The Gulf Oil Spill to Increase Seafood Prices

By G Loghl

The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is predicted to have a dramatic effect on seafood prices throughout the United States for the remainder of this year. It is evident that the oil spill is devastatingly large, much more so that originally reported. It is clear that it will impact both the coast of Florida, as well as the entire Gulf of Mexico.
It's uncertain at this point how long lasting the effects will be on the water and the environment, but clearly it will be substantial. It will be very difficult for fisherman to approach the areas in question, and even if they do manage to find pockets of traditional fishing grounds without oil on top of the water, it is possible that the underlying vegetation and seabed could be affected throughout the entire region.
Initially, seafood that will be directly affected includes surface fish that feed near the top of the ocean. There are a number of species that fall into this category, probably the most popular being Tilapia and bone fish. However, all species including bottom feeding seafood will eventually come into contact with some form of the spill and will be negatively affected as a food source.
Even if certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico are not directly affected by the pollution, it is possible that government scientists will restrict the use of any seafood from this area for years to come. Carcinogens and various pathogens of related origin could prove harmful for even the smallest human consumption.
As a result, new sources of seafood will have to be found. This will not be cheap, and in some cases the available supply of certain species will be very difficult to acquire. The addition of higher shipping costs, as well as the increased market demand will certainly result in significantly higher seafood costs throughout North America in the months to come.

G Loghl is CEO and executive chef at Sault Ste Marie restaurants. He is also responsible for economic buying patterns for Wacky Wings and all seafood in the region.

The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone

By Jerry Greenfield

The Gulf of Mexico has seen some better days. We all know about the huge oil spill caused by the explosion of the oil drilling rig, the Deepwater Horizon, on April 20th, 2010. It took them 3 months to finally cap-off the gusher, but by then, the damage was done. This is, to date, the absolute worst oil spill we have ever experienced.
But to add insult to injury, the Gulf of Mexico has had many other "issues" for years. One of the biggest is the fact that there is a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico...and it is growing. Now, you're probably asking yourself, "What's a dead zone?" A dead zone is any area in water where the oxygen supply has been depleted. When this happens, the water is said to be hypoxic. If there isn't enough oxygen, then plant-life (such as algae) can't grow. If there's no algae in the area, then much of the marine life has nothing to eat. This marine life will either starve and die, or if they can, they will flee the area and try to find a better place to live.
Water becomes depleted of oxygen when there is too much nitrogen and phosphorus in it. The reason the Gulf of Mexico is so susceptible to this problem is because of the Mississippi River. The mouth of the Mississippi opens up into the Gulf-and boy, is it a big mouth!
Beginning in Minnesota, the Mighty Mississippi flows down to the Gulf of Mexico and carries all of the bi-products of farming right along with it. All of the chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides used in the farmland along the Mississippi leach into the ground surrounding the river and begin their journey southward.
Man-made chemicals used in farming are extremely high in nitrogen and phosphorus. In fact, these chemicals have more nitrogen and phosphorus in them than the crops could ever use, so all of the excess is absorbed into the ground and eventually makes its way into streams, creeks, rivers, and lakes...which all end up somehow being connected to the Mississippi River!
Unfortunately, the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico has only grown over time and shows no signs of halting its growth any time soon. The men and women who live off of the sea have no control over this problem and just have to deal with it. Obviously the marine life has no say! And now, on top of everything else, there are the devastating effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to deal with as well!
We are killing our planet! That's all there is to it! The blatant misuse and overuse of chemicals in farming is causing dead zones where marine life cannot live. Our thirst for energy lends to unsafe circumstances and over-looked precautions when it comes to oil drilling. We need to be held accountable for our action--all of us--not just the people who make a living off the Gulf of Mexico and the marine life who try to make a home there.

For more information, please click here. http://mygardenwalk.com/ My number one focus is growing my own food. I don't think that really counts as a hobby. For some people it is, but for me, growing my own fruits and vegetables and saving my own seed is the key to survival. The only person you can count on is yourself, if you ask me. The government is trying to "help" us all with GMOs and welfare, but it's all a crock. We need to know how to survive on our own. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_Greenfield

BP in the Gulf of Mexico - Failure of Leadership and Values - Renewing the Urgency For TBLI

By Stephen Cassidy

The earth is bleeding from it's veins, the oil its bleeding is killing all life in its path.
How much longer before the oceans are irreversibly damaged?
Five weeks after the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded and sank, within estimations of between five to a hundred thousand barrels per day (1 barrel is 42 gallons) leaked out. This was not an oil spill as BP and the media have mentioned, but an oil leak. Ongoing, like an open tap on the bottom of the sea gushing out thick black crude oil that sticks to the sea bed, which cannot be seen from above.
At great depths chemicals are still being used to disperse the oil. Management spent a month trying to measure the amount of oil leaking out of the pipeline. Talks of plugging the leaking pipe with golf balls, cement and even using human hair to mop up the oil are reports we repeatedly hear.
More than 80% of all environmental damage is related to utilizing, finding and making energy, with offshore drilling high on the list. You would think that by now, someone making decisions would see that renewable energy sources and sustainable investments would have been a lot less risky.
Big oil companies are going down to greater depths, and drilling from bigger rigs than ever before.
We seem to be concerned when its on our doorstep, close to home. For the people living and working on and around the Gulf of Mexico this is a nightmare right on their doorstep that will not go away for many many years.
With 50% of the US fish supplies coming from the Gulf of Mexico and 9000 plus square kilometers of oil polluted sea, the future is looking bleak for the fishing industry. It is devastating for tourism, corral reefs and the peoples lives in the whole region. Not to mention the impact it will have on the world and the economy.
The costs for cleaning up the oil pollution will make the gains look irrelevant. Where did BP management and the US government go wrong?
Failure of leadership and values
There are 20 more oil rigs drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico. How many of these oil rigs will have incidents in the coming years. If the oil companies do not work according to strict safety regulations with high priority for ecological management, then they should simply not be drilling at these depths or under such circumstances in such a sensitive ecosystem. The Deepwater Horizon disaster is a result of what happens when responsibility for the environment is not high on the priority list.
Oil is one of the most important resources on our planet, and at the moment the world needs oil.
I heard during the week that we are taking twice as much oil as we actually need. If you give out twice as much money as you own, it would not be very long before you deplete your assets.
Oil companies create their own standards, as do most businesses. But when the business affects people or the environment, the companies should be closely monitored so that laws and regulations are followed.
Where does responsibility lie when things go drastically wrong? Regulations need to be changed to protect the people and their livelihood as well as the environment. We should not have to be hearing the BP chairman say ''we where not prepared for something like this''
This is not the first time such a disaster has occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. Forty years ago an oil spill devastated the shores of Santa Barbara. If the US government are contemplating approval for more drill sites, where is the leadership failing.
The US government agency gave BP a one page approval to drill from the Deepwater Horizon. After the 20 April disaster Arnold Schwarzenegger changed his mind about the safety of oil platforms, and president Barack Obama was forced to appoint an independent commission to investigate BP's responsibility, with a 30 day stop on all permits for drilling in the Gulf.
A whole different style of leadership is now necessary to be able to drill for oil in a responsible manner. Investors need to take environmental, social and governance issues into consideration in investment decision making practices.
Renewing the urgency for TBLI
Which lessons can be learned from the 20th April catastrophe. Making a change in vision for BP after such a devastating ecological catastrophe should be a lot easier, now that all eyes are on BP. It might be the right time for a constructive joint operation between the oil industry, governments, shareholders and environmental organizations. There is a real need for upfront sustainable investments with long term social and environmental benefits for everyone.
Shareholders views are probably the biggest obstacle. Shareholders are mainly interested in the bottom line on their P & L. How do you measure the profits of sustainable investments? Getting shareholders to act in a responsible manner and holding them accountable for actions taken by the companies they invest in, will be a challenge.
TBLI GROUP (Triple Bottom Line Investment) is a knowledge broker that specializes in Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) using its global network to link and educate investors for long term environmental gains. TBLI aims to raise awareness in business leaders without loosing focus of finance.
Robert Rubinstein founder and CEO of TBLI said he has always tried to integrate the basic concept of leaving things in a better condition than when he started. Could this be a statement you would like to hear from big oil companies.

