John Protevi's Blog

Oil attacks wetlands, birds

A sea of orange, reddish oil from a sunken rig flowed into Coup Abel Pass and Barataria Pass — two routes southwest of Barataria Bay that oil can take into the interior of Louisiana’s marshes — on Sunday.

Located west of Grand Isle, a handful of modified shrimp boats tried to collect the oil with absorbent boom, but the sheer amount of it seemed daunting.

“They waited too long to close the passes,” said Joel Bradberry, member of the Grand Isle Fire Department.

Read the article here

Heartbreaking photo of oil-covered pelican here. If you're not from Louisiana, you don't know the emotional attachment we have to the pelican, the state symbol. They are amazing, beautiful beasts. The picture is terrible. 

BP are criminals, vandals. Shame too on the US government for its cravenly letting BP stay in charge. Boycott BP! Pressure Washington! 

George Will, report to the woodshed!

Chris Mooney, who is the author of some book or other, takes the paddle to George Will's backside . Talk about some regions experiencing sudden and severe warming!

Via CT

Coastal Restoration

Habeas Corpus isn't the only thing in need of restoration, though unlike it the ongoing destruction of the Louisiana wetlands isn't completely the fault of the Bush administration. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana released its Master Plan in May. Here's a link to the Executive Summary.

Here's the blurb, which should convince you of its importance:

Entitled "Integrated Ecosystem Restoration and Hurricane Protection: Louisiana's Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, the plan is the first document to completely incorporate hurricane protection projects with projects aimed at rebuilding Louisiana's rapidly eroding coastal wetlands. The plan reflects more than 18 months of research, stakeholder and scientific review and writing. It will be the guide for all coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts in Louisiana over the next several decades.

Please take the time to read the Plan. Coastal restoration in Louisiana is vitally important to our state, our nation, and the world.

• The Mississippi is the 5th largest river in terms of discharge in the world, while its drainage basin is the 2nd largest.
• The Louisiana coast is responsible for
  
  • 33% of US oil and natural gas
  • 50% of domestic oil and gas refining
  • 20% of annual US shipping
  • 25% of annual US fishing comes via the Louisiana coast
  • millions of migratory waterfowl
• Creating a sustainable coast can also
  • help filter the nutrients that create the "dead zone" in the Gulf
  • help preserve and enhance the amazing cultures of people in South Louisiana

And just think, at only $55 billion total, the cost is only 6 or 7 months at current Iraq War daily spending levels of $250 million a day! Costs which are, by the way, heading toward $2 trillion total.

Louisiana Solar Energy Society

My neighbor, Justin Runnels, has just graduated with a degree in Physics from LSU. He's now Business Development Manager for Gulf South Solar. He's sent me the  Summer 2007 newsletter of the Louisiana Solar Energy Society, which has lots of good news, especially about Louisiana's new 50% tax credit on home solar installation. Check it out!