The world's underwater sea beds have engrained resources such as oil hidden deep beneath the ocean floor. Drilling for this oil has become a widespread and incredibly profitable business for industries seeking to utilize this natural resource. A multitude of products humans use have been sourced from the crude oil found deep in our sea beds.
On April 20th, 2010, an explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig caused the largest ocean oil spill in history in the Gulf of Mexico. An estimated 50,000 barrels of oil escaped into the ocean every day for a total of 87 days until the leak was finally stopped.
The environmental damage for this type of incident is immeasurable and will continue to escalate for years to come. Wildlife and fishing communities depending on the Gulf of Mexico's nutrient rich waters have been heavily affected by the inundation of oil since the disastrous spill.
There are numerous offshore drilling rigs around the globe extracting oil from as deep as 1 mile beneath the ocean floor. The environmental consequences of incidental oil spills are monumental and bring into question the sustainability of this type of industry.
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Logs & Blogs
"Feet on the ground, heart in the sea"
Aug 10, 2011
Today, reading the paper, listening to the news or surfing the Internet can be an exhausting and often discouraging ritual. I am at a loss trying to understand or even make sense of why the world population is so full of anger and frustration, apathy and ignorance. Given the fact that corrupt governments, untrustworthy leaders, and money-driven decisions influence and shape our societies more and more, is it possible we are walking toward a disheartened and disconnected existence?
This week’s global news of exploding riots, extreme world hunger and nations’ economies spiralling out of control bears a heavy weight on all of our shoulders. Even in the most secluded locations or island paradise, we cannot escape the reality of our world issues; as each one of us is part of the chemistry bonding our working world. Responsibility is shared, as we all carry a voice and a choice to be involved and react to difficult and challenging times with a strong mind and heart. To find something or someone that enables us to feel, touch, connect, and acknowledge that beyond the growing cloud of turmoil hovering above, there is greatness and natural beauty in the ground we walk on, the ocean we swim in, even in the air we breathe.
Inspired by a rather negative series of events unfolding on the world stage, I seek solace in the one place I cherish the most; the sea. In the massive expanse of the ocean, I have stared, dreamed and felt the most peace of all; which is how I realized hope is what will drive my recovery from an overload of global chaos! As the force of one person may seem minute, we each possess the power to decide for ourselves how our lives will shape and connect to the greater whole.
A few days ago, after repeadedly noticing an indiscriminate amount of garbage on my local beach, I decided to start picking it up. Little did I know within minutes I was filling bags, finding large, small and minuscule pieces of plastic everywhere I looked. My eyes were widening as my heart melted in the midst of mounting rubbish. If our coastline is covered in garbage, then surely the ocean is too. Short of becoming a frantic environmentalist, discouraged and enraged by my dirty discovery, I am simply speaking up, sharing my belief that getting angry and overwhelmed by the immensity of environmental, political, and Socio-economic problems solves nothing. In fact, letting frustration flood over me will only slow me down on my mission to do what I can.
Resolving to help and take part in feeling the earth, really digging our heals into the make-up of our world, is how we will stay connected and hopeful. Humans have evolved to transform the planet, create the unimaginable, and extract natural resources driving us in our quest to advance and develop. The undeniable consequences of this are realities like ocean pollution, coastal degradation, and global warming. Some skeptics may indulge in a comforting state of denial or remain indifferent to the health of our blue planet, but this will only halt the improvements and unified steps we must take to repair the damage we have caused.
Beach clean-ups are small efforts I will continue to make, if only to thank the ocean for everything it gives me. The truth is I feel tied to my environment, and as insignificant as our actions may seem, they have more meaning than we think and more power than we know.
As the world struggles to cope with a melting pot of human discord, land and sea feel this pressure as well. Our surrounding environment is like a soundboard for our actions, and a reflection of our neglect. Today, the choice is yours to become an ambassador for our living world. There is nothing more real and tangible than the ocean at your feet, fresh grass between your toes, and warm sun on your face. Make a move, big or small, in the direction of hopeful restoration. If we re-connect with the living forces that drive our planet, perhaps the pieces of this broken puzzle will begin to fall into place.
♥ MJ Arsenault
