Naomi Klein: The earth is bleeding

[marmar]

from NOW Toronto:



The earth is bleeding
Gulf Coast saga is waking us up to the reality that our planet is not a machine

By Naomi Klein


Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana – Everyone gathered for the town hall meeting had been repeatedly instructed to show civility to the gentlemen from BP and the federal government.

The officials had made time in their busy schedules to come to this high school gymnasium on a Tuesday night in this, one of many coastal communities where brown poison was slithering through the marshes in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion April 20.

And for a while the crowd, mostly made up of fishing families, listened patiently to Larry Thomas, a genial BP public relations flack, as he told them that he was committed to “doing better” to process their claims for lost revenue.

They heard out the suit from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency as he informed them that, contrary to what they have read, the chemical dispersant being sprayed on the oil was perfectly safe.

But patience started running out by the third time Ed Stanton, a U.S. Coast Guard captain, took the podium to reassure them that “the Coast Guard intends to make sure that BP cleans it up.”

“Put it in writing!” someone shouted out. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=175854

[LQ0717]

1. The Earth is Hemorrhaging

As a resident of the Gulf Coast on day 80 or 81 (I can't even keep count any more) I believe we are finally losing the weak grip on hope that we all had and desperately wanted to keep that things would get better. We are now faced with admitting that our life on the Coast is forever changed and in many respects destroyed. We can now bear witness to what happens when a free market goes unchecked and unregulated. You want free enterprise without government interference? Come get it. Its right here in the Gulf. Thank You GOBP.

[jpak]

2. welcome to DU and a great 1st post

:thumbsup:

:cry:

unfortunately, it is worse than many will admit politically and environmentally...

[LQ0717]

3. Thank You

You are right. For the vast majority of people on the Gulf Coast, it would be too painful to admit that have supported the party that has brought about our demise. The majority of people down here can't get their head around it. Its still "Drill Baby Drill" down here. Go Governor Jindal. Go Governor Blubber Puss.

[jpak]

4. Lived on th Gu'f Coast for many years. But this tragedy will not be a wakeup call

they blamed the Democratic Governor of Louisiana and the Democratic Mayor of NOLA for Katrina

not Bush

and they still loves them some Booby J and Haley B and the Big $$$ oil jobs today - even as the oil washes ashore

but they hateses that nasty Obama who we all know is responsible for this disaster...

yup!

[LQ0717]

6. I hate people!

I live in a sea of oil and stupid people.

[Rex]

7. Hey hey! Birds of a feather...I live in South Texas.

[Rex]

5. Did the captain say it in a laughing manner?

Because the joke is on US.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

8. I don't suppose there was much sympathy for the folks in

NOLA during Katrina from these locals. Maybe now they have some sense of the hoplessness and powerlessness that
people feel when their governments abandon them. But truth be told, NOLA residents fought for years to get their levies
strengthened. The people on the Gulf were willfully ignorant that any disaster could possibly happen. The almighty dollar
took precedence over environmental concerns and Bush/Cheney was their guarantee it would be business as usual.

Please don't tell me know they have the gall to blame this on Obama. They'll be laughed off the planet. The arrogance of the
industry and the people that support it has cost the world something so precious and beyond measure. In the future,
environmental precautions must be adhered to regardless of local sentiment or economy. No exceptions ever.