TBLI (Triple Bottom Line Investment) is a knowledge broker that specializes in Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) using its global network to link and educate investors for long term environmental gains. TBLI aims to raise awareness in business leaders without loosing focus of finance.

How Long Will it Take For Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill to Stop?

By Kevin Huffman

Frankly, it's hard to reflect on when oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico would stop. Just look at the amount of oil spilling out.
When the spill began on the fateful day of April 20th 2010, it was mere 5,000 barrels a day. However, nobody knows the truth, a little later; statements started flowing out, that probably, more than 40,000 barrels a day is being lost on the high seas.
Still further, scientists claim, the oil spill at the Gulf of Mexico might touch somewhere around 70,000 barrels a day.
The truth is that oil spill is touching huge figures, and if concrete measures are not taken immediately, things could go out of hand.
BP claims that oil spill could be stopped by the end of August, but nothing could be said as of now. Earlier efforts of plugging oil leak had failed miserably.
From sending a Robot down to the seabed to lift the 450 tonne valve, and put the blocks on the leak, to plugging the valve with mud, debris and chemicals. They have all failed and repeated attempts of plugging the oil well at the gulf have done no good, yet.
Now, BP is on the run to construct two relief wells on the sea bed, which would perhaps, be the ideal method to stop the oil spill. One of the wells is likely to be at 12,000 feet deep below, while the other well would take some time to get completed.
This could be the moment, BP and the whole of United States had been waiting for.

http://www.headlinesnews.net

What is an Oil Blowout?

By James Witherspoon

Because of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, public interest has recently turned to blowouts. Most people realize that these unwanted and downright dangerous side-effects of oil exploration and production can be incredibly devastating, but many don't realize what causes them or the environmental factors which contribute to them. Below is a brief explanation of how these cataclysmic events occur.
How it Happens
Drilling for oil can be a very difficult process, because the pressures of the fluids coming up the well must be balanced with pressures of fluids being pumped down the well. If these forces are not balanced, a "kick" can develop. Simply put, a kick is an intense amount of hydrostatic pressure that travels up the drill pipe. Mechanical barriers called "Blowout Preventers" or "BOPs" are used to shut down the well and prevent this pressure from making it all the way up to a well; if the kick is allowed to progress upstream, a blowout will occur.
These events can result in powerful explosions and spewing crude oil. If the well is located under water, an oil spill may develop, as it did in the Gulf of Mexico disaster.
Gushers
Before there were expert firefighters and contractors devoted to fighting the fires and other effects of an explosive blowout, gushers would develop from these events. Some of the most famous include:
· The Lucas Gusher, located at the Spindletop field near Beaumont, Texas, is perhaps the single most famous incident. The well blew out in 1901 and gushed about 100,000 barrels a day until it was capped, sparking the Texas boom.
· Masjed Soleiman in Iran in 1908 marked the first large-scale development in the Middle East.
· Daisy Bradford, in 1930, came with the discovery of the East Texas Oil Field, the largest in the continental US.
To learn more about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, please visit the website of the oil spill lawyers of Williams Kherkher.

James Witherspoon

Oil Spill's Toll on the Environment

By Lincoln Wilder

Oil spills are devastating. Not only do they cost millions of dollars in lost resources and time, but they take a heavy toll on the environment. Most people don't realize the extent of the damage that even a small oil slick can do to a fragile ecosystem. An ecosystem works on balance, and when something as destructive as oil enters into the equation, balance becomes a daunting task.
Here are some examples of the harm that an oil spill can cause:

• Oil penetrates through the structure of the plumage of birds, reducing their insulating ability, thus making the birds more susceptible to temperature fluctuations and much less buoyant.
• When birds are exposed to oil during preening, they suffer kidney damage, changed liver function, and digestive tract irritation.
• Oil coats the fur of sea otters and seals, having much the same effect that it has on birds.
• Oil floats on water, and provides a barrier to light, reducing photosynthesis of marine plants and phytoplankton.

It is obvious from those examples how an oil spill can affect the bionetwork of an area by reducing food sources on the most basic level, with seabirds suffering some of the most fatalities.
Of importance to note is not only the short-term effects of an oil spill, but the long-term effects as well. The Exxon Valdez oil spill happened almost 20 years ago, and damage from that spill can still be witnessed today. 1,200 miles of shoreline was affected, killing hundreds of thousands of birds and other marine animals, many whose populations have yet to recover. Fish populations were also reduced, which cut into the livelihood of fisherman relying on the bounty of the sea for their livelihood.
As long as humans have been drilling for oil, there have been oils spills. The 10 most infamous oils spills are:

1. Amoco Cadiz in France on March 16, 1978
2. Arabian Gulf Spills cased by destroyed tankers during the Gulf War in 1991
3. Argo Merchant off Nantucket Island, Massachusetts on December 15, 1976
4. Barge Bouchard 155 on August 10, 1993 in Tampa Bay, Florida
5. Barge Cibro Savannah at the pier of Citgo facility in Linden, New Jersey on March 6, 1990
6. Burmah Agate on November 1, 1979 in the Gulf of Mexico
7. Exxon Valdez in Alaska on March 24, 1989
8. Ixtox I, a deep exploratory well, blew out on June 3, 1979 in the Bay of Campeche.
9. Jupiter near Bay City, Michigan on the Saginaw River on September 16, 1990
10. Megaborg southeast of Galveston, Texas on June 8, 1990

The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been called one of the largest oil spills in history, often being compared to Exxon Valdez. You can view photos taken by NASA from the space station, which show a frightening reality of how large this spill is via pretty much any of the news channels available in satellite television packages.

Lincoln Wilder loves all things entertainment. His weekly music blog is a compilation of celebrity madness, album reviews, concert news, & sleezy celebrity drama; always written with absolute honesty and irresistible hints of sarcasm. Armed with only a laptop and satellite deals, Wilder surfs the streams for the latest and not always greatest of the music world. If it involves music and is notable, it's on his blog. While some call it madness, he calls it living, (not "a living," as that would suggest compensation of some kind). Wilder does what he does purely for the joy of it, and is always open to the suggestions of his followers.

Finding a Single Submarine in the Gulf of Mexico is Harder Than You Think!

By Lance Winslow

The United States Navy is very good at picking up sonar readings from submarine motors in big expanses of water. But it isn't as easy as it seems, there is a lot of noise going on in many parts of the world, such as the Gulf of Mexico for instance. It is hard to isolate the sounds of the submarine, from the sounds of equipment and other diesel motors which are vibrating on top of oil platforms.
There was recently some interesting news in the international intelligence realm, which could also be considered conspiracy theory, that a North Korean cargo ship on its way to Venezuela went off course and came within 250 miles from the BP oil rig which caught on fire and caused this huge eco-disaster oil spill. It was further asserted that this North Korean cargo ship offloaded a North Korean attack submarine.
And that this was an act of war by North Korea. Of course something like that is totally plausibly deniable, and therefore it disappeared from the world news, almost as quickly as it was seen. One has to ask if that was possible, the answer is yes it is possible. It is probably unlikely or improbable, but possible nevertheless. If this is the case, then perhaps that's why the United States Navy had so many ships out in the Gulf of Mexico helping the oil spill, maybe they were actually looking for something else.
Would they be able to find a sonar signature from a diesel powered submarine from North Korea in the Gulf of Mexico? It's hard to say, the submarine may have gotten away by then. Or it may be waiting to do even more damage later. It was further asserted in the conspiracy news report that the people aboard the submarine were part of a North Korean suicide squad. In other words, after they did the attack, they were considered expendable, and thus they may never be found again. Or maybe the sunk the sub and came ashore somewhere?
Let's face it finding a Single submarine in the entire Gulf of Mexico is harder than you think, and there are lots of places to hide in the varying depth of water, in different places. But if anyone can find a single submarine in the Gulf of Mexico, whether it is Russian, North Korean, or some other nation, it would be the United States Navy which was able to find it. And if they did, the chances are pretty good we'd never know about it.
Perhaps this sounds like a Tom Clancy novel to you, but often real life is stranger than fiction.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow http://www.detailguys.com/bio_ebooks.shtml.
Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers.

