Thanks to Debbie and Mike Willis, who are doing an inspiring job documenting turtle and oil related activity. Please check out their website and take a peak at the great videos and photos they have posted: http://www.turtle-hatching.com/
While I will (obviously) continue to share my personal experience with the oil and its effects, here is the site for official daily updates: http://www.thebeachfacts.com/
Go Lucy Go! Lucy Buffett, owner of Lulu's at Homeport Marina (my wonderful place of employment) and local celebrity in her own right, spent the afternoon with a crew from CBS on Sunday (they were GREAT, HAPPY customers and I loved serving them). She is working hard to keep a positive vibe around town, and it's doing a lot of good: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/28/earlyshow/main6626540.shtml
I finally found some resources for those of you looking to donate. Please research carefully and make sure you're donating to a program that will do good NOW! http://www1.networkforgood.org/gulf-coast-oil-spill I also saw a flyer from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo calling for dish soap, bleach, towels, etc, to aide the wildlife recovery process. If that floats your boat, give them a call and ask how you can help. FYI they are also asking for volunteers and donors to help make handmade hair boom! http://www.alabamagulfcoastzoo.org/
For those looking to volunteer, I know it has been more or less impossible so far. Check out these links and see if any developments have come about...I feel like we're getting closer as we find our stride in this clean up process. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/army-of-volunteers-needed-for-gulf-oil-spill-cleanup
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Day 71
All we can do is continue working, and so we do. We are keeping an optimistic outlook here on Pleasure Island, but every day is riddled with uncertainty, high-running emotions, and a lot of work. I am struggling to record everything that is going on...heartbreaking is not a strong enough word to describe the feeling of loss and helplessness as your home is slowly consumed.
Things are chaotic down here. Those of us in the service industry are scrambling to prepare for the free Jimmy Buffett and Friends concert meant to boost our flailing economy. We are struggling to keep our guests happy while people fight over the limited tickets and as the tropical storm and the oil change the details. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the 4th of July celebrations down here, hoping for at least one last money-making hoo-rah before things get worse. We are trying, so hard, to keep an upbeat attitude, for our guests, for our families, for our own sanity, but it is very difficult as we know that even now, on Day 71, oil is still flowing into the Gulf at an alarming rate, and that there is no indication the leak will be capped any time soon.
Our dwindling tourists, excited about the impending concert and Independence Day activities, seek out alternate entertainment as they cannot swim, fish, boat, or float in the Gulf of Mexico. They walk the beach and clean tar off their kids' feet and hands at the end of the day, accidentally walk oil into the swimming pools, and go go-cart racing or miniature golfing at night. Thank goodness for our live music community. It really helps to have that here. Thank goodness for Jimmy Buffett, as condo rentals have skyrocketed and the restaurants are feeling a happy buzz, if only for a week or so.
The fishing industry has come to a screeching halt. Our seafood is not safe to consume, our waters are not safe to boat in. Fishermen, shrimpers, seafood distributors, charter captains, anyone with any experience in boating whatsoever is fighting for jobs to skim, to pull boom, to patrol for oil. BP is hiring and thankfully our governor finally mandated that Alabama workers must be Alabama residents, so SOME lucky people are finding jobs. They are also finding these jobs to be unforgiving; it is hot, hard work and employees are quickly dehydrated, overheated, and exhausted. The turn over for BP employees is big.
I myself am working nights on the beach, monitoring heavy sifting machines as they move down the beaches at one-two mph, shaking tar balls out of our once white, now reddish orange sand. My job is to make sure that the machines do not destroy turtles or any sign of turtle activity. I fell into this position thanks to my 8 years volunteer experience with the Share the Beach sea turtle conservation program. One light in this darkness: we are finding nests. Momma turtles are still laying their eggs. Last week we actually found two mothers in the midst of laying in two nights (one discovered by Matt Reynolds, one by my own Momma Sherry). Sadly, we will have to wait out the majority of the gestation period, then excavate the nests and relocate the eggs to the eastern shores of Florida, where the babies will have a fighting chance at avoiding our oil...as hatchlings imprint the beach they hatch at and return to that same place to nest when they reach maturity, we will be missing a generation down the road here in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
I am quite pleased with the clean up efforts, finally, here at home. Now that we have locals working, motivation and passion are evident in the crews. The only problems? We don't have enough people to cover the beach, and the oil keeps coming. Every day we clean the work is undone. However, we are all working round the clock to keep our beaches oil free.
