Oil plumes and Sanibel fumes: still angry but STILL oil free

There is no oil on Sanibel Island, and none is predicted. That is the good news, and we are happy for it and want to spread the word. Sanibel is so special a place that any despoiling of its habitat is not acceptable, and most likely not restorable to its original "condition". When man made structures are torn down, they can be re-built. The rejuvenation of nature takes much longer when it works, and some times it does not work at all.

But there is much of Florida in the northern panhandle and vicinity, as well as in Louisiana and Alabama that should also be protected and preserved. The BP oil disaster has affected every Gulf state – and beyond. Fisheries have been devastated, tourism to the area has plummeted, wildlife refuges and marshes have been fouled with oil, toxic tar has washed onto beaches, and thousands of dolphins, sea turtles, herons, pelicans, and countless other bird and wildlife species were coated in oil, facing slow and agonizing deaths.

And, despite the recent announcements that the oil has disappeared, as many suspected, that is really not the case. A recent study suggests that nearly 80% of the oil released by the Deepwater Horizon offshore disaster remains under the sea. That means that millions of barrels are still poisoning sea turtles, fouling the coasts of northern Florida and the contiguous states and threatening the survival of endangered marine life like sperm whales and bluefin tuna.

This is also not acceptable.

This blog generally accents the positive, and does not advocate particular positions,however, in the name of environmental protection we must take a stand now.

We are suggesting that our readers, their families, friends and colleagues become defenders of wild life and wild life habitat. We urge everyone to contact their senators to pass the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Accountability Act (S. 3663), legislation to preserve vital habitat for sea turtles and other wildlife and improve oversight and accountability to prevent the next offshore oil disaster. If passed, the Senate bill would improve offshore drilling management and crisis response and finally guarantee funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund – an important tool for preserving and restoring habitat for Gulf wildlife and other animals.

We urge everyone to support the Gulf of Mexico in every way they can, and we have written this message to focus on what needs to be done, publishing this post advertisement free to keep our intention in tack.