Abandoned By The Media, The Fisherman Of The Gulf Coast Struggle Along

[earth mom]

Abandoned By The Media, The Fisherman Of The Gulf Coast Struggle Along

Rocky KistnerMedia Associate, NRDC
Posted: October 12, 2010 09:49 AM

<snip>

Their future lies in the hands of men like government BP claims czar Ken Feinberg, yet people here have little idea when or if they will receive a check to compensate them for their ruined way of life. Government officials pronounce the fish clean of oil when fishermen themselves say they are seeing oil in some of their catches. Even NOAA representatives have gone into schools to try to convince kids their seafood is safe when some fishermen refuse to feed seafood to their families.

The media has gone AWOL. Last week at a meeting in Buras, LA, fishermen gathered to talk about ways to show the public the oil is not gone. They felt abandoned and desperate. Some have had to accept free groceries and school supplies because they have run out of money to feed their families or buy gas for their trucks. They are incensed by million dollar ad campaigns aired during Saints games touting how BP “will make it right.”

<snip>

So as the six-month anniversary of the oil blowout approaches next week, I can vouch for the fishermen of the Gulf coast. I have been here with them since early May, following their various stages of shock, anger and grief over what has happened to their livelihoods. I have watched proud fishing families struggle with a seemingly unassailable foe, an army of oil, powerful PR and an aura of government complicity that exacerbates this ongoing disaster.

If history is any lesson, this culture and these people will not be easily defeated. They have a lot of fight left in them to survive. But it’s important for all Americans who celebrate Columbus’ discovery of the America’s to know that a culture that lived here before the Europeans is in danger of extinction. The tribe of the United Houma Nation still live by these waters where they have fished for centuries, as do the Italians, French and African Americans who came later and fish them now. For them and for all of us, we need to preserve the culture and environment Columbus found when he first sailed into our world. We need to restore the Gulf coast and make sure this oil disaster never happens again.

More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rocky-kistner/a-columbus-day-paean-to-t_b_759254.html

Meanwhile...

Here's Obama's "Hope & Change": Drill Baby Drill: Obama To END Offshore Drilling Moratorium
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9309523

And here's Gore's "Hope & Change": Al Gore: Stand With Me To Fight Prop 23 And The Oil Lobby
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9309447

[Blue Owl]

1. And meanwhile, I'm sure big oil corps continues to enjoy tall profits.

:mad:

[earth mom]

2. kick

:kick: