Scientists monitoring the spill with the European Space Agency Envisat radar satellite stated that oil had reached the Loop Current, which flows clockwise around the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida and becomes the Gulf Stream. The scientists warn that because the Loop Current is a very intense deep ocean current, its turbulent waters will accelerate the mixing of the oil and water. Ruoying He of North Carolina State University, head of the Ocean Observing and Monitoring Group, said if the oil reached the Gulf Stream, then south Florida, including the Keys, would likely be affected. On May 19, NOAA acknowledged that a small portion of the oil slick has reached the Loop Current. On June 3, a computer model showed that oil would likely reach the Loop Current and travel to Atlantic Seaboard beaches by July. Changes in weather as well as the Loop Current itself could affect the outcome, but the maximum possible speed would be 100 miles (160 km) per day. The main stream would likely stay 50 to 60 miles (80 to 100 km) offshore, but pockets of oil could reach the coast. Whether oil comes ashore farther north depends on local winds, but the Gulf Stream moves away from the coast southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, at the Charleston Bump. Few tar balls would be likely to reach the Carolinas, and significant environmental damage appeared very unlikely because oil would be heavily diluted.
James H. Cowan, a biological oceanographer at Louisiana State University, said a hurricane could result in oil reaching farther inland, even affecting rice and sugar cane crops. A hurricane could also delay actions that would lead to a permanent solution, and it could spread the oil further or deeper in the ocean. Jeff Masters, founder of Weather Underground, indicated that a hurricane’s passage over a sandy beach might help in the cleanup efforts, such as what happened during Hurricane Henri’s passage over the Ixtoc I spill area; however, it would likely not have such a beneficial effect in marshlands and rocky beaches. Additionally, Masters pointed out the possibility of more widespread damage to coastal areas, airborne oil droplets immersed in hurricane winds, and a chance that the oil spill may cause explosive deepening of hurricanes in the Gulf.
Wildlife and environmental groups accused BP of holding back information about the extent and impact of the growing slick, and urged the White House to order a more direct federal government role in the spill response. In prepared testimony for a congressional committee, National Wildlife Federation President Larry Schweiger said BP had failed to disclose results from its tests of chemical dispersants used on the spill, and that BP had tried to withhold video showing the true magnitude of the leak. On May 19, 2010, BP established a live feed of the oil spill after hearings in Congress accused the company of withholding data from the ocean floor and blocking efforts by independent scientists to come up with estimates for the amount of crude flowing into the Gulf each day. On May 20, 2010 United States Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar indicated that the U.S. government would verify how much oil has leaked into the Gulf of Mexico. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and United States Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano asked for the results of tests looking for traces of oil and dispersant chemicals in the waters of the gulf.
Journalists attempting to document the impact of the oil spill have been repeatedly refused access to public areas by BP and its contractors, local law enforcement, the Coast Guard and government officials. Scientists have also complained about prevention of access to information controlled by BP and government sources. Airplanes carrying photojournalists have been prevented from flying over areas of the gulf to document the scope of the disaster. BP states that it has been their policy to allow the media and other parties as much access as possible, however reporters and photographers continue to claim that they have been blocked from covering some aspects of the spill.
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Environment Agency Director’s Leaving Do – Elvis Impersonator
http://www.ted.com At the Taste3 conference, chef Dan Barber tells the story of a small farm in Spain that has found a humane way to produce foie gras. Raising his geese in a natural environment, farmer Eduardo Sousa embodies the kind of food production Barber believes in.
Another version for 3G’s Publicity & Promotional Events.
Severn Suzuki from ECO speaking at an UN Conference in Rio 1992. Sadly 15 years on an not much has changed. Unfortunately I am not optimistic about the matter and feel like we’re on our way to apocalipse – but it is my duty to at least try and spread the message and post this video here – who knows who’s watching?
Risk Assessment and Management
Environmental Protection – Is green living possible with limited resources? What environmental issues can I tackle? What difference can I make about global warming? Find out how small sustainable changes can make a big difference for our environment.
BBC News Article on Environmental Issues – Interested? Join the debate at Fair Air: http://www.google.co.uk/group/fairair?hl-en-GB
The Environment
…discuss the environment