Thursday, June 24, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Leaving the Gulf
It was with a very heavy heart that I left Grand Isle. This is not just a place on the map anymore. The local residents are generous of time and spirit and have built a community that was harmonious with the environment that they lived in. I asked Raleigh to describe the spirit of the people (he was a local fisherman now out of work.) His answer was simple - they were cajun's. But it really is more than that. Before the oil spill this was a small community; oil workers, fishermen, shrimpers, politicians, teachers, hotel staff - people involved in many professions - all lived well together here. The special nature of the location and it's surrounding created a bond amongst the citizens of Grand Isle.
This community has now been ripped apart. As the oil moved to shore people were asking for help and answers but the management of this situation sorely let them down.
Before I left town I stopped and spoke with Roberts mom at Bridgside Marina(see pic of Robert on boat). We talked about the oil that I had seen out at the source of the spill and the efforts of cleanup. It was a very emotional conversation as we both acknowledged that if this minimal level of cleanup continued then there was every possibility that the community of Grand Isle would cease to exist once the Hurricane season began.
I'm not sure what I can do to continue helping to raise awareness about not only this oil spill - but about the lack of care that the huge corporations running our planet take with all aspects of the environment. It's always the bottom line first.
I also thought about the G20 - being hosting in my home town of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The principal topic of discussion will be reducing member governments’ budget deficits and national debts. The 1.3billion that they are spending on security makes the cost of these gatherings hypocritical as well as exorbitant.
So how do we attempt to realine the priorities of corporations and governments in today's society - so that we can find a way to leave a legacy of a clean and healthy environment? It's a big question and one I plan to pursue. As I close my Louisian Bound blog I realize that my time in the gulf has changed me. Seeing first hand the devestating long lasting impact that this one situation has had has taught me that it is important to be part of a strong voice attempting to keep our leaders in check.
This community has now been ripped apart. As the oil moved to shore people were asking for help and answers but the management of this situation sorely let them down.
Before I left town I stopped and spoke with Roberts mom at Bridgside Marina(see pic of Robert on boat). We talked about the oil that I had seen out at the source of the spill and the efforts of cleanup. It was a very emotional conversation as we both acknowledged that if this minimal level of cleanup continued then there was every possibility that the community of Grand Isle would cease to exist once the Hurricane season began.
I'm not sure what I can do to continue helping to raise awareness about not only this oil spill - but about the lack of care that the huge corporations running our planet take with all aspects of the environment. It's always the bottom line first.
I also thought about the G20 - being hosting in my home town of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The principal topic of discussion will be reducing member governments’ budget deficits and national debts. The 1.3billion that they are spending on security makes the cost of these gatherings hypocritical as well as exorbitant.
So how do we attempt to realine the priorities of corporations and governments in today's society - so that we can find a way to leave a legacy of a clean and healthy environment? It's a big question and one I plan to pursue. As I close my Louisian Bound blog I realize that my time in the gulf has changed me. Seeing first hand the devestating long lasting impact that this one situation has had has taught me that it is important to be part of a strong voice attempting to keep our leaders in check.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Oil Spill - day five
Today this report from Louisiana is dedicated to all of the wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico. There are no words created to describe the magnitude of the amount of oil in the Gulf. We flew out over the source of the spill and saw miles and miles of oil surrounding the spill sight. Picture yourself having to clean up a sewage flooded basesment with a piece of paper towel - that is about am much effect the boats out there will have in this clean up. There is to much oil for these few boats to have any chance of successfully soaking up the oil. Looking down over the spill I try to image what any species of wildlife must be going through in that water. What was once a healthy environment is now pure poisen to these creatures. We saw the two rigs drilling the relief wells - and there were two rigs burning off gas/petrolium etc. There is a heavy smell of oil in the air. There are perhaps 20 boats skimming the water around the area. It was painfully obvious that it is just a PR spin from BP and the politicians in their pockets when they say that they are committed to cleaning up the spill and that they are doing everything that they can. What we saw was not even a "drop in the bucket".It's not just the oil that is now killing off the wildlife. Clean up crews brought in to work in this area are zooming along the beaches and protected areas driving over nests and through habitats with their ATVs (brand new ATV's supplied to the workers). The attached picture shows Least Turn Chicks no longer living.
In trying to find some positive - I am at least thankful that the Walrus will be ok if they decide to travel down to the Gulf. Not just the BP saftey manuals - but the other oil companies saftey manuals all report on their knowledge of how to save the walrus in the Gulf should a spill occur. In fact - if it just was not so incredibly hot here - I would put a call in to the walrus and let them know that there are a lot of people down here looking out for their welfare and that they should pack up and move.
As ludicrous as that sounds - what is currently going on here in the Gulf makes that seem like quite a reasonable comment.
Some of the politians are crying loudly about the Oil Rigs that are shut down. Keep in mind that it is only the rigs that were drilling new rigs that are shut down. The rigs that are in production are still up and running. These same "leaders" are also slamming the current white house administration for not doing enough. You can't have it both ways. Of course it is and will continue to be for some time a huge hardship on the oil workers laid off. But that is not what they really care about. Oil owns Louisiana. When we flew over the marshlands next to the Mississippi river that extend out to the gulf - you can see that these once great areas have already been "raped" by the oil companies. Sitting out on the beach here in Grand Isle you can see speckled over the horizon countless rigs out in the gulf.
Make no mistake - it's great politics for them to yell and scream about the spill and the clean up efforts, the fishing industry etc. - but it is the Oil companies that many of them serve.
It is truly heartbreaking to hear the endless stories that are a result of this spill. Trying to find some perspective can be difficult. However, when you see a tiny little chick laying dead on the beach, when you see a Dolphin flounder in the water covered in oil, when you see brown pelicans now black with oil, when you see baby crabs dead and bleached white from the chemicals - when you see miles of oil spreading over the gulf - well it's then that you realize that there is something deeply wrong with the system we have created on this planet.
Tomorrow I leave Grand Isle and continue my journey to New Orleans. I can only hope that I will have the opportunity to travel here again in the future and hopefully find a clean healthy environment but sadly I don't hold out much hope for that.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Day four Grand Isle continued
Other news from the day.
I met an ex-shrimper - Raleigh - today. I have a great video interview with him - that I will post as soon as I can get it off tape onto my computer.
I was driving down a road to talk to the people at the closed oyster store and saw his sign at the side of the road (see posted sign and pic of Raleigh). He was sitting in the shade swinging on the swing seat - he invited me to sit with him.
Highlights of the interview:
He is a third generation shrimper - and his kids and grandkids fish and shrimp as well. They are all now out of work.
They are worried about the kids. There is nothing for the kids to do here now - they are used to being out on the water - fishing, shrimping, swimming etc. etc. - it's a complete way of life here. Also - they are worried about all of the workers that have been brought in. Not far from here in Port Fouchon it turns out that one of the workers was a convicted child molester (now has been removed from the area). So they are keeping kids that are used to having a lot of freedom pretty close to home.
We talked about the dispursements and chemicals that they are putting in the water. Raleigh told me that the news is that BP actually owns this chemical - and that it is banned in England and other areas. (I did hear that elsewhere throughout the day - and Billy N. mentioned it on Anderson Cooper tonight)
I asked him how it is that the people here are handling this so well - being so graceful under fire. He told me that it was because he was Cajun - and that's the way Cajun people are. (Note that I also met some people later that they were Coon Asses - which means that you are Cajun - and it is a good expression)
Raleigh and his wife Kay were extremely hospitable and it really was a great moment for me to meet and talk with them
I also decided that I would try to count the homes for sale - but lost count.
After I went out on the boat I went back to visit with Kathy and Dave. There was a gull sitting on a boom. Poor little guy had apparently not moved for over an hour... oil. The workers on the beach were about 30 feet away from the bird.
We also met a couple of guys from Scotland and Britain who specialized in Oil spill clean up. They explained to me how the currents worked and why the booms were placed where they were. There is a big army boom placed in line with the new bridge that they are building. Apparently this is the best place for this boom to help contain the oil and capture it - but the local politicians here are making them move it as it will get in the way of the bridge being built. We could all see the irony in this. Why worry about the bridge when there may not be a community left to use it.
The devestation of this oil spill and the massive negative impact that this is having on Grand Isle should be bringing people together to help solve the problems. Everyone is effected - but the division seems to be growing. Part of the problem is that the local people are somewhat being excluded from being part of the clean up - promises have been made and not carried through - strangers being brought in and kept in compounds - a growing deep distrust in BP - all of these factors are contributing to a growing unrest.
Other pics uploaded are from our day out on the boat - the oiled booms, oil in the water, brown pelicans - and I also included sunset from these incredibly beautiful part of the world.
By the way a note for Anderson Cooper - When I was talking to the BP people today - they did say that if he came down to Grand Isle that they would be happy to talk to him but they they were not going to travel to New Orleans. It would be interesting to see what would happen if Anderson took them up on the offer.
Day four Grand Isle
Today was a really sad day. I went out with three fantastic people on the boat with our friend Robert Vegas. Thao is a Mayoral Assistant here from Seattle, Tanya is living in New Orleans doing her doctorate and Jennifer is spending time in New Orleans until September - she is from Toronto.
The day on the water started well - we went to bird island again - and actually their seemed to be less oil - and we saw three boats with bird and wildlife resue people patrolling the area! We then went out around Grand Terre and the thick oil lapping up on the island seemed a bit less. Don't misunderstand me though - the oil is still there.
We saw lots of Dolphins and tried to follow them and take their pictures. We also went out to an oil rig.
When we were heading back to the marina we saw a Dolphine that was obvioulsy in some kind of distress. When we got closer we could see the thick brown oil on it's fin. It was really upsetting.
