Economy over Environment: The Limited Coverage of Louisiana’s Oil Spill

[Bluebear]

Beth Graddon-Hodgson, PlanetSave.com

Louisiana’s oil spill is releasing 42,000 gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico each day, sure to threaten wildlife and resources.

It’s not hard to wonder why people are seemingly apathetic when it comes to environmental issues when there isn’t more focus going towards environmental emergencies that could cause severe degradation to natural resources and wildlife. Did you know that right now approximately 42,000 gallons of oil per day is pouring into the water just 36 miles from the Louisiana coast? You may have if you’ve known where to look, but sadly this environmental emergency of epic proportions isn’t receiving the media attention that it should be.

If you missed it above, let’s just revisit – yes, 42,000 gallons of crude oil is finding its way into Louisiana’s waterways each day. The spill, which now measures approximately 42 by 33 miles, is leaking from a sunken offshore oil drilling ship in the Gulf of Mexico. Why would that be a big deal? After all, the leak may not stop anytime soon; but it’s not expected to get quite as bad as the Exxon Valdez incident. Tell that to the wildlife that inhabits that region of the Gulf of Mexico and others who rely on the resource for a clean source of water. Not to mention the living things on shore that will be impacted if the leak reaches shore by the end of the week as expected.

There are efforts being taken to curb the leak and sift the oil from the water, but that’s not really the point. The point is that this issue should be receiving far more coverage than it is. The reason it likely isn’t? Offshore oil drilling is a huge industry, too much chatter about the environmental impact might put it back in the forefront of the line of fire.

Is this an example of economy coming before the environment? That’s one perspective; you tell me and if that’s the way priorities should be aligned.

http://planetsave.com/blog/2010/04/27/economy-over-environment-the-limited-coverage-of-louisianas-oil-spill/

[safeinOhio]

1. BP has no insurance for spills

Who is going to pay for this. I say dissolve the company, sell its assets to compensate those who were hurt by it.

[Bluebear]

2. +

[applegrove]

3. They can use booms, chemicals or burn oil spills. None of these work in the arctic. So why are we

drilling there.

[Dr Morbius]

4. This story has received coverage at every news opportunity for the last several days.

The media has not ignored every other story in order to cover this ecological disaster, but it has received a lot of coverage. Plenty of dire warnings are out there about the Louisiana fish/shrimp industry. Every time I see or hear the news, I hear another update on this oil leak.

Please explain why this isn't enough.