Wildlife is changing behavior. Marine life has moved in close to shore as the oxygen has been depleted from the water. Sand crabs are chocolate-colored, no longer white. I've noted many unfamiliar birds, some of which cannot fly when threatened. The death toll for sea turtles, marine mammals, birds, and fish continues to climb.
It is very emotionally draining. We're tired and we're hurting, and we appreciate the well-wishes from the rest of the country and the world. As we continue to note, our communities down here can handle hurricanes, we can handle tornadoes and we can recover, together, from anything that nature throws at us. This oil is an entirely different animal. Although we are the blind leading the blind in this case, we continue to support each other, to seek solutions, to keep our chins up, to work hard to protect our beaches, our waters, our animals, our economy, our very way of life. We continue to believe that BP and the brilliant people of this world will find a solution to the leak and that, eventually, we will see a light at the end of the tunnel, and an end to this treacherous disaster.
Things are chaotic down here. Those of us in the service industry are scrambling to prepare for the free Jimmy Buffett and Friends concert meant to boost our flailing economy. We are struggling to keep our guests happy while people fight over the limited tickets and as the tropical storm and the oil change the details. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the 4th of July celebrations down here, hoping for at least one last money-making hoo-rah before things get worse. We are trying, so hard, to keep an upbeat attitude, for our guests, for our families, for our own sanity, but it is very difficult as we know that even now, on Day 71, oil is still flowing into the Gulf at an alarming rate, and that there is no indication the leak will be capped any time soon.
Our dwindling tourists, excited about the impending concert and Independence Day activities, seek out alternate entertainment as they cannot swim, fish, boat, or float in the Gulf of Mexico. They walk the beach and clean tar off their kids' feet and hands at the end of the day, accidentally walk oil into the swimming pools, and go go-cart racing or miniature golfing at night. Thank goodness for our live music community. It really helps to have that here. Thank goodness for Jimmy Buffett, as condo rentals have skyrocketed and the restaurants are feeling a happy buzz, if only for a week or so.
The fishing industry has come to a screeching halt. Our seafood is not safe to consume, our waters are not safe to boat in. Fishermen, shrimpers, seafood distributors, charter captains, anyone with any experience in boating whatsoever is fighting for jobs to skim, to pull boom, to patrol for oil. BP is hiring and thankfully our governor finally mandated that Alabama workers must be Alabama residents, so SOME lucky people are finding jobs. They are also finding these jobs to be unforgiving; it is hot, hard work and employees are quickly dehydrated, overheated, and exhausted. The turn over for BP employees is big.
I myself am working nights on the beach, monitoring heavy sifting machines as they move down the beaches at one-two mph, shaking tar balls out of our once white, now reddish orange sand. My job is to make sure that the machines do not destroy turtles or any sign of turtle activity. I fell into this position thanks to my 8 years volunteer experience with the Share the Beach sea turtle conservation program. One light in this darkness: we are finding nests. Momma turtles are still laying their eggs. Last week we actually found two mothers in the midst of laying in two nights (one discovered by Matt Reynolds, one by my own Momma Sherry). Sadly, we will have to wait out the majority of the gestation period, then excavate the nests and relocate the eggs to the eastern shores of Florida, where the babies will have a fighting chance at avoiding our oil...as hatchlings imprint the beach they hatch at and return to that same place to nest when they reach maturity, we will be missing a generation down the road here in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
I am quite pleased with the clean up efforts, finally, here at home. Now that we have locals working, motivation and passion are evident in the crews. The only problems? We don't have enough people to cover the beach, and the oil keeps coming. Every day we clean the work is undone. However, we are all working round the clock to keep our beaches oil free.
Wildlife is changing behavior. Marine life has moved in close to shore as the oxygen has been depleted from the water. Sand crabs are chocolate-colored, no longer white. I've noted many unfamiliar birds, some of which cannot fly when threatened. The death toll for sea turtles, marine mammals, birds, and fish continues to climb.
It is very emotionally draining. We're tired and we're hurting, and we appreciate the well-wishes from the rest of the country and the world. As we continue to note, our communities down here can handle hurricanes, we can handle tornadoes and we can recover, together, from anything that nature throws at us. This oil is an entirely different animal. Although we are the blind leading the blind in this case, we continue to support each other, to seek solutions, to keep our chins up, to work hard to protect our beaches, our waters, our animals, our economy, our very way of life. We continue to believe that BP and the brilliant people of this world will find a solution to the leak and that, eventually, we will see a light at the end of the tunnel, and an end to this treacherous disaster.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sharks!
Sharks frenzying on bait fish at the water's edge in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I assume the sudden abundance of sharks in shallow water has to do with the dropped oxygen levels in the water due to the presence of oil, but I am not an expert and haven't found out yet for sure.
Updated Turtle Statistics
NOAA's current totals:
A total of 527 sea turtles have been verified from April 30 to June 21 within the designated spill area from the Texas/Louisiana border to Apalachicola, Florida. Between Sunday, June 20, and Monday, June 21, 13 turtle strandings were verified (Ten dead in Mississippi, 2 dead in Alabama, and one dead in Louisiana). Ten live turtles were collected during offshore bird and turtle surveys by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Two of those were visibly oiled. There are now 116 sea turtles in rehabilitation centers. These include 83 sea turtles captured as part of on-water survey and rescue operations, and 33 turtles that stranded alive. A total of 92 stranded or captured turtles have had visible evidence of external oil since verifications began on April 30. These include the 81 captured or collected turtles from on-water operations (75 live turtles, 3 collected dead and 3 found alive that died in rehabilitation), six live stranded turtles (two caught in oil skimming operations), and five dead stranded sea turtles. All others have not had visible evidence of external oil.
Of the 527 turtles verified from April 30 to June 21, a total of 396 stranded turtles were found dead, 41 stranded alive. Four of those subsequently died. Four live stranded turtles were released, and 33 live stranded turtles are being cared for at rehabilitation centers. Turtle strandings during this time period have been much higher in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle than in previous years for this same time period. This may be due in part to increased detection and reporting, but this does not fully account for the increase.
The NOAA Ship Pisces reported a dead 25-foot sperm whale was located 150 miles due south of Pascagoula, Miss. and approximately 77 miles due south of the spill site last week. The whale was decomposed and heavily scavenged. Samples of skin and blubber have been taken and will be analyzed. Sperm whales are the only endangered resident cetacean in the Upper Gulf of Mexico.
From April 30 to June 21, 50 stranded dolphins have been verified in the designated spill area - no change from June 20. Of the total 50 stranded dolphins, 46 dolphins stranded dead, four dolphins stranded alive and two of those have subsequently died, one on the beach and the other euthanized. The other two include one in rehabilitation at Audubon Aquarium found Saturday and one freed from between two oil booms. Visible evidence of external oil was confirmed on three dolphins. However, we are unable at this time to determine whether two of the dolphins were externally oiled before or after death. Since April 30, the stranding rate for dolphins in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle has been higher than the historic numbers for the same time period in previous years. In part, this may be due to increased detection and reporting and the lingering effects of an earlier observed spike in strandings for the winter of 2010.
A stranding is defined as a dead or debilitated animal that washes ashore or is found in the water. NOAA and its partners are analyzing the cause of death for the dead stranded and dead captured sea turtles and the stranded marine mammals.
A total of 527 sea turtles have been verified from April 30 to June 21 within the designated spill area from the Texas/Louisiana border to Apalachicola, Florida. Between Sunday, June 20, and Monday, June 21, 13 turtle strandings were verified (Ten dead in Mississippi, 2 dead in Alabama, and one dead in Louisiana). Ten live turtles were collected during offshore bird and turtle surveys by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Two of those were visibly oiled. There are now 116 sea turtles in rehabilitation centers. These include 83 sea turtles captured as part of on-water survey and rescue operations, and 33 turtles that stranded alive. A total of 92 stranded or captured turtles have had visible evidence of external oil since verifications began on April 30. These include the 81 captured or collected turtles from on-water operations (75 live turtles, 3 collected dead and 3 found alive that died in rehabilitation), six live stranded turtles (two caught in oil skimming operations), and five dead stranded sea turtles. All others have not had visible evidence of external oil.
