Grand Isle, Louisiana
by Philippe
May 25th, 2010
Another early morning, all the more early because we didn’t stop work till 2AM last night! Today we head off to Grand Isle about three hours away from Venice to visit with Louisiana Wildlife and Fish department. Oil has made its way into the mangroves which means some of our worst fears have been realized. These wetland habitats are some of the most fragile in the world and also some of the most important. 40% of all the wetlands in the lower 48 states exist along the coast of Louisiana and they are directly in the oil’s path. Look at the photos and you will see why once the oil gets into these tight intricate bodies of water, there is no getting it out.
By the time we arrived it was midday and the sun was hanging hot in the sky. Horse flies surrounded us as we made our way to the Wildlife and Fisheries boat and headed out into the bay. The despair was visible in the eyes of the scientists and researchers who accompanied us. There was frustration too and it wasn’t long before they told me why. “BP has been sitting around for almost a month without preparing this area for the oil. The local authorities had to commandeer their equipment just a few days ago when it was clear they were doing nothing,” I was told. “Now the oil has made it into the marshes and mangroves and we have no idea what the long-term impacts will be but we are concerned that this will be worse than Katrina.”
They went on to explain that as the oil penetrates the vegetation it kills it and leaves bare soil to be washed away, which will decimate this once vital and productive eco-system. “We are seeing birds covered in oil during the height of nesting season and tar is washing up on the beaches,” they explained. There was real concern in their voices, people who have grown up here and who are now watching the entire ecosystem and economic bases of the community fall apart before their eyes.
As I dipped my fingers into a puddle of oil, one of many strewn across the sand, I was angry, too. This is the price of our arrogance, I thought; this black poison is choking the life out of one of the most incredible places on earth. As I drove back to New Orleans last night, the images I saw helped to reinforce the urgency of this issue…we have a clear choice: continue to pollute our planet or fight for a cleaner world. This is not an economic vs. environment issue as Ted Danson reinforced yesterday on Larry King Live. A true champion for the environment, he reminded us that clean energy creates more jobs than oil and gas and that this illusion that our economy can’t afford to go green is just that—an illusion. The truth is…we can’t afford not to.
For photos and video from Philippe’s trip to the Gulf, visit www.treehugger.com.
May 30th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Thank you for all the work you are doing to help with this catastrophe. You are so right..we can’t afford not to go green! My heart breaks for all the birds and wildlife so affected by this oil spill. BP has not been pro-active enough in its efforts to protect what this far reaching and long term destruction will do. Please keep informing the public and again, thanks for your efforts and help.
September McGee
May 31st, 2010 at 11:35 am
Can you tell us what donations are being used for specifically? What ideas are being developed/implimented to stop the leak? Is there a solution? Many people need hard solutions and plans of attack to feel compelled to open their wallets. Is that the problem, that the solutions don’t exist yet and the need is to give impetus those who can to invent the solutions? Please forgive my ignorance.
June 8th, 2010 at 1:25 am
Thank you for being the voice for those of us who feel we have none. I have lived much of my life on the Gulf Coast and I treasure it very much. I’m so glad to see more and more people voicing and enacting their concerns for life beyond humanity. I remember my early years on the coast when regulations were weak and it was common to find tar balls and mini slicks on South Padre Island from oil rigs and tankers that were allowed to wash and purge their tanks just off shore. I keep hoping that we as a species will finally grow up and take our rightful place as stewards and guardians in the circle of life.
My heartfelt thanks to the Cousteau family for all that you have done over the years and to the employees and volunteers of EarthEcho who are keeping up the good fight.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Thank you for putting the face to this crisis. I am a 5th grade teacher and I showed your Discovery Education Webinar to my students. It really helped them to see the scope and magnitude of this disaster. As you said they are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but also the leaders of today. I am looking forward to keeping them posted with the information you present in your work and travels in the gulf region.