Oil Spill Hits Louisiana Wildlife Refuge

[kgrandia]

Authorities have confirmed that oil is now lapping up on to the shores of the Chandeleur Islands which form the easternmost point of the Louisiana coastline.

BP has deployed an emergency response team to the island.

According to Wikipedia, the Chandeleur Islands, "are a chain of uninhabited barrier islands approximately 50 miles (80 km) long, located in the Gulf of Mexico. They form the easternmost point of the state of Louisiana, USA and are a part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge. They are an important migrating point for many birds on their way south, and are a prime marsh and forest wildlife area."

There has been no word yet on the impact this has had on the resident wildlife and at this point the oil washing up is a "sheen" with no heavy or medium crude.

The Breton National Wildlife Refuge, consists of the Breton Islands and the Chandeleur Islands in the Gulf of Mexico. The refuge is home to dozens of species of birds including the endangered Brown Pelican.

Link: http://www.energyboom.com/policy/breaking-oil-spill-hits-louisiana-wildlife-refuge

[SPedigrees]

1. I think the most outrageous note to this crisis

is that BP is getting the fishermen/shrimpers they are employing to help with the cleanup operations to sign waivers promising not to sue BP for loss of income as a condition of this temporary employment. I heard this discussed yesterday on MSNBC but uncertain which news show.

Fuck BP and the rest of the fossil fuel industry.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. I hope a judge rules the waivers illegal, immoral, despicable,

and a flagrant violation of these men and women's rights. BP you are going down.

[liberalla]

3. I do too. They're being signed under duress.

There has to be a way around those waivers.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. It's like this, how many beads and trinkets do you want for that little

island over there?? Criminals.

[liberalla]

6. I'm glad Mike Pappantonio and Bobby Kennedy Jr are taking this on

Mike talks about the waivers as further "victimization" of the people along the coast.

You can listen here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x462864

[BeFree]

5. Eh?

Winds are calm, they've been deploying booms for a week now, and they didn't even protect the first island?