Of the 527 turtles verified from April 30 to June 21, a total of 396 stranded turtles were found dead, 41 stranded alive. Four of those subsequently died. Four live stranded turtles were released, and 33 live stranded turtles are being cared for at rehabilitation centers. Turtle strandings during this time period have been much higher in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle than in previous years for this same time period. This may be due in part to increased detection and reporting, but this does not fully account for the increase.
The NOAA Ship Pisces reported a dead 25-foot sperm whale was located 150 miles due south of Pascagoula, Miss. and approximately 77 miles due south of the spill site last week. The whale was decomposed and heavily scavenged. Samples of skin and blubber have been taken and will be analyzed. Sperm whales are the only endangered resident cetacean in the Upper Gulf of Mexico.
From April 30 to June 21, 50 stranded dolphins have been verified in the designated spill area - no change from June 20. Of the total 50 stranded dolphins, 46 dolphins stranded dead, four dolphins stranded alive and two of those have subsequently died, one on the beach and the other euthanized. The other two include one in rehabilitation at Audubon Aquarium found Saturday and one freed from between two oil booms. Visible evidence of external oil was confirmed on three dolphins. However, we are unable at this time to determine whether two of the dolphins were externally oiled before or after death. Since April 30, the stranding rate for dolphins in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle has been higher than the historic numbers for the same time period in previous years. In part, this may be due to increased detection and reporting and the lingering effects of an earlier observed spike in strandings for the winter of 2010.
A stranding is defined as a dead or debilitated animal that washes ashore or is found in the water. NOAA and its partners are analyzing the cause of death for the dead stranded and dead captured sea turtles and the stranded marine mammals.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
NOAA's Current Turtle Totals
As published June 8 on NOAA's website:
A total of 322 sea turtles have been verified from April 30 to June 8 within the designated spill area (The designated spill area for sea turtles and marine mammals is from the Texas/Louisiana border to Apalachicola, Florida). Between Monday, June 7, and Tuesday, June 8, 7 turtle strandings were verified; all were dead (Four in Mississippi, two in Louisiana, and one in Alabama. One from Louisiana had visible external oil on it). Thirty heavily oiled sea turtles have been captured in the on-water turtle search and rescue operation by NOAA, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other partners working under the Unified Command. Twenty- five of those captured turtles are in rehabilitation at Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans, two turtles were collected dead and three captured alive subsequently died at the aquarium. A total of 37 stranded or captured turtles have had visible evidence of external oil. These include the 30 captured turtles from the on-water operation, four live stranded sea turtles (two caught in skimming operations) and three dead stranded sea turtles. All others have not had visible evidence of external oil.
Of the 322 turtles verified from April 30 to June 8, a total of 270 stranded turtles were found dead, 22 stranded alive. Three of those subsequently died. Three live stranded turtles have been released, including two that were found in Mississippi and released after rehabilitation in Ten Thousand Islands, Florida. There are 41 turtles in rehabilitation. Turtle strandings during this time period have been higher in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama than in previous years for this same time period. This may be due in part to increased detection and reporting, but this does not fully account for the increase.
From April 30 to June 8, 38 stranded dolphins have been verified in the designated spill area. Of this, 36 dolphins stranded dead and two stranded alive. One died on the beach and another that stranded in Florida was euthanized. So far, two of the 38 stranded dolphins had evidence of external oil. However, we are unable at this time to determine whether the animals were externally oiled before or after death. Since April 30, the stranding rate for dolphins in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama has been higher than the historic numbers for the same time period in previous years. In part, this may be due to increased detection and reporting and the lingering effects of an earlier observed spike in strandings for the winter of 2010. A stranding is defined as a dead or debilitated animal that washes ashore or is found in the water.
