You’ve probably heard about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but here’s the short version: Ten days ago, a drilling rig exploded, leaving 11 presumed dead. Two days later, the rig sank. Now, oil is gushing into the Gulf – and, reportedly, has already reached land.
U.S. government scientists estimate that as many as 5,000 barrels of oil – or more than 200,000 gallons – are emptying into the Gulf every day. Those estimates are rough, but if they’re right, then the Gulf of Mexico spill is already more than 10% of the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. And it’s growing.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by what has been, for the last 24 hours, a full-on government response. Bobby Jindal, Louisiana’s governor, has declared a state of emergency. President Barack Obama says that “every single available resource” will go to fighting the oil slick. The U.S. military has been called in, too.
What’s the impact?
It goes without saying that wildlife is at serious risk. The spill also threatens Louisiana’s fragile coastal ecosystem, which has been hit hard by disasters such as Katrina.
But we want to emphasize that humans, too, are at risk. The fishing industry could be seriously harmed by this oil spill, a problem that carries widespread ramifications; check out this piece about worried restaurant owners as far away as Memphis. The tourism and outdoor sports industries also are concerned for their welfare. So is the shipping industry.
It’s a stark, but poignant, reminder that the environmental movement isn’t about pie-in-the-sky, Captain Planet stuff. This is about us. Humans need nature to thrive.
The good news is that people are starting to mobilize to help fight the oil spill in various ways. Check out this CNN article to find ways that you can take action.
(Photo: NASA)
