Gulf Spill Syndrome

[whyverne]

I have to get away from this computer and the TV. I'm falling deeper and deeper into shock. There are no answers, are there?

The flora and fauna can't move away. This ecosystem has no defenses against this kind of assault.

This is worse than Katrina. Hell, this is worse than 9/11.

[rzemanfl]

1. I have that sick feeling too. I still have sand from the beach on

my feet as I type this. I cannot imagine our white sand covered with oil and all the wildlife dead. If it hits here, we are going to walk away from the house, our jobs and the whole mess, I am too old to wait for things to get better.

[jenmito]

2. " This is worse than Katrina. Hell, this is worse than 9/11."

That's a pretty twisted conclusion. There are lots of resources working to clean up the problem. Katrina and 9/11 involved thousands of lives.

[whyverne]

3. I was waiting for this one.

I guess you can call me a tree hugger then.

[jenmito]

4. OK-you're a "tree hugger" who came to a twisted conclusion. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

5. And, you don't think this exponentially exceeds the thousands of lives of 9/11?

Please try not to get confused in something that kills people immediately to the food chain that causes birth defects, and kills industries, causing people to slowly kill themselves off during a near depression.

No, don't get confused with that one.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. The effects of 9/11...

Worldwide economic panic
Erosion of American Constitution
4 more years of Bush
War(s)

And the effects of Katrina were also quite broad.

Comparing this looming ecological tragedy to recent urban mass-casualty events is sick.

Can't you just say it's really bad without implicitly offering your calculation of how many tuna equals one human in New Orleans?

At least pick an event where thousands of living people didn't lose folks they knew.

The Great Depression was probably arguably "worse" than the Holocaust depending on your metrics but it's not something one says unless they are trying to be offensive.

[jenmito]

9. See reply #8. Please don't get confused

with thinking that the deaths of about 3,000 people were the only effects of the attacks. You're obviously not including all the people who are slowly dying from breathing the air after the attacks, the effects on the families of those who died and are still dying, the harm to our economy, etc.

No, don't get confused with all THAT.

[MrMickeysMom]

12. I think I understand the implications PLENTY for the numbers breathing that air...

As a respiratory therapist, I have been trying to get others to understand just that. First responders have suffered, many with NO SUPPORT in response to their call for assistance.

Listen, if we spend time in debate over "what constitutes more harm", that wasn't my intention and it takes away from the injustice of either, as you've shown. How can you look at either one of these things mor than individually? Should one be reduced when contrasted with the other?

[whyverne]

6. 150,000+ people die every day.

This beautiful ecosystem could be seriously damaged for decades.

[handmade34]

11. perspective and selective perception

As humans it is very difficult to absorb all that is going on around us. 24,000 children die every day, even on the day over 2,000 died in New York. I cannot condemn anyone for caring about those things dear to them. You are correct in that the ecosystem is our life blood and when we destroy it we suffer even more.

[ShortnFiery]

16. It's spot-on. Just WAIT and see the horrific scenes unfold? eom

[whyverne]

7. Call me a tree hugger and a buddhist.

Cute animals covered in oil.

http://www.holytaco.com/25-cute-animals-covered-oil

Actually don't look. It's too sad.

[SpartanDem]

10. Yeah who cares about human pain and suffering

[Drunken Irishman]

13. Wow...

[Drunken Irishman]

14. This is worse than 9/11, Katrina and the Holocaust combined!!!!!

[ShortnFiery]

15. No, a syndrome implies that it's unreal ... this ongoing disaster is SUPER-REAL ...

and will reek World-Wide DEVASTATION.

http://team71.wikispaces.com/file/view/Oil_Spill!_by_Berger.jpg/52852490/Oil_Spill!_by_Berger.jpg

[Jennicut]

17. There have been many oils spills on record that have done great damage in other parts of the world.

This is why off-shore drilling is not a great idea. However, you cannot compare ecological disasters to Katrina and 9/11. Remember during Katrina, animals were abandoned and died from lack of people to feed them and give them water. Katrina was an ecological AND human disaster.
9/11 on the other hand was a disaster from the point of view that Bush used it to manipulate us into an unneeded war. And the air was environmentally a mess afterward. This oil spill threatens fisherman, tourism on the coastline, and animals, fish, plants, etc.
These 3 things simply are all different, not worse or better then the other ones. I wish people would stop the hyperbole and just deal with the situation. It is bad...but the environment is being destroyed everyday in various ways. Not in shock at all.

[jillan]

18. Comparing the oil spill to Katrina or 9/11 is like comparing apples and oranges.

Yes - they are all horrific events, but each one is a different horrific event.

I totally agree with you that the damage done to the ecosystem is, well, permanent. There is NO way they will be able to clean up all of the oil.

[whyverne]

19. Well I hope I'm wrong.

I'm 60 and I thought the worst things I ever saw were recent. The economic collapse and 9/11. But it looks like I'm not done yet.

Those ocean current guys say it's not if, but when till it gets to the Keys and Miami Beach. Had a lot of fun down there in Key West. Beautiful.

[handmade34]

22. I'm headed to Florida for work this week

...maybe I can find some extra work helping in some way. There will always be tragic events and they affect different people in different ways. We all need to do what we can

[depakid]

20. What gets me is looking at those shimp fishermen (and the related businesses)

The ones in the 40's and above- their working lives are over. Their businesses are done... Kaput.

As in- never again in their lifetimes. Same with the oyster folks.

The reality of that hasn't sunk in on them yet.

[a la izquierda]

21. where the hell is Aquaman?

I so want to *will* the animals away from the devastation. but we can't.
and then there's teh people who have to live with this shit.