A total of 322 sea turtles have been verified from April 30 to June 8 within the designated spill area (The designated spill area for sea turtles and marine mammals is from the Texas/Louisiana border to Apalachicola, Florida). Between Monday, June 7, and Tuesday, June 8, 7 turtle strandings were verified; all were dead (Four in Mississippi, two in Louisiana, and one in Alabama. One from Louisiana had visible external oil on it). Thirty heavily oiled sea turtles have been captured in the on-water turtle search and rescue operation by NOAA, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other partners working under the Unified Command. Twenty- five of those captured turtles are in rehabilitation at Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans, two turtles were collected dead and three captured alive subsequently died at the aquarium. A total of 37 stranded or captured turtles have had visible evidence of external oil. These include the 30 captured turtles from the on-water operation, four live stranded sea turtles (two caught in skimming operations) and three dead stranded sea turtles. All others have not had visible evidence of external oil.
Of the 322 turtles verified from April 30 to June 8, a total of 270 stranded turtles were found dead, 22 stranded alive. Three of those subsequently died. Three live stranded turtles have been released, including two that were found in Mississippi and released after rehabilitation in Ten Thousand Islands, Florida. There are 41 turtles in rehabilitation. Turtle strandings during this time period have been higher in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama than in previous years for this same time period. This may be due in part to increased detection and reporting, but this does not fully account for the increase.
From April 30 to June 8, 38 stranded dolphins have been verified in the designated spill area. Of this, 36 dolphins stranded dead and two stranded alive. One died on the beach and another that stranded in Florida was euthanized. So far, two of the 38 stranded dolphins had evidence of external oil. However, we are unable at this time to determine whether the animals were externally oiled before or after death. Since April 30, the stranding rate for dolphins in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama has been higher than the historic numbers for the same time period in previous years. In part, this may be due to increased detection and reporting and the lingering effects of an earlier observed spike in strandings for the winter of 2010. A stranding is defined as a dead or debilitated animal that washes ashore or is found in the water.
To Those Who Want To Help
I have been trying to find more resources than what Deepwater Horizon Response is providing, but the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration are all working under BP's umbrella. To volunteer or to report oil, please use the hotlines and websites below. Or show up at our house and we'll put you to work in a heartbeat!...as long as you don't mind the risk of arrest.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Deepwater Horizon Response Volunteer Hotline: 1-866-448-5816
http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/default.aspx
http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
http://www.volunteermississippi.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do
http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/
To Report Stranded (live or dead) Wildlife:
US Fish and Wildlife Service: 1-866-557-1401
Volunteer Opportunities:
Deepwater Horizon Response Volunteer Hotline: 1-866-448-5816
http://www.servealabama.gov/2010/default.aspx
http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
http://www.volunteermississippi.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do
http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov/
To Report Stranded (live or dead) Wildlife:
US Fish and Wildlife Service: 1-866-557-1401
Thanks Linda, for putting this situation into words
Dear Family and Friends across This Great Nation,
As you know the Gulf Coast is experiencing the worst man made disaster in the history of oil drilling in our nation. Even though you may not live on the Gulf Coast you are aware of the seriousness of the situation. We need your help as citizens of this country. These are the issues and questions that we are facing daily with this oil spill. We question the response from government and question why the oil spill has not been stopped. We question why we feel that our hands are tied on the clean up. We question why there is not more local control. We question why regulations were not followed. Surely things could have been handled differently. To sit back and watch wild life die (Turtles, pelicans, birds, fish, crabs, etc.), pristine white beaches destroyed, lives ruined (fishing industry ruined for decades, real estate destroyed, tourism stopped) is beyond me. This oil spill is having an effect on the whole nation and the world.
What can you do as family and friends to assist? Flood the President, Senate, and Congress with calls, e-mails, and letters. Attached are two sample letters that you may use and send by US Mail or by e-mail to our President, your Congressman, and your Senators. One letter is for people who live in the Gulf Coast Area and one is for people who live outside the Gulf Coast Area. Or you can write your own letters. But please send letters. Here is the link to email the White House, http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact. Also, here is the link for congressman’s addresses www.house.gov (Go to the upper left hand corner to the box that says find your representative by zip code, then hit go—this should get you to your congressman’s information, usually this information is at the bottom of the home page). Here is the link to your senators, www.senate.gov (Go to this site and click on Senators, drop down to choose your State, and you can obtain their addresses).
