We watch in horror at what is unfolding: an entire eco-system is being destroyed before our eyeshttp://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/27/expert_ecological_impact_of_spill_couldCheck out the above link and read below about the staggering disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, BP a British company is  responsible for this appauling mess!The following is from the American Birding Associations website, a report by Drew Wheelan on www.aba.org/gulf/ On Day 38 Clean up Efforts Appear To Be For Show Only, And Surrounding Beaches Are Sacrificed For The Presidential Media Spectacle
On the eve of President Obama’s arrival here in the Gulf, the dog and pony show has jumped into full swing.  Hundreds of National Guardsmen are diligently working on placing a bright orange storm barrier on Grand Isle State Beach.  What a photo opportunity!  There is no storm on the way, and this barrier provides absolutely no protection against the oil, unless there is a storm surge.  It might be a necessary precaution when one does come, but I think the more pressing issue is the oil that remains in the water and on the many beaches in the surrounding area.  Busloads of newly arrived workers from upstate are on the beach picking up cigarette butts, for the oil has been cleaned from this beach days ago.  Meanwhile, .38 miles away on Grand Terre Island the oil continues to come ashore, and seep into the sand.
Richard Shephard and I went to Grand Terre Island again today, to survey the island and take note of what is happening as there has been little effort by others to do so.  The oil remains on the beach, and where it has been covered by fresh sand, it heats up in the mid-day sun and bubbles and oozes.  The Ghost Crabs have made quick work of the fish that died and washed up on the beach last week leaving their bones behind as a testament to this tragedy, and have begun gnawing away on a newly arrived, dead and oiled Great Egret on the east end of the beach.
Also on that end of the beach is a chemical smell more foul and noxious than anything I have ever encountered in my life before.  As we walked the shoreline looking for affected wildlife we were suddenly overcome by a wave of horrible air, and then, in an instant I was left gasping and heaving as I hit a cloud so concentrated that 20 hours later my mouth and tongue still feel as though they’ve been burnt by a hot liquid.  I can only speculate what it has done to my lungs.  Richard, just two meters away was seemingly unaffected as I sprinted away from the shore, doubled over and dry heaving.  I was nauseous and out of sorts for several hours, and had I had medical insurance and not been a contract worker I would have definitely sought medical attention.  I believe that this chemical was the dispersant that BP is using to combat the spill.  I was unaware that it was being used anywhere but in the epicenter of the spill, but when I returned to the island I was informed that skimming crews and contractors are using it throughout the estuary, which in my opinion is a criminal offense.
The show here may be fooling the nation into thinking that there is an effort here to do all we can, but the residents of Grand Isle know better.  While truckloads of people are being brought in to scour the beach here for any trace of oil to make it look pretty, wildlife biologists sleeping in their cars hoping to volunteer in any capacity are being ignored.  I spent the night trading stories with 3 people who have driven thousands of miles to be here and help.  Two of them have their HAZWOP certificates, (hazardous materials operations), which is required to do any work on this spill, and both have degrees in biology, and both are just willing to pick up trash, and yet the call to duty never comes from BP’s command central.  If we were really concerned with getting work done and cleaning up this oil, there are enough people willing to help that we could stand arm in arm from Plaquemines to Cameron Parish, and each drop of oil could be picked up in a pipette as it washes ashore.  We are a capable and caring people, yet the implementation of this response is so disorganized and misdirected it’s easy to lose faith.