Oil, Catastrophe and Our Commonwealth:
The current BP oil-blowout and catastrophic event in which we are now immersed places us at the center of a momentous ecological call to action. The deep distress, misery and major misfortune radiating from the Gulf of Mexico will no doubt bring national, international and global suffering. This is the moment to not only mobilize all resources for emergency action in the Gulf, but also to transform our political and social reality to account for ecological and humanitarian imperatives.
Please take a listen to audio segments from WBAI/Pacifica Radio in NYC, host/producer David Occhiuto:
* 'Gulf Coast Treasure' - a conversation with marine biologist Riki Ott and independent journlist Dahr Jamail.
Originally aired on WBAI-Pacifica radio in NYC, July 27th, 2010.
Commercial and sport fishing, recreational beauty, essential ecological value - the Gulf of Mexico coastal region is a natural wonder
which any sane society would preserve unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. However, the intoxicating accumulation
of profits associated with all levels of resource extraction has led to degraded and diminished environmental expectations. Can citizens across this country mobilize to restore and defend a way of life in the region that benefits us all?
To hear sound file, click-on:
GulfTreasure_2010.mp3 (24:34)
Right click on link to save MP3 file to computer (22.5 MB)
Includes discussion of current efforts to ban toxic dispersants, e.g. PETITION TO AMEND THE NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN (NCP)
PRODUCT SCHEDULE AND TO USE EMERGENCY POWER TO DELIST PRODUCTS OF CONCERN
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/delist/
and, the effort to form Independent Regional Citizens' Advisory Councils / Regional Oversight Councils.
* A conversation with marine biologist Riki Ott. Marine toxicologist/marine biologist/community activist Riki Ott has
experienced firsthand the devastating effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Riki is currently doing community-advocacy
work in the Gulf region. In this audio segment, we discuss how dispersants not only escalate the mortality but also
grievously complicate the clean-up of the oil in the Gulf region. A call is sounded for the banning of dispersants,
for worker health and safety, and for media access/public right to know. Recorded on June 15th, 2010.
To hear sound-file click on: Riki Ott_15June.mp3 (15:12)
Right click on link to save MP3 file to computer (13.9 MB)
Riki Ott is the author of 'Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill' and 'Not One Drop:
Promises, Betrayal, and Courage in the Wake of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill'.
http://www.rikiott.com/index.php
http://movetoamend.org/
* A conversation with geologist Chris Landau. Chris is very concerned that the slant/directional relief wells may not be
effective as a way to stop the deepwater petroleum release. Also, the directional relief wells could actually make matters
much worse, further punching holes in an already deteriorated well structure. There are indications that the main wellbore
has lost integrity and oil is seeping from the seabed in multiple places. Chris is calling for BP to publish the 'mudlogs'
(schematic cross sectional drawings of the rock and oil-geology of the well) as vital maps to assist in finding solutions
to stop the uncontrolled oil gusher. Recorded on June 15th, 2010.
To hear sound-file click on: oilgeology_BP blow-out site.mp3 (7:48)
Right click on link to save MP3 file to computer (7.2 MB)
These links outline an independent geological perspective from Chris Landau:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Atomic-Bomb-proposal-for-G-by-Chris-Landau-100606-957.html
http://www.opednews.com/articles/B-P-SHOW-US-THE-MUDLOGS--by-Chris-Landau-100610-978.html