This is the President’s address by US Postal Services:
President Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania AV. N.W.
Washington, DC. 20500
Below is our nine point message. Refer to attached letters for greater information about each point.
1. Public Announcement and Publication of Line of Command
2. Reorganize Homeland Security to ensure there is more local control after disaster incidents.
3. Intensive study of oil drilling especially deep water.
4. Intensive study of alterative energy sources
5. Establish relief drilling procedures and practices
6. Establish and implement required redundancy safety measures
7. Stricter and stronger enforcement of regulations
8. Encourage, inspire, and give funding support so more young people go into
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEMS)
9. Lessons Learned
We are turtle volunteers and here is the message from our turtle captain. We want to assist with clean up but are being stopped. “First thing this morning, Nancy called to report a sort of oil on our 1st section. Since I was at the beach I went immediately out to confirm. Thousands upon thousands of what I will coin "tar paddies" were everywhere. These bits were readily evident as the tide coming in dumped them around the pass on the tide line. We called it in at 6:23 A.M. 4 hours later still no response as to a clean up crew. Using binoculars, eventually, I saw I guy to the west spin around a brief area far to the east on a gator (4-wheeler), apparently looking down for something. By this time the tide was higher and the tide pool covered the tide line and most of the tar paddies. An hour or 2 later I watched a guy ride by my house, stopping to talk to tourists. I saw 2 more gators with guys looking around the pass. I saw none of them pick up anything although they may have bags of it. As Share the Beach Turtle Volunteers we could lose our license if we touch oil. We will not risk that, Do not touch oiled trash. Do not touch oiled anything, we are here for turtles.”
As Kristen Campbell so eloquently writes in the June 5, 2010 Mobile Press-Register: “The best course, it seems, is to prepare for whatever danger or crisis may come while continuing to live your life. So it is that many along the Gulf Coast have spent time in recent weeks cleaning beaches and enjoying them. Many, no doubt, will continue to do so as long as they’re able. I think they’re wise. Though their deeds, they may remind us of a few truths, as well as help inspire those of us who may only be able to watch from afar.
Take action. Bad things happen. We can gnash our teeth, and lament all we like, but then we best do something to help those in need. Some may be able to care for families of the workers who died in the explosion, aid the wildlife affected by the spill, or support those who livelihoods have been negatively impacted in the aftermath of the accident. All of us no doubt may consider our own dependence on oil and contemplate ways in which we might alter our own everyday actions.
In the midst of life’s catastrophes, look around—up in into the sky, into the depths of the sea—and recognize the beauty and brilliance that still surrounds us. Then, work to preserve and strengthen those things, places, and people.
Recognize reality and dare to hope for a better future. When we’re in crisis mode, it can be easy to make the goal to recapture the past. What if we sought to imagine and create something better than what we have known?”
That is what we think we can do. Create something better for our future generations. We think working with our elected officials to get the nine point message across can do just that: Help us create a better future. Send the attached letters to our President, Senators and Congressman.
Please join the cause for a better future. We appreciate any help and assistance you may give us. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Sincerely,
The turtle volunteers.
Please confirm receipt of this e-mail. Thank you!
Linda B. Spangrud
Tom Spangrud
Spangrud & Associates
9268 Lakeview Drive
Foley, AL. 36535
251-955-6039 (office)
815-978-5976 ( Linda's Cell)
815-978-5844 (Tom's Cell)
251-955-6039 (Fax-call first)
As you know the Gulf Coast is experiencing the worst man made disaster in the history of oil drilling in our nation. Even though you may not live on the Gulf Coast you are aware of the seriousness of the situation. We need your help as citizens of this country. These are the issues and questions that we are facing daily with this oil spill. We question the response from government and question why the oil spill has not been stopped. We question why we feel that our hands are tied on the clean up. We question why there is not more local control. We question why regulations were not followed. Surely things could have been handled differently. To sit back and watch wild life die (Turtles, pelicans, birds, fish, crabs, etc.), pristine white beaches destroyed, lives ruined (fishing industry ruined for decades, real estate destroyed, tourism stopped) is beyond me. This oil spill is having an effect on the whole nation and the world.
