You *have* to watch this.

[subsuelo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxYwFefpHwE">YouTube - Oil hitting Seaside Beach, Florida

The Coast Guard does nothing even though they're being informed that **children** are out swimming in an oil-infested beach.

Why would the CG do nothing? Because they aren't in charge! And our children are not being protected.

And maybe because B.P.'s public image will further be harmed by shutting down beaches just because of a few drops of oil here and there?

Someone must have told the Coast Guard - No. You do not shut down that beach.

I wonder who that might have been.

[Booster]

1. People just really are stupid.

[ZombieHorde]

2. Interesting video, recommended. nt

[Oregone]

3. Where are the parents?

[pinboy3niner]

4. Other local, state and federal agencies have the authority to close beaches

Why put this on the Coast Guard? And why imply, with absolutely no evidence, that they are taking orders from BP? The video itself observes that local authorities have a conflict of interest arising from their need to promote tourism.

IMO, this has nothing to do with anyone taking orders from BP.

ETA: It is hardly in BP's interest to have videos on the internets showing children swimming in tarballs.

[Bluebear]

5. Well, we really shouldn't question how the Coast Guard is run.

:silly:

[notesdev]

6. Funny...

when it was reporters instead of children, the CG was right there to keep them off the beach (under threat of arrest).

Apparently the government has decided that the people of the Gulf are a necessary sacrifice.

[subsuelo]

12. The government isn't in control though

For me, that's kind of the point here. We have a beach that should be shut down but isn't yet - why? Not from lack of knowledge about the situation. It isn't shut down because BP is in control and doesn't want the bad PR if they can avoid it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. My god. Children taking sea water into their mouths.

don't they know that sea water is toxic?

[Wednesdays]

8. Kicked and recced, with one caveat

From now on, PLEASE don't write simply, "You have to watch this!" as a headline. Give us a little idea what's in the body of your post.

[subsuelo]

13. ok. n/t

[berni_mccoy]

9. Video is not compelling that the Coast Guard did nothing. It shows three guys in blue

t-shirts and it's not clear what they are saying or talking about. We only have the word of the person who made the video. Sorry, I don't buy it.

[subsuelo]

10. You did see the oil all over the beach, right?

[seabeyond]

11. parents? nt

[southernyankeebelle]

14. Nothing will be done til the oil starts hitting the rich areas of land where the rich people live.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

15. I've stepped on tarballs at a number of beaches in the past

Grand Isle, Alabama & Mississippi beaches, and I think even on the Florida Atlantic coast once (where might that have come from?). Always disgusted me but i didn't see it as a reason to stay out of the water. I wouldn't be so cavalier about it now... everyone knows of how potentially dangerous the water/oil/dispersant blend is.

[subsuelo]

17. yes, plus this beach looks like it is full of them n/t

[eowyn_of_rohan]

18. yes-they used to be just scattered here and there

[lunatica]

16. If the children were carrying cameras would it be different?

From what I hear the answer is probably yes.

[tekisui]

19. Idiots all around. The CG is blowing it. And, what about the dispersant

they are all swimming in?