Oilspill.
Why would the Gulf Oil Spill be managed differently from any other oilspill?
Sure, the safety guidelines CAN apply to other food safety issues, carcinogens are not ONLY abundant after oilspills, but other chemical or radiation pollution.
What is noticeably ABSENT from the FDA "report" is any data or guidelines. I do not for a moment believe that the Gulf Seafood is "perfectly safe" for everyone, including people in high risk groups.
From FDA
“Driven by science and with human health as the highest priority, the extensive sampling and testing plan allowed areas to open only when every piece of seafood sampled there passed both sensory and chemical testing. We were precautionary on purpose: when there was a potential for tainted seafood, waters were closed, and they could only be opened when we could prove the seafood from those waters was safe to eat.â€
“Scientists knew already, from real-world experiences (like the Exxon Valdez disaster) and laboratory research, that fish can metabolize and excrete oil. Knowing that finfish can clear it from their bodies within days, shrimp and crabs take a little longer, and shellfish like oysters take the longest time, we tested these various types of seafood individually to make sure we didn't miss anything. The results of the tests, all publicly available, should help Americans buy Gulf seafood with confidence.â€
“Because of the hard work and cooperation of Gulf fishermen, seafood processors, and state, local and federal health and fisheries officials, American consumers can feel confident in the quality and safety of Gulf seafood.â€
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/Seafood/ucm251969.htm
Well, hello there Chuckie... surprise..
Nowhere in your fda.gov article are there any test specifics and results, so that we consumers may make our own informed decisions. You and the FDA are not the first sources of information when in doubt about safety of one thing or another, the FDA because they've never known a chemical they didn't like, and you...well, your history of inaccurate statements and prediction on the Fukushima stories are now historic.
Please refer to my comment below and the links provided.
I do not fearmonger, I tell the truth.
http://www.louisianamedicalnews.com/louisiana-s-obesity-rate-drops-br-state-programs-target-overweight-individuals-cms-1061
Too bad their congressmen are busy working to cut these health care provider programs. But never fear the good citizens will reelect them and send them back to destroy the programs they are and will be so dependent on.
http://www.louisianamedicalnews.com/medicaid-cuts-will-limit-patient-access-to-care-cms-1455