I then phoned the number that I had been given for reporting distressed wildlife. The woman who answered the phone asked me where we were - I thought that she meant specifically on the water - but realized that she meant where were we in terms of city/state etc. When I told her Grand Isle - she asked me where that was - was it in Louisiana?????? I have to admit my temper did a huge spike. I asked her who she worked for - and she told me BP. I won't tell you my response but needless to say I ended the call.
We then called the coast guard - and they put me through to fisheries. The good news is that the fisheries people did go out to find the Dolphin. Mandy from Fisheries called me from the water to get the specific directions. Now I know why carrying a GPS is so important.
After leaving the group - I went and stopped at the crisis centre at the community centre and reported the incident to BP. I told them that I found it absolutely incredulous that someone who worked for their company and was handling the Wildlife hotline did not know where Grand Isle was.
Also a woman phoned me back from the hotline group. The hotline is being run out of Houston. She explained that people on the outside did not understand but that this was the most efficient way to run the hotline. I told her that I absolutely disagreed with her. I realize that it is not the front line workers answering the phones fault - but the fact is there needs to be local numbers handy even if only for BP and those in charge to give the appearance that they care and are on top of the situation.
but really - what was and is the most imporatant part of this story - is the Dolphin. It is such a helpless feeling standing in a boat and seeing wildlife distressed. It really breaks your heart.
The day on the water started well - we went to bird island again - and actually their seemed to be less oil - and we saw three boats with bird and wildlife resue people patrolling the area! We then went out around Grand Terre and the thick oil lapping up on the island seemed a bit less. Don't misunderstand me though - the oil is still there.
We saw lots of Dolphins and tried to follow them and take their pictures. We also went out to an oil rig.
When we were heading back to the marina we saw a Dolphine that was obvioulsy in some kind of distress. When we got closer we could see the thick brown oil on it's fin. It was really upsetting.
I then phoned the number that I had been given for reporting distressed wildlife. The woman who answered the phone asked me where we were - I thought that she meant specifically on the water - but realized that she meant where were we in terms of city/state etc. When I told her Grand Isle - she asked me where that was - was it in Louisiana?????? I have to admit my temper did a huge spike. I asked her who she worked for - and she told me BP. I won't tell you my response but needless to say I ended the call.
We then called the coast guard - and they put me through to fisheries. The good news is that the fisheries people did go out to find the Dolphin. Mandy from Fisheries called me from the water to get the specific directions. Now I know why carrying a GPS is so important.
After leaving the group - I went and stopped at the crisis centre at the community centre and reported the incident to BP. I told them that I found it absolutely incredulous that someone who worked for their company and was handling the Wildlife hotline did not know where Grand Isle was.
Also a woman phoned me back from the hotline group. The hotline is being run out of Houston. She explained that people on the outside did not understand but that this was the most efficient way to run the hotline. I told her that I absolutely disagreed with her. I realize that it is not the front line workers answering the phones fault - but the fact is there needs to be local numbers handy even if only for BP and those in charge to give the appearance that they care and are on top of the situation.
but really - what was and is the most imporatant part of this story - is the Dolphin. It is such a helpless feeling standing in a boat and seeing wildlife distressed. It really breaks your heart.
Dream Job?
At 6am this morning the sun was up and the day had begun. I took a walk to the beach - nope - no workers out yet. Oh well - I guess that as the sun was only just starting the day - so to were the "workers" - probably have one of their three meals a day at the compound.
7am - ok by now I figured - they have had breakfast - had time to be bussed to the beach - and get their boots on. So I walked back to the beach - nope noone around yet. Ok - I figured well maybe they did not sleep well last night at the compound and were having a slow start.
7:30am - Hmmmm still no sign of anyone
8am - ok I was starting to see the workers arriving. They walk down the beach from where they are dropped off. I decided to sit and watch how their day started. It was a beautiful morning and I could see dolphins out in the water - so I tried to ignore the fact that the beach was blocked off and that there is a question as to whether or not these dolphins will be alive this time next year.
The workers approached and starting bagging stuff from the beach into white bags - I could not get really close - but looked like it is the dead seaweed that they were bagging. Hmmmmm - I could see oil on the beach - why were they ignoring the oil?
8:30am - an arguement started amongst the workers. There seemed to be two guys - wearing saftey vests - in charge. Sorry but I don't know what they were arguing as they did not speak English and my spanish is limited.
But suddenly after about 15 minutes of work they all headed off back down the beach from where they had come from. Oh yes - I forgot - they can only work fro 20 minutes - including walking time - and then they have to take a break.
I myself was really enjoying the morning sun and would have liked to have spent a few more hours on the beach. But I thought that I would head back to the motel and post a blog about a moment in the day of the workers here on the beach.
A good question was asked last night on the discussion board at Boycott BP - have these workers received pay checks? I cannot speak for all of the workers - only for Keiswich who I met two days ago - yes he is being paid regularly. I will try to ask this question of more of the workers today.
I guess that the Shrimpers here just chose the wrong career. Who knew that it would be more profitable to wait for a manmade disaster and get hired on - be given three square meals a day - accommodation - regular paycheck - then to continue in the family business and shrimp for a living.
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