Why We Are All Responsible for the Cleanup
by Philippe
June 17th, 2010
We made it into Tampa late last night and took the one hour drive to the beach near St. Petersburg. It was going to be another long day and we were prepared to get up early and get to the beach for the cleanup. I had come here in partnership with the Ocean Conservancy, one of the leading ocean conservation organizations in the country. The whole idea was to organize a beach cleanup as a way to channel the collective sense of frustration and demonstrate that people can take action to help the oceans…with or without oil.
Ocean Conservancy runs the International Coastal Cleanup in September, the largest ocean cleanup in the world, and has started expanding it to events throughout the year. They invited me to come to the event in Tampa to help show people that we all have power. Even before oil reaches Tampa, and I hope it doesn’t, it is important to clean up as much of the coast as possible. Once oil arrives any debris along the shore becomes a bio-hazard and is very difficult to clean up because is requires special training. The day was sweltering but the effort was worthwhile as we cleaned up over a ton of trash.
I have talked about it at length: We only have to look in the mirror to find someone to blame for this oil catastrophe because it is a symptom of a wider problem. However, in the same way we make the choices that cause us to be addicted to oil—a substance that poisons our air, our water and our future—we also have the equal power to change the world in which we live. To eat less meat, use public transportation, aspire to healthy and functional houses, vote in politicians that care about our world, and more…
As Gandhi one wrote, “we must become the change we seek in the world.” There is always hope, we have the power to build the sustainable and just world our children deserve and if the spill reminds us of anything…it is that…
June 20th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I agree we are all responsible.
Saw you speak at JSEM in Baltimore a couple of years ago. Didn’t you mention that the southern Red Sea was one of the most pristine areas? I just saw this story:
http://news.discovery.com/earth/egypt-oil-spill.html
Sickening.
June 23rd, 2010 at 5:50 pm
I agree!
what are we talking about.
June 25th, 2010 at 8:46 am
I agree with you that we all must make changes that will make a lasting impact, but I’m also concerned about what is happening NOW. I registered to become a cleanup volunteer several weeks ago, and all I got was a DO NOT REPLY email saying that opportunities were being given to locals first. Then we hear about sea turtles being burned to death, caught in skimmers. These animals need a champion, and you are it! If Steve Irwin were still alive, he would be outraged. He would be very vocal, speaking out for these helpless creatures. I feel like screaming every time I hear or see a story about birds, dolphins, turtles, etc. being killed by this disaster. Who will speak for them? Who is helping them? Please do something. You are the logical choice…you can use your celebrity to appeal to whomever is in charge of these operations. Please help us help those who cannot speak for themselves.
July 1st, 2010 at 5:11 pm
I don’t agree. BP is the only and only responsible for the mess.BP will have to clean it up and pay for everything if a price can be put on wildlife. Too bad all those americans did not listen to Cousteau in the 70′S and 80’s when they voted for oil drilling in the gulf.Well,the barrel has exploded in their face and now they pay the price of their lifestyle.BP thinks public is stupid and they are just trying to show they are good corporate citizens but they are actually the terrorists of this world,the new ecoterrorists of XXIst century.You people aint seen nothing yet. wait until they start drilling upnorth. No,of course it will be far away from you when disaster will struck and youre not going to see any of it.Well,at least I have sympathy for your children and your great grandchildren and the type of world they are going to live in but personnally,I prefer not to be around to see what awaits them.
July 10th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Will destroying an ocean be enough for us the change our ways?
I agree, we all have a hand in this due to our dependency on oil. We must be open to new technologies and alternative fuels.
Great job on the live CNN dive in the Gulf. Very eye opening footage.
July 22nd, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Hands waving Phillippe…
Thank you for being the leader in this and working with us to change our attitudes and assumptions about oil. Keep doing what you do…
I am proud that my cousin is drivin by “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Christy Smith
August 10th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Inspiring post, Philippe. We’re of the same mind about who’s responsible for this catastrophe.
It’s much easier to blame some corporate goliath for the oil in the gulf than to look at our own behavior and see how our decisions have contributed to the problem.
Responding to the realities on the ground is critical and I’m grateful to everyone who is sharing there time and energy.
I would also like to see world governments insist that oil companies spend more money on disaster response. It seems to me that if BP had spent one tenth of the total clean-up cost on prevention and/or plans for capping a blown out well at that depth we would be in a much better place.
Thanks again for all of your hard work.