Brown Pelican - Ecological Success Story

By Beverly Clyde

The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) has many claims to fame. It is the national bird of Turks and Caicos Islands, the state bird of Louisiana, an expert diver, and an ecological success story.
It battled back from near extinction in the United States. During the early 1900's brown pelicans could be found from along the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts - from California to Chile and from Maryland to Venezuela. However, by the 1960's this bird had disappeared from Louisiana, the pelican state and from most of the coastal areas of the USA. The main cause of this decline was the pesticide DDT. The DDT was carried into the coastal waters from farm lands and then entered the food chain. As these pelicans ate tainted fish, they laid eggs with thin shells. Since brown pelicans incubate their eggs by holding the them under their webbed feet rather than against their breasts, the eggs would break from the weigh of the parents. After DDT and similar pesticides were banned in the 1970's, the brown pelican population began to recover. From 1970 until 2009 the brown pelican was on the endangered species list.
Just months after being removed from the endangered species list the brown pelican is again fighting for its existence in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. On April 20, 2010, the Horizon Deepwater drilling rig exploded and caused an oil leak which is threatening much of the wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico including the brown pelican. Because this bird depends on the waters of the Gulf for food and the barrier islands for nesting areas, this ecological disaster could reverse their wonderful recovery over the last 40 years.
The brown pelican is truly an incredible bird. It is the smallest of the pelicans but definitely not a small bird. It is 4 to 5 feet tall and has a wingspan of 6 to 8 feet wide. The beak is about a foot long and has a very large pouch of skin used to scoop up fish and water. The pouch can also be pulsated to allow for cooling during the heat of the day. A pelican on land can look very awkward and clumsy but they are magnificent in the air. They can soar and glide low over the water searching for fish.
The brown pelican is a great angler. The pelican flies across the water looking for menhaden, herring, mullet, sheepshead, silversides and other fish. When fish are spotted, they dive head first to catch their food and net both fish and water in their pouch. When they come to the surface, they drain the water from their pouch and swallow the fish. Gulls sometimes try to steal fish from the pelican's pouch; in fact gulls will sit on a pelican's head waiting for just the right moment to strike. The brown pelican is the only pelican to be a diving angler.
Brown pelicans live only in marine waters. They are very rarely found inland. Most of the time, they are found within 20 miles of the shore. They prefer bays and other shallow marine waters. These birds are very gregarious nesting in flocks of male and female year round. They build nests on islands. They nest on the ground or in the lower lying branches of trees or bushes if predators are nearby. They mate for life.
Brown pelicans had been suffering from a lost of nesting sites due to coastal erosion. There have been some efforts to rehabilitate prime nesting areas. The elimination of DDT and the restoration of their nesting sites made the brown pelican a true ecological success story.
The brown pelican is now threatened again by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The brown pelicans' way of life makes it very vulnerable to this oil spill. The oil spill can affect these birds in the following ways.
1. As they dive into the water to eat, they dive into and through the oil which coats their feathers. Depending on how much oil is on the feathers they may be subject to hypothermia or even drowning.
2. Ingesting oil or oil contaminated fish may cause sickness or death for these birds.
3. Even if the oil doesn't cause harm to these pelicans, it could cause a reduction in the fish available for food. Since adult pelicans can eat up to 4 pounds of fish a day, any lessening of the food supply could cause great harm to the flocks.
4. Because it is Spring, pelicans and many other birds and marine life are producing offspring. Some pelican eggs have been found with oil smudges. Scientists don't know what the effect of the smudges may be. The egg shells are porous in order to allow the embryos to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. If there is enough oil on the shells the embryos could suffocate or suffer significant damage from the oil.
5. Volatile organic compounds (VOC), oil's toxic components, could pass through the egg shell and cause almost certain death to the embryo.
6. Once the embryos are born they will face the same threats from oil and oil contaminated fish that their parents face - only they will be much weaker and smaller.
To learn more about the efforts to rescue brown pelicans and other birds endangered by the oil spill go to International Bird Rescue Research Center ( http://www.ibrrc.org ).
It's not known how much damage will be done to the brown pelican by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill; only time will tell. Forty years of work may be undone but this incredible bird has recovered from ecological disasters before. It has proven to be quite a fighter and if needed, it can fight back again. Not all brown pelicans live around the Gulf of Mexico and so they can be relocated again just as they were after the DDT ecological problems and the flocks can again recover.
The Gulf of Mexico will not be the same until brown pelicans can safely build nests on the barrier islands, dive into the water for fish, and perch around piers and marinas waiting for that unattended fish. Brown pelicans are an integral part of what makes the Gulf of Mexico special.

Beverly Clyde, Avid birdwatcher and President BirdWatchersDepot.com For all your birdwatching needs go to http://www.birdwatchersdepot.com

The Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Spill

By Bryon Zirker

What a fiasco, leave it to big corporations whose only concern is making money at the expense of just about everything.
In my opinion as the cleanup in the Gulf continues the debris and the dead animals should all be collected in huge nets or baskets attached to helicopters and flown directly to the corporate office of BP and dumped on on top of the roof.
I also think that all of the offenders remaining licenses and charter agreements for oil drilling around US and Canadian waters should be immediately and permanently revoked. And the international community should sue for the complete and non exhaustive cleanup to be paid for by BP.
Also it is my opinion that BP should be tasked with the problem of replacing the livelihoods or providing an income or damages to the families and businesses that were taken down by this disaster. The main thing that I would like to see is a very very strong message sent out to all of these big corporations who think they can stomp around the planet with their giant footprints leaving disastrous results in their wake.
The fact that they have struggled so hard to cap the well that is flowing continuously shows me that British Petroleum as well as other companies must seriously evaluate some of the geniuses they have working for them. Some of these idiotic attempts to cap the well are laughable at best. They must have some of the same people working for them as we have in our government offices. All of us, the people of this planet this earth, just simply cannot afford these kinds of huge mistakes being made with the environment, the environment is already stressed enough as it is without all of these mental midgets adding to the problem.
It really is a shame. The damage that has been done in the Gulf of Mexico is enormous by any standards and will take years to recover if it recovers at all. I am just saying.

Bryon has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in diet, fitness and weight loss, you can also check out his latest about Bothell House Painter

$20 Billion BP Oil-Spill Escrow Account - A Shakedown?

By Peter Bilodeau

If you believe BP's establishment of a $20 billion restitution fund to victims of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill is a "shakedown", or "extortion," consider:
Under normal circumstances, in such a disaster, we would leave it up to those who were victimized to seek restitution from BP on their own, usually through a lawsuit. This is the right way to go when it's unclear who is responsible for the problem or who may be at fault.
When you compare it to the aftermath of a natural disaster, like Hurricane Katrina, one cannot sue Mother Nature. People are still victimized, but it's unclear whether they were victimized by those who didn't rescue them on time, those who didn't put up enough safeguards against such a storm or by their own choices in where they lived, how they lived etc.
In the case of the oil spill, the responsible party is clear and there is no need to litigate that. BP has declared many times since the spill that it is responsible, and it would pay all legitimate claims to individuals and businesses who've lost their livelihoods because of the spill.
There is a need to guard against fraudulent claims, but that should be relatively simple to detect. Those victimized should be able to fill out a simple form, present it to the overseer of the fund and, after verifying the information on the claim and documenting the amount of damage incurred, get a check.
As we know, with government and bureaucracy involved, nothing is simple, and this may be part of the reason for the reaction by U.S. Reps. Joe Barton of Texas and Tom Price of Georgia, who both used the word "shakedown," and syndicated radio talk show host Neal Boortz, who used the word "extortion" to describe the government's and BP's negotiations to set up the fund. How they feel about President Barack Obama's policies in general may also play a part in their reaction.
If you are a victim of the spill, you are probably broke, or close to. You probably made a decent living from the sea, but you may not have had much of a financial cushion that could get you through something like this. You can't work because the sea is polluted. It's not something you've done to yourself. It has been done to you, albeit probably not deliberately. That's the risk an oil company takes when it drills.
SUE BP? SO HOW DO WE PAY THE LAWYERS?
To most of those affected, the thought of having to sue BP to get restitution is almost as daunting as dealing with the spill itself. To effectively litigate, you'll need to hire a lawyer or, find a lawyer that would work on a contingency basis. Even turning it into a class action, to minimize each individual's expenses, would be costly. A judge would likely make BP responsible for all legal fees, but there's no guarantee. For a big chunk of that $20 billion, or whatever BP would ultimately pay, to go into lawyers' pockets would not seem right in many minds.
Also, even though BP has admitted responsibility, its lawyers would work very hard to minimize what it would pay out. They would probably try to pin responsibility on the victims themselves. Litigation is cruel and nasty. This is no time for that. Also, litigation would probably take years to even be heard in court, and more time after that to be resolved. The victims need their money now. They should get it in weeks, not years.
Of course, there's nothing stopping victims from litigating. More power to them, if they go for it. Damage to the environment as a whole - wildlife, plants, seascape etc. - may have to be litigated because it's so difficult to quantify. But for the fishermen, small restaurant owners and others who cater to tourists who aren't coming to the Gulf region, along with those who've lost jobs as a result, the fund is designed to simplify and expedite their restitution. Let's hope the government doesn't mess it up.
Did the government play hard-ball with BP? Sure. Does BP need to buff its image with the public? Of course. BP expected this, and benefits from the deal, because no one wants to see it go bankrupt. This takes away some of the uncertainty in its liability. Also, BP' legal expenses likely were minimized. Was "a shakedown" or "extortion" committed? You be the judge.

Peter Bilodeau is a journalist and professional copywriter. His work can be seen at http://www.wealthwisdomandwellness.com.

Off Shore Drilling and the Gulf of Mexico Spill

By Carmen Linehan

Just when offshore oil drilling looked promising, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, with the loss of life and the effects on the environment has changed that. There is new legislation being proposed that would allow states to stop oil drilling off their shores and off their neighboring states' shores.
The excitement for the possibility of becoming less dependent on foreign oil by increasing off shore drilling exploded with the oil ship in the Gulf. As the oil continues to leak into the ocean, more restrictions are expected. Onshore drilling will need to increase to continue the push to be less dependent on foreign oil.
Alternative energy is being developed all the time. These alternatives will not be readily available to the general public for some time. Until alternative energy is readily available the US will be dependent on oil for energy. Since oil is a non-renewable resource, the race is on to make alternative energy available before the oil supply is depleted. This makes the unused oil that is leaking in the Gulf even more of a tragedy.
It is said the explosion occurred because a quickly expanding bubble of methane gas shot up the column for the drill. Methane gas is a hazard when drilling. When cold it is very stable. Heat needed to set the wellhead cement seal and the pressure was reduced.
Methane hydrates is very powerful and there is a theory that a methane gas caused the mass extinction that occurred 55 million years ago and may cause tsunamis. Methane hydrates has the potential of an asteroid and nuclear attack. When unstable, it can rapidly expand 164 times its original volume.
Politicians who have been supporting oil drilling offshore will no longer be able to survive in the political arena if they continue to do so. Making offshore drilling safer and having the current regulations enforced, is what it will take for off shore drilling to be accepted again. It was a long road to get offshore oil drilling opened up, and it will be an even longer road to get it to happen again. BP will not be able to truly make amends for the effects on the families of the men who lost their lives and the cost to the environment and this will have a huge impact on offshore drilling.

Read more about Off Shore Drilling. Visit Max Tech Oil's Featured Investments Portfolio for additional project information and geological surveys for oil drilling investments.

How to Select an Oil Spill Response Kit

By Robert MacLaren
ld be chosen to deal with the entire spill that may happen or multiple smaller ones could be combined to absorb the same amount. Choosing multiple smaller kits allows you to gain flexibility and mobility as they are easier to transport to a spill, whilst choosing one large kit means all your absorbents will be in the one place if the worst happens.
Identify the best container for your facility
Different sizes of kit come in different containers, all of which suit different facilities. The best way to choose the right kit is to choose a container that works in your facility. Things to consider when choosing a container include the physical limitations of your staff and the ground they must cover to get to an oil spill in your facility. Oil spill kits available range from small grab bags which are easy to just pick up and go to a spill, wall mountable spill kits which allow you to create a spill kit station, to large portable kits in carts or wheelie bin containers. It is good practice to have an oil spill kit in every spill prone area in your facility, however this may not always be necessary as you could choose to have one or two kits dotted around which can be easily transported to a spill area instead.
Choose oil-only spill kit refills to fit you own container
Although the type of container is important in your selection it may be that you don't need to consider it at all as you may have a suitable container already in your facility which can be used to house spill supplies. All you need to do is choose an oil spill kit refill based on your absorbency needs and make sure that fits your container. Oil-only refills are available in different sizes which all contain different quantities of absorbents and can fit into various sizes of containers. Typical containers used for housing spill supplies include empty wheeled bins, salt bins and drums, just make sure that you label them as oil-only spill kits for easy identification and to prevent improper use.

For more information on oil spill kits visit http://www.newpig.co.uk or call 0800 919 900.

The Gulf Oil 'Volcano' - A 2012 End-Time Sign?

By Jer Bosky

Many people are talking about the year 2012 and whether or not it will bring the end of the world.
Some link their predictions to the fact that the ancient calendar of the Mayans comes to an abrupt end in December, 2012, as if time itself ceases to exist after that. Some cite prophecies in the Bible about the end of days and the coming of new heavens and a new earth. Still others, eschewing religious and spiritual explanations, point to scientific claims that man's accelerating destruction of his biosphere could soon lead to the end of all life on earth.
All of these doomsayers see fulfillment of their apocalyptic fears in the natural and man-made disasters that make the news nearly every night.
Take the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting from the explosion of a drilling rig. Oil spills are bad, of course, but is this one really so terrible as to possibly constitute a sign of 2012 end-tme events?
The world has survived oil spills before, notably the Exxon Valdez wreck that harmed wildlife and fishing in Alaska. But that disaster was minuscule, some experts say, compared to the ongoing environmental catastrophe in the Gulf.
One U.S. Army engineer has stated that, in his opinion, the oil pocket that was hit by the drillers was so powerful and under such intense pressure that it might be impossible to fully contain it. Some scientists have been quoted as saying the leak could be discharging as much as 25,000 barrels of oil a day -- much more than is being reported by mainstream media -- with no end in sight.
Many experts are saying we shouldn't even be referring to this as an oil spill. It is more properly described as an oil volcano, they say. Our earth itself has been wounded by our drilling, it seems. And it is responding by pumping out crude oil in never-before-seen volumes.
So what does all this mean? Some would have us believe this will turn out to be a normal oil-spill event, regrettable but not permanently damaging. We can expect pictures of oil-soaked beach sand and seabirds coated in goo, and some fishermen might lose their livelihoods -- but that will be about all.
At the other extreme, some are warning that if this oil volcano cannot be fully and permanently capped, it will lead to the death not only of the Gulf of Mexico, but of every ocean on earth. Imagine: No fish. No plankton. No whales, dolphins or seals. No sea birds (that feed on ocean life). It would be the end of a vital part of the food chain that is critical to all life, including the terrestrial kind -- even humans.
This latter scenario fits in perfectly with predictions about 2012, many of which talk about a great dying off or extinction, starting with the seas. This oil spill could well be the trigger for that chilling eventuality.
Remember, the disasters attending the so-called end times of 2012 will be "mega" ones: super earthquakes, extreme volcanoes, shockingly massive terror attacks... and,perhaps, bigger-than-big oil spills. Watch the news on this one, folks. Prepare yourself and your loved ones. And good luck to us all.

Don't believe everything you hear about 2012 and what it could mean to you personally -- but don't disbelieve everything, either. The truth is out there and can be discovered. See the 2012 Predictions site at http://www.2012alarm.com.

Oil Containment Booms - As Seen on TV - Keep Oil Spills From Spreading Out of Control

By Travis Zdrazil

If you've watched the news during the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Disaster, you've seen plenty of them in action: Oil containment booms, lined up along coast lines to prevent the oil from contaminating the shore.
Here's why they were the logical choice for the task. The problem with oil spills, especially if they happen on or near water, is that they spread quickly and can get out of control rapidly. And oil containment booms can often stop their spread completely, or at least slow it down.
Oil booms actually come in two varieties -- absorbent and non-absorbent. The absorbent booms are especially handy because not only can they contain oil spills but they can also clean them up.
They are also referred to as oil spill booms, sorbent booms, marina booms, marine booms, ocean booms or sea booms.
In spite of their name, they can also be used on land to clean up large amounts of oil. And not just oil either, but any other kind of hydrocarbons as well, including gasoline, motor oil, jet fuel, hydraulic oil, and kerosene.
However, they cannot be used for water based chemicals, acids, or aggressive chemicals of any kind.
Oil containment booms are designed to float on the surface of water. They're long sausage-shaped mesh casings stuffed with oil only absorbent polypropylene filler. This makes them float on water whether or not they're already full. They also have nylon ropes and a durable linking system, so they can be linked together -- and more easily retrieved when they're full.
Because they are floating right on top of the water, where any of the spilled oil will be as well, they form a barrier and are highly effective in preventing any oil from getting away.
Their bright white in color serves an important function as well. When they have absorbed all the oil they can take, they plump up -- which makes them easier to see. This in turn is a hard-to-miss indicator of when they need to be replaced. After all, they're costly, so you don't want to replace them when they still have capacity left.
They're perfectly suited for use on any kind of body of water, whether that's a lake, a river, a marina, or even the open ocean. Of course, after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill we've seen a lot of oil containment booms in action -- on TV and in other news media -- and even people who had never heard or thought about them have become familiar with their sight and use.

Want to know more about oil containment booms? Get valuable tips and the latest news about absorbents and other environmental safety products on Travis Zdrazil's Safety Maintenance News blog and get his free newsletter too. Travis is an expert on environmental safety products and has supplied businesses with products to aid in meeting EPA and OSHA requirements for more than 10 years.
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Oil Spill Impacts on Commercial Fishing

By David S Caldwell

The Gulf of Mexico oil disaster of 2010 is the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Millions of gallons of crude oil have leaked from the site of the spill and have spread throughout the gulf and towards shore. Oil and tar balls have already washed up on shores from Louisiana to Florida, littering the beaches and contaminating wildlife. Not only does this pollution have a major negative impact on coastal ecosystems and sea life, but it also threatens the livelihoods of the thousands of fishers who rely on the Gulf Coast waters for profitable catches.
Contamination and Catch Loss
Fishers rely on clean waters for healthy catches that they can sell to support themselves and their families. With the extensive contamination caused by the spill, many fishing businesses have already begun to experience catch losses. Many fish have died from oil exposure before being caught, while others are contaminated and therefore unsellable. Even in areas where the catches are not tainted by oil, some fishers are struggling to sell their fish to wary consumers.
Economic Impacts
Pollution from the oil spill may affect the Gulf Coast commercial fishing industry for many years to come. Some small fishing businesses are already struggling to withstand the current catch losses, and many more may be affected in the future. Many Gulf Coast fishers may soon find that they are no longer able to support their families with such a reduced profit.
If you are involved in Gulf Coast commercial fishing and have suffered an economic loss because of the oil spill, you have the right to pursue compensation through a civil lawsuit. An experienced oil spill economic impacts attorney can help you bring the liable parties to justice so that you and your family receive the financial payment that you deserve.

For More Information - To learn more about oil spill contamination and recovering financial compensation for your catch losses, visit the website of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill attorneys of Williams Kherkher today.

Responsibility for the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

By James Witherspoon

In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that began April of 2010, questions have begun to surface for claims of damages and loss of business. As these cases are filed and precedents are being set in this situation, the question of who is responsible for the damages caused by the oil spill has become more widely discussed. Though BP was the company responsible for operating the oil rig at the time of the leak, they may not be the only responsible party.
BP has been officially recognized as the responsible party for the oil spill. The multinational company was the main owners and operators of the Deepwater Horizon rig, which was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2001. The rig, which has been in operation for the better part of the nine years that it has been in existence, was being leased by BP from March 2008 to September 2013. During that time several different entities have been part of it's operations and were active at the time of this disastrous event.
The nine-year old rig is owned by Transocean Ltd., a Swiss company that did not originally commission the building of the rig. This Swiss company was responsible for regulating drilling operations in regards to the equipment and maintenance of the platform. Any faulty practices in maintaining the rig would be the responsibility of Transocean.
Halliburton was responsible for the cementing of the well. Cement casing lines a well and is perforated at specific points to allow for oil to flow. If the cementing and well cap are proven to have been constructed in a faulty manner, Halliburton could share a great amount of responsibility for the damages caused by the leak.
These types of blowouts are not unexpected in the oil and gas industry. For this reason, blowout prevention equipment is always in place to minimize the risk for this type of event. Cameron is the company responsible for manufacturing the blowout preventer used on this rig. If their product was faulty, they too may have a major part in the cause of the leak and the resulting damage.

This oil spill is a devastating global event and the ramifications of these events are not fully known. If the Deepwater Horizon oil spill had a damaging impact on your Gulf property or business, please visit the website of Gulf of Mexico oil spill attorneys at Williams Kherkher.
James Witherspoon

The Gulf of Mexico BP Oil Spill

By Bryon Zirker

What a fiasco, leave it to big corporations whose only concern is making money at the expense of just about everything.
In my opinion as the cleanup in the Gulf continues the debris and the dead animals should all be collected in huge nets or baskets attached to helicopters and flown directly to the corporate office of BP and dumped on on top of the roof.
I also think that all of the offenders remaining licenses and charter agreements for oil drilling around US and Canadian waters should be immediately and permanently revoked. And the international community should sue for the complete and non exhaustive cleanup to be paid for by BP.
Also it is my opinion that BP should be tasked with the problem of replacing the livelihoods or providing an income or damages to the families and businesses that were taken down by this disaster. The main thing that I would like to see is a very very strong message sent out to all of these big corporations who think they can stomp around the planet with their giant footprints leaving disastrous results in their wake.
The fact that they have struggled so hard to cap the well that is flowing continuously shows me that British Petroleum as well as other companies must seriously evaluate some of the geniuses they have working for them. Some of these idiotic attempts to cap the well are laughable at best. They must have some of the same people working for them as we have in our government offices. All of us, the people of this planet this earth, just simply cannot afford these kinds of huge mistakes being made with the environment, the environment is already stressed enough as it is without all of these mental midgets adding to the problem.
It really is a shame. The damage that has been done in the Gulf of Mexico is enormous by any standards and will take years to recover if it recovers at all. I am just saying.

Bryon has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in diet, fitness and weight loss, you can also check out his latest about Bothell House Painter

Who Will Take Responsibility For the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill?

