Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Gulf Oil Disaster ~ What You Can Do

The other day one of the newscasters was discussing the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He made a comment that the gulf was a big place and gave the impression he thought nature would take care of the problem.

I started thinking that he was probably right. In maybe 30 to 50 years, nature will have cleaned it all up. (After 20 years, the oil from the Exxon Valdez still impacts Alaska's environment and after 40 years Cape Cod marshes still smell like gasoline after the barge Florida ran aground.) In the meantime, all wildlife, sea life, fishing, and tourism will have been destroyed. So what can we do? Here are a few suggestions:

1. The National Wildlife Federation has some suggestions as to how you can help.
2. Dawn has been helping to save wildlife for over 30 years.
  • When you buy a bottle of Dawn and activate your donation online, one dollar will be donated towards the International Bird Rescue Research Center and the Marine Mammal Center.
3. Matter of Trust collects hair, fur, fleece, feathers, and nylons to help absorb oil. They also accept funding. I have read, however, that authorities may not be using this method.

4. The National Audubon Society suggests that you
  • Volunteer. But remember that untrained helpers on the front lines can pose a danger to themselves and to wildlife and actually interfere with the work being done.
  • Support full finding for Coastal Louisiana Restoration by contacting your senators and house representatives.
  • Make a donation.
  • If you don't live in the Gulf region, learn to keep a healthy habitat for wildlife at home by visiting Audubon at Home.
5. If you think you have a solution to the problem, submit your idea to the EPA.

6. Other organizations have similar suggestions for ways you can help:
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

2 comments:

  1. Another way to help: International Bird Rescue at http://ibrrc.org/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Another company trying to help: http://www.buildbabybuild.com/

    ReplyDelete