What can you do as family and friends to assist? Flood the President, Senate, and Congress with calls, e-mails, and letters. Attached are two sample letters that you may use and send by US Mail or by e-mail to our President, your Congressman, and your Senators. One letter is for people who live in the Gulf Coast Area and one is for people who live outside the Gulf Coast Area. Or you can write your own letters. But please send letters. Here is the link to email the White House, http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact. Also, here is the link for congressman’s addresses www.house.gov (Go to the upper left hand corner to the box that says find your representative by zip code, then hit go—this should get you to your congressman’s information, usually this information is at the bottom of the home page). Here is the link to your senators, www.senate.gov (Go to this site and click on Senators, drop down to choose your State, and you can obtain their addresses).
This is the President’s address by US Postal Services:
President Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania AV. N.W.
Washington, DC. 20500
Below is our nine point message. Refer to attached letters for greater information about each point.
1. Public Announcement and Publication of Line of Command
2. Reorganize Homeland Security to ensure there is more local control after disaster incidents.
3. Intensive study of oil drilling especially deep water.
4. Intensive study of alterative energy sources
5. Establish relief drilling procedures and practices
6. Establish and implement required redundancy safety measures
7. Stricter and stronger enforcement of regulations
8. Encourage, inspire, and give funding support so more young people go into
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEMS)
9. Lessons Learned
We are turtle volunteers and here is the message from our turtle captain. We want to assist with clean up but are being stopped. “First thing this morning, Nancy called to report a sort of oil on our 1st section. Since I was at the beach I went immediately out to confirm. Thousands upon thousands of what I will coin "tar paddies" were everywhere. These bits were readily evident as the tide coming in dumped them around the pass on the tide line. We called it in at 6:23 A.M. 4 hours later still no response as to a clean up crew. Using binoculars, eventually, I saw I guy to the west spin around a brief area far to the east on a gator (4-wheeler), apparently looking down for something. By this time the tide was higher and the tide pool covered the tide line and most of the tar paddies. An hour or 2 later I watched a guy ride by my house, stopping to talk to tourists. I saw 2 more gators with guys looking around the pass. I saw none of them pick up anything although they may have bags of it. As Share the Beach Turtle Volunteers we could lose our license if we touch oil. We will not risk that, Do not touch oiled trash. Do not touch oiled anything, we are here for turtles.”
As Kristen Campbell so eloquently writes in the June 5, 2010 Mobile Press-Register: “The best course, it seems, is to prepare for whatever danger or crisis may come while continuing to live your life. So it is that many along the Gulf Coast have spent time in recent weeks cleaning beaches and enjoying them. Many, no doubt, will continue to do so as long as they’re able. I think they’re wise. Though their deeds, they may remind us of a few truths, as well as help inspire those of us who may only be able to watch from afar.
Take action. Bad things happen. We can gnash our teeth, and lament all we like, but then we best do something to help those in need. Some may be able to care for families of the workers who died in the explosion, aid the wildlife affected by the spill, or support those who livelihoods have been negatively impacted in the aftermath of the accident. All of us no doubt may consider our own dependence on oil and contemplate ways in which we might alter our own everyday actions.
In the midst of life’s catastrophes, look around—up in into the sky, into the depths of the sea—and recognize the beauty and brilliance that still surrounds us. Then, work to preserve and strengthen those things, places, and people.
Recognize reality and dare to hope for a better future. When we’re in crisis mode, it can be easy to make the goal to recapture the past. What if we sought to imagine and create something better than what we have known?”
That is what we think we can do. Create something better for our future generations. We think working with our elected officials to get the nine point message across can do just that: Help us create a better future. Send the attached letters to our President, Senators and Congressman.
Please join the cause for a better future. We appreciate any help and assistance you may give us. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Sincerely,
The turtle volunteers.
Please confirm receipt of this e-mail. Thank you!
Linda B. Spangrud
Tom Spangrud
Spangrud & Associates
9268 Lakeview Drive
Foley, AL. 36535
251-955-6039 (office)
815-978-5976 ( Linda's Cell)
815-978-5844 (Tom's Cell)
251-955-6039 (Fax-call first)
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