By Harold Johnson Jr

The pointing of fingers has begun about who is responsible for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The corporate executives are describing the actions by the other corporation that could have mitigated this disaster.
Our solemn and erudite representatives of the people are lined up at the hearings, brows furrowed, deep concern in their voices and questions asked that, if answered, will ensure the safety of the American people in the future.
The word environmentalist is often used as a term of derision. The American people have moved toward a more technologically advanced future that makes such nonsense unworthy of our sophistication.
So how do we explain the stark reality of the ongoing pollution in the Gulf of Mexico? When will the American taxpayer and voter take the steps of a responsible member of a Democracy and make the choices that will hold accountable the actions of corporations and representatives of the people?
Choices are available to us. How many people have made the wise choice? The tax code has been favorable to some of the industries that have caused these toxic accidents.
Solar energy can be researched and is viable as an energy producing system. Some people have embraced this technology. But the question needs to be asked as to why our representatives haven't been more pro-active in ensuring the welfare of their constituents by drafting and passing tax laws that will enhance the health and financial well-being of taxpayers as regards energy creation?
And most curious of all, why do the voters continue to patronize the representatives of the people who appear to ignore the choices that will enhance the lives of constituents? The recent Supreme Court Decision that places corporations in the same favored position as people in regard to campaign financing won't help the voter to make informed decisions. But, how much worse can it get? So it may not matter anyway.
But, ultimately, the future of the U.S.A. is in the hands of the individual. We the people still have the power as bestowed by the U. S. Constitution. Interestingly, the American Revolution was a response to the too-close relationship between King George and Big-Business - for example the Hudson Bay Company.
I suppose everything that is old is new again. However, the U. S. citizen has the incomparable benefit of the U. S. Constitution in place. We have the right to make the choices that will ensure our health and well-being.
Many people have taken the considered and independent steps of taking their financial and health decisions into their own hands, and have put in place green and clean energy sources. If solar panels don't suit, one can try wind energy or geo-thermal.
Or, if you are an entrepreneur, you can get to work developing an entire new theory of energy production that will be the start of a new industry.
The U. S. Constitution has suggested the importance of the individual. Have we bought the story told to us, that Democracy is about Capitalism? Capitalism implies Big-Business, does it not? Why have we, who have become disillusioned by Big Government, instead turned to Big-Business as a replacement.
Could We the People, instead of clinging like children to Big-Government and Big-Business, instead draw on the strength and valor of the individual, and choose Free Enterprise?
Could the simple expedient of making personal choices while drawing on personal values and native intelligence, break the strangle-hold that We the People often experience?
What better place to start than in energy choices and production? And when we are irritated and depressed by the Suits droning on about "who's responsible?", we can reply "I am", while we create our own destiny.

http://www.youralternativeenergycenter.info Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harold_Johnson_Jr

Oil Spill Containment Boom Lessons - What We Can Learn From the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

By Travis Zdrazil

Oil spills can happen at a moment's notice. And they can be devastating. We're seeing that right now in the Gulf of Mexico. Read on for some lessons from that environmental disaster.
Many people had never even seen an oil boom before. They may not have had an idea of what oil booms were. But suddenly, they were watching on TV as countless oil spill containment booms were deployed to help keep the spilled oil away from coastal areas.
Chances are that by the time things are finally under control, or at least as much under control as they can be, considering the spill's magnitude, oil booms will have become a household word.
Meanwhile, we all can learn a few lessons from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster.
1) Don't underestimate the damage that such a spill can cause
The Valdez oil spill more than 20 years ago clearly showed us just how much damage can be wreaked. And the current Gulf of Mexico oil spill turns out to be far worse.
No matter how vast the ocean, if oil flows out of control it can still have a devastating effect on the environment.
And while the amount of oil that can possibly spill in your facility or your equipment may be far smaller, it can still cause great environmental harm.
So the first lesson is to take the threat of an oil spill seriously, and take great pains to prevent spills from happening. We also need to be sure that they can be quickly contained if they should happen in spite of all precautions.
2) Be prepared at all times
The second lesson is to be prepared at all times. Spills are accidents, and accidents are by definition unexpected and not planned. However, that doesn't mean we can't be ready to handle them at a moment's notice.
If we have large amounts of oil, especially on a body of water, we have a responsibility to be ready at all times to handle any emergencies that could happen.
What it takes to be ready is of course the right kind of equipment. And the key to oil spill readiness is the oil spill containment boom. As we've all seen, they float on water and reign in the oil, helping to keep it away from more sensitive areas. They also help to keep it in one area so that it can be cleaned up more easily as well.

Want to know more about how to select the right oil spill containment boom for your situation? Get valuable tips and the latest news about absorbents and other environmental safety products on Travis Zdrazil's Safety Maintenance News blog and get his free newsletter too. Travis is an expert on environmental safety products and has supplied businesses with products to aid in meeting EPA and OSHA requirements for more than 10 years.
You may publish this article, but must keep the resource box ©2009 PCI Products Company. All rights reserved.

Oil Spill In Mexico - Bhopal Tragedy & Ways To Solve That Problem

By K. B. Gopal Krishnan

God has strange ways of teaching. When our own action hurts people and if we do not realize then god sends us similar circumstances, situations and environment to make us understand. In normal situation suppose a lady were to point out the mistake of the husband that he keeps the room messy then she will do things which will exaggerate the mistake. Spilling milk or may be breaking of some vessel will happen for the women. In the same way Bhopal verdict came out and it has hurt lot of people's lives. High handed way of dealing by the American administration and see the same problem happening in their own shore. Of course back of the mind they will be self conscious of the Bhopal victims. Of course people who have ego will never acknowledge their mistakes. Then god send similar situation to make us understand that what is to suffer, so that we do not repeat the same mistake. In the same way next time you hear any disaster in china or problem in Mexico, remember the Tibetans problems and the drug mafia who screw people life. What we do as nation we suffer the collective karma. now there are ways to solve these problems
The fastest way to solve the worldly problem, Is to work in the multi dimensional level. To use ritual magic To use temples and energy enhancing people to clear the energy. Most people including politicians, MBA's from Harvard, IIM's are yet to come to that level of working with multi dimensional level of energy.
For example take Bhopal. It was left to politician to clear it. It has taken years where there is not much significant progress. Secondly there is psychic warfare between the activist and government. Now if I was given the mandate to clear it using the esoteric principles and if I am called by the destiny what would take years can be cleared in months. First I will work in the spirit level by using lanka avatara sutra and durga suktam. This will help to clear the lower level sprits in the city of Bhopal. I will then use Brahmins to do the nitya tarpana to clear away the dead victim's soul in the next world. use bhu suktam to clear the city of Bhopal and the site. This should be done every day for 90 days to clear the energy.
Secondly I will start the work putting a correct time using astrology chart. Many people like idiots believe for a good thing one need not see time. Their soul is at a very low level which does not understand what god wants to do; he will do it with time. In fact time is father and mother is space. Both combine together to form the creation. I will make sure all the meetings of the committees start in good time for the first time. I will use bhariava mantra to clear the energy in the blocked areas and to fight the court battles. I will put the fire grid and monitor on a regular basis. Daily danavatri homam, durga suktam and sree suktam will be done in a particular way to clear the energies. create a temple of danvantri for good health and the shanthi nayaki temple for peace. Ask all the people who work for Bhopal to pray and bless every day in their house. Once a while everyone will meet i.e. once in 3 months all the volunteers will pray and bless the situation. Use the principle of bali to bump of the people psychically who creates lot of problems. Many people with limited understanding work from one level. A person has to work from multi dimensional level, political and social activist level, people level, government level and court cases level. Higher than this is the energy level and ritual level. Just ten of my students with 100 Brahmins can clear the energy field very fast. Of course it will cost a little but then the energy will move like a miracle.
I have CEO's of organization, builders who spent lakhs of rupees on rituals to clear the energy and enhance the energy. It is not new just that it has to be done in the mass level that is all is the difference. The same principles can be used with minor adjustments for Maoist problems, srilanka refugee's crisis and Taliban's. clearing Taliban problem is very easy. Use lankavantra to clear the sprits which hover around the heads in South Waziristan. Secondly use bhariava and bhadra kali invocation with regular poojas on astami and amvasya. Give bali for the top leaders using kusmandas or white pumpkin. Within six months the battle will have significant victory

[http://www.sathyaprema.com]

The Effect of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill on the Bayous

By James Witherspoon

For many people, the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill and resulting seepage of oil across the ocean conjured up memories of the Exxon Valdez tragedy, which coated the coast of Alaska with an enormous oil slick which did tremendous damage to the area's eco system. For many, the sight of oil-covered pelicans along the Gulf is reminiscent of seals and sea birds in Prince William Sound struggling against an oil slick. However, while it's easy to draw a connection between these things and see both disasters as enormous dangers to the environment, it downplays the uniqueness of this particular tragedy.
Danger in the Bayous
The bayous are a system of marshes along the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, stretching roughly from East Texas through much of Louisiana, the southern areas of Mississippi and Alabama, and through to the panhandle of Florida. The area is a band of sandy land stretching some 70,000 miles of coastline, held together by thin reeds, and is populated by a diverse array of wildlife, including crawfish, shrimp, many other varieties of shellfish, fish, alligators, birds, and more.
The ecosystem, like the reeds holding the sandy area together, is very delicate, and is difficult to clean after an oil spill. Beaches are relatively simple to clean: oil washes ashore and is cleaned off by crews. Once oil hits the bayou, though, it is virtually impossible to clean off. If crews set foot in the soil, they will merely drive the oil in deeper; and once the oil hits the cane stalks, it will seep into the roots. It is entirely possible that the damage done now could have repercussions for generations.
If you are interested in learning more about the environmental impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil crisis, please visit the website of the oil-spill attorneys of Williams Kherkher today.

James Witherspoon

Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

By Omni Chaparala

Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has worsened and may not be contained until August. Efforts are being made by British Petroleum to contain the leak. Should the spill worsen, this would affect the local economy in Louisiana. Some of the fishermen whose livelihood is affected by the spill may move to Texas, the state of hospitality and energy. Should the oil spill affect other industries in the neighboring states, it will increase the number of people, that are affected by the leak, who will move from other states to Texas thereby increasing the demand for real estate. Hopefully, the oil leak will be contained soon.
The oil spill may affect the environment and ecological balance in the coastal state of Louisiana and others states where the oil is flowing in the Atlantic Ocean. The fish industry will be affected for some time as cleaning up the sea will take considerable time. It may be poisonous to eat the fish that are caught in the oil spill area. Also, tar balls are going to affect the ecological balance of the marine life in the area. The underwater ecological balance should be maintained for the benefit of the environment. Also, this will help increase the number of tourists who will visit the area thereby bringing money into the local economy.
Tourism in the area will be affected because of the oil leak. Though fishermen are currently employed in the cleanup efforts, they may not have the employment when the cleanup efforts are completed. Also, it will be some time before the ecological balance is restored and the area will be approved for fishing. The birds have oil on them and it costs money to clean these birds.
The oil spill will also cause demand for sea food thereby increasing the cost of sea food in the area. With the oil spill causing local problems, some people may consider moving to other states for employment. Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill have caused a lot of loss. Just as Hurricane Katrina has caused many to move into Texas, we may see some people, though not the numbers during Hurricane Katrina, to move into Texas for employment.
Texas is one of the best states in our country. We may see many people from other states move here because of our hospitality. We Texans are hospitable people and welcome people from other places. Whether the BP oil spill affects your life or not, you should consider moving to Texas and become part of our community. We are friendly and energetic.
Hopefully, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will be contained soon. The Gulf of Mexico oil leak if worsens may cause the real estate prices to rise in Texas as it is the best state to move to with opportunities to grow.

Omni Chaparala works for DFW Realties, a DFW Real Estate company serving home buyers in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex. Dallas Homes for Sale

The Shrimp Season and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

By James Witherspoon

As of mid-August, Louisiana's first shrimping season since the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill occurred is underway, reigniting concerns over the healthiness of Gulf seafood that may have been tainted by petroleum. The shrimping industry is one of the most important concerns in the state, accounting for some $118 million in revenue last year alone. Countless people rely on the industry for income and sustenance, making the issue an incredibly important one.
The American public has been reluctant recently to purchase seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, and this reluctance could ultimately cast a pall over this year's shrimp harvest. Louisiana is the largest shrimp producer in the United States, but it remains to be seen if it will find buyers for its product. Last season's overall take of 45 million kilograms could ultimately be without buyers if these concerns are not dissipated in the near future. Professional shrimpers are hoping that BP's committal the clean-up effort reduces their overall burden and encourages confidence in the American public.
The oil giant has committed some $52 million in funding for health organizations in the region, although it has yet to be seen if this move will allay fears. In a bid to inspire industry confidence, the Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke, visited Louisiana to discuss fishing with industry professionals. The state has already opened parts of its fishing areas, with the rest opening soon.
Adding an additional level of concern is the possible development of a tropical storm in the area, which could potentially put professional shrimpers and fishers in serious danger.

If you or someone you love has been financially affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and would like to learn more about your legal options, please visit the website of the oil spill lawyers of Williams Kherkher today.
James Witherspoon

Responsibility for the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

By James Witherspoon

In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that began April of 2010, questions have begun to surface for claims of damages and loss of business. As these cases are filed and precedents are being set in this situation, the question of who is responsible for the damages caused by the oil spill has become more widely discussed. Though BP was the company responsible for operating the oil rig at the time of the leak, they may not be the only responsible party.
BP has been officially recognized as the responsible party for the oil spill. The multinational company was the main owners and operators of the Deepwater Horizon rig, which was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2001. The rig, which has been in operation for the better part of the nine years that it has been in existence, was being leased by BP from March 2008 to September 2013. During that time several different entities have been part of it's operations and were active at the time of this disastrous event.
The nine-year old rig is owned by Transocean Ltd., a Swiss company that did not originally commission the building of the rig. This Swiss company was responsible for regulating drilling operations in regards to the equipment and maintenance of the platform. Any faulty practices in maintaining the rig would be the responsibility of Transocean.
Halliburton was responsible for the cementing of the well. Cement casing lines a well and is perforated at specific points to allow for oil to flow. If the cementing and well cap are proven to have been constructed in a faulty manner, Halliburton could share a great amount of responsibility for the damages caused by the leak.
These types of blowouts are not unexpected in the oil and gas industry. For this reason, blowout prevention equipment is always in place to minimize the risk for this type of event. Cameron is the company responsible for manufacturing the blowout preventer used on this rig. If their product was faulty, they too may have a major part in the cause of the leak and the resulting damage.

This oil spill is a devastating global event and the ramifications of these events are not fully known. If the Deepwater Horizon oil spill had a damaging impact on your Gulf property or business, please visit the website of Gulf of Mexico oil spill attorneys at Williams Kherkher.
James Witherspoon

The Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill's Effect on the Shrimp Industry

By James Witherspoon

Much has been made about the effects the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have had on the fishing and shrimping industry in the Gulf Coastal area.  However, many people are still unaware of just how extensive the damage is, or the implications it may have on the industry in the future.  Many believe that the future of shrimp harvesting in the Gulf region may be in serious jeopardy.
Shrimp from off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are prized for their naturally delicious taste and firm texture.  The industry is worth an estimated $1.3 billion in Louisiana alone.  However, while the oil spill has received an abundance of attention because of its potential effects on the trade, it has actually faced a series of setbacks and challenges for decades.
First, there have been a series of natural disasters.  Several hurricanes, culminating in the devastating Katrina, challenged professional fishers and reduced the effective harvesting season.
Second, imports and farms have challenged the Gulf Shrimp's position in the market.  Cheaper and found year-round, farm and Asian options have undercut America's wild harvested prawn - which has a mere 10% market share.  However, aficionados are quick to point out that Gulf-harvested animals have a superior taste and quality which other items on the market simply can't match.
It remains to be seen just how much the massive, 190-million gallon spill will affect shrimping on the Gulf of Mexico.  The prospective total haul is likely to be a sliver of what it was last year, as many captains and crew are now being contracted in the clean-up effort.  Some are even suggesting that the effects of the spill may be the industry's death knell.  However, the future is uncertain, and the Gulf Shrimp industry has certainly weathered worse.
To learn more about this and other oil spill-related topics, please visit the website of the oil-spill lawyers of Williams Kherkher.

James Witherspoon

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

By Mykalanne Gutierrez

Did you hear about the Oil Spill? How horrible, right? To be quite frank, I was pretty shocked & almost dispirited thinking about how many animals & people were going to be affected by this dreadful "accident." This all happened on April 20, 2010; there is still some confusion when it comes down to how it happened & what is being done to fix it, but here is what I researched & found out:
So as you probably know (or don't know), one of the first oil wells were placed in the Gulf of Mexico right next to the coast. As these wells began to diminish in quantity, it became necessary to drill deeper in the water just so they can fit. What people may not know is that the deeper you drill below sea level, the pressure becomes higher, the oil temperature gets hotter, & the tension on the metals containing the oil increases drastically. Because of this, the oil industry has been trying to develop technology that will minimize dangers like these; but the thing is that it is almost impossible to find a solution through a computer simulation.
There is no real explanation to why or how this happened, but as you probably guessed, there are many theories. The essential concept is that Transocean (an affiliate to BP) was told to drill a new well not too far & not too close from the older wells in the Gulf of Mexico. What's pretty upsetting is that the well was almost done; it was at the point where they had passed the stage where a blowout was even possible. The casing was already cemented & they had began to install a pipe; but they obviously weren't so lucky.
As of now, it seems that a pressure surge took place & it couldn't be controlled-at all. What's unorthodox is that they had all the equipment to monitor the pressure & even had a device weighing 450 tons that was supposed to prevent blowouts, but they had nothing to dominate the hydrocarbon flow. Since the pressure was so high, the natural gases had actually separated from the oil that was within the hydrocarbon stream; which is what sparked the explosion.
Since the day it erupted, BP has been determined to use their sea robots (which go down to 5,000 feet below the surface) to actually operate the blowout preventer & turn off the flow; which just so happens to be 42,000 gallons per day. As each day comes & goes, the percent of this really working decreases.
If this doesn't work, BP has come up with alternative solutions:
1. Drill an additional hole to block the first well & then force a heavy fluid to stop the flow of the oil.
2. Design & manufacture a dome that goes underwater (obviously) & traps all of the oil that's exceptionally close to the sea floor; & then they channel it for collection.
3. Burn the oil that's already on the surface; which happens to be the best solution when the sea waters are calm.
Regardless of what they do, it seems like the oil is still going to reach shore; which means it's highly hazardous to our friends living in the ocean. It's really unfortunate that something this tragic has to happen at such a bad time, but we can all learn a little something: Always be prepared & always hope for the best, but always expect the worst; right?

Mykalanne Gutierrez
http://www.originalwheels.com/
5611 Kimball Ct., Chino, Ca., 91710
909-597-2600 / 800-826-5880

Oil Skimmers - Simple and Effective

By Bret Mundt

Oil skimmers are an excellent tool in the war against petroleum based spills because everyone knows that Oil + Water = one big mess that is often very hard to clean up especially when the quantity of oil spilled is large.
The most effective, although slow way of getting oil off the top of water is by using oil skimmers. They work by using the adhesive nature of the oil to their advantage. Oil will cling to any surface that it comes into contact with, so these machines provide a never ending surface for the spilled petroleum product to cling to, clean that surface and then repeat that process continuously.
Since the process is continuous and you don't have to replace chemicals or remove soiled items, a large amount of spilled product can be recovered in a short period of time.
Oil skimmers work well in cleaning up oil and petroleum based products on water after major spill events, but for the most part they are used as a maintenance item to remove small petroleum sheens from the surface of retention ponds and tanks at manufacturing facilities that use petroleum based products in their manufacturing operations.
Oil skimmers are really simple devices that do an excellent job doing what they are designed to do. Like any other piece of equipment, it is absolutely critical that the proper size is chosen based on the area that needs to be cleaned. The manufacturers of oil skimmers can provide direction and guidance as to what the reasonable capacity each of their models can realistically provide.
Because of their simplistic nature, oil skimmers are easy to repair, maintain and clean. Any person that is skilled in maintenance of equipment should have no problem adjusting and maintaining the majority of the units that are available on the market today.
One thing you need to know is that oil skimmers work best when they are used in water that is calm such as in a pond, lake or ocean where the waves are not thrashing around. They aren't as effective in rivers or high wave conditions because the oil needs a little bit of time to adhere to the rotating surface in order to pick it up.
Most oil skimmers are driven by an electric motor that provides the power necessary to move the rotating oil collection surface, a collection tank where the oil is stored until it is emptied and a scraper that removes the oil from the collecting surface. Some advanced models have timers and other analytical devices that turn the skimmer on when they sense oil on the surface. These devices are for controlled situations where the spill or leak is intermittent and not for full scale clean up like happens when there is a major oil spill like the Exxon Valdez or the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill.
The capacity of a oil skimmers is directly related to the surface area of the collection device. The larger the area, the higher the capacity. This fact, in itself, makes it seem like oil skimmers don't work very well. When there is a major oil spill, people want it to be cleaned up fast. Oil skimmers don't work fast, the way most people see fast. They are methodical and effective but don't get in a hurry due to the nature of the product they are collecting and how they work.
The next time you are watching an oil spill being cleaned up, look for oil skimmers. They are either drums or belts that rotate slowly through the contaminated water collecting the oil as they rotate.

Bret Mundt is a mechanical engineer and industrial contractor with more than 20 years experience working in manufacturing facilities. He knows what works and what doesn't from a practical standpoint. He has the unique ability to take complicated and technical information and simplify it so anyone can understand it. You can check out the information about the best oil skimmers and which one is best for your situation.

The Gulf Oil Spill - Americans Negate Off-Shore Energy and Add to Global Pollution

By Lynda Lacroix

The purpose of off-shore drilling is to provide a source of energy for the American people so that we are not dependent on another country. It should also reduce our energy costs since the wells are off our coastlines. We risk the possibility of a disaster just like the Gulf Oil Spill on a daily basis just to obtain oil and gas reserves. What would you think if you knew that you helped waste more energy per year than the energy supplied by the gas and oil mined from off-shore deposits?
Most everyone wastes food, but it is a matter of the volume and frequency that food is wasted. There are discarded loaves of bread and out-of-date yogurt cups that fall into obsolescence at the back of the fridge. Maybe there are a dozen eggs absent-mindedly left in the trunk of a car or a few pounds of ground beef aged to brown and thrown into the garbage can. Half-eaten sandwiches or fries that have grown cold added into the trash that eventually makes its' way to the landfill. Virtually every family and every individual in this land of plenty discards a percentage of their food, whether it has spoiled or is just too much to consume.
This food loss is not something the average person will even consider, but the bean counters that crunch the numbers see it as a huge, overwhelming problem. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Loss Project, Americans discard more than 25% (approximately 25.9 million tons) of all the food produced domestically and there are some estimates significantly higher. The tragedy of this substantial waste does not end once the food hits the garbage bin.
Once all of this decomposing food gets to the landfill (whether it is contained in plastic bags or not), it continues breaking down and creates large amounts of methane gas. Methane is well known for contributing to the greenhouse effect. For example in Asia, Latin America and Africa, 40 % of methane emissions or about 37 million metric tons come from landfills.
Now comes the news (in light of the recent gulf oil disaster) from the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Texas at Austin, that more energy is wasted in the edible food discarded by people in the United States each year than is extracted annually from the oil and gas reserves off the nation's coastlines. (Note: This figure does not take into account waste on farms and from fishing). This loss is more than, and effectively nullifies, any contemporary attempt or strategy to improve national energy efficiency by utilizing off-shore drilling.
This is the kind of news that makes one feel utterly hopeless. However, while we may never become a zero-waste society, recent in-roads in community composting, food recovery, and gleaning have been able to make an impact on that 25% of waste. If our food waste was cut in half we would likely extend the lifespan of landfills by decades, reduce soil depletion and the application of tons of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. In order to achieve this goal, we must learn how to clean our plate like mama taught us to and manage our waste better.
Those of you who are gardeners can compost your organic waste to help build up your own flower beds and gardens. This composted waste would then be useful fertilizer to grow some of your own food, reducing the amount of produce that has to be trucked into your area. You would save money on your grocery budget, energy costs, and reduce your carbon footprint helping to save this planet that we live on. Think about the choices you make. They are after all, your choices and your decisions. Choose to do what's right and think before throwing away those leftovers.

Lynda M. Lacroix is an accomplished writer with over 40 years experience working in areas of homesteading, animal husbandry, and conservation. She is an avid homesteader and conservationist as well as a Wildlife Biologist. It is her belief that we live in a time that neighbor must look after neighbor. By going back to basics, she is living a simpler lifestyle that is both enjoyable and satisfying while producing naturally healthy food for the table. For more information: http://environmentalconservationguide.com/waste-management/.