Comments for Erika Blumenfeld

Comment on Fish Kills Concern Gulf Scientists, Fishermen, Environmentalists by Tyra Woods

Tyra Woods — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:16:54 +0000

This is a very alarming situation government should take immediate action for this so as to prevent consumers from buying and eating fish that came to this place… A hundreds fish were killed undoubtedly it is much detrimental to humans…

Comment on Fish Kills Concern Gulf Scientists, Fishermen, Environmentalists by Rosanne

Rosanne — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:56:05 +0000

Any fish caught and sold from the Gulf area should be labeled as such so those of us that are concerned about what we put in our body can AVOID buying and eating it. We pay farmers not to use their land; BP should be paying the fisherman not to fish.

Comment on Toxic Dispersants Near Gulf Harm Humans and Wildlife by Robin Kemp

Robin Kemp — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:44:59 +0000

In mid-May, I drove from Atlanta to New Orleans (my hometown) for a conference. You can bet that my main order of business, however, was to photograph the Mississippi Gulf Coast. About May 11, I saw and photographed what appeared to be the beginning of the spill’s impact at the Ocean Springs boat launch. Baitfish kill, oily “sheen” washing up and sticking to the riprap and concrete launch walls, and very few gulls, hanging over the water but definitely not eating. The following Monday, I photographed nickel-sized tarballs, nasty orange water in tidepools, and black sediment that may have been trace amounts of oil and/or dead algae from Waveland to Pass Christian. At Pass Christian, everyone was fishing on the pier, and the area was relatively clean–and I noticed that all the pelicans, gulls, terns, gamefish, etc. missing further west were hanging out there. My heart was heavy, as I knew this was the last time I’d likely see the Gulf Coast as I’ve known it intimately since childhood. Now, BP’s Corexit-and-cash-fueled damage control is beginning to pay off, as news reporters uncritically parrot phrases like “no more harmful than crude oil” and happily accept the advertising dollars of every tourism commission that BP bought off the week I took those photos. Having covered the petrochemical industry in SE La. for a number of years, and having grown up in that oil-dependent economy, I know full well what lies ahead for us: dead water and marshlands, rampant cancer and lung disease, and the destruction of all our vibrant coastal culture(s). The only thing BP will be successful in dispersing is the coastal diaspora to come. Do not underestimate the enormous power and — yes — evil behind these companies. They do not care about human life, all protests and PR campaigns to the contrary. To these corporations, you and I are just another carbon-based life form and thus potential fossil fuel down the road. In only about 100 years, the oil industry has convinced us it’s “too big to fail.” How about our water supply?

Comment on Living on a Dying Delta by Mindy Bean

Mindy Bean — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:53:41 +0000

This is tragic and the first pictures really shows how bad it is. I agree that this is another reality check that we need to decrease our dependency on fossil fuels.

Comment on Hell Has Come to South Louisiana by Annie Jacobs

Annie Jacobs — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:31:49 +0000

This article brings the oil spill to life and illustrates how our countrymen and women are being affected by this disaster. I feel the government was to blame for not enforcing safe guards and permitting BP to drill closer to shore. I can’t help but wonder how much money BP has donated to the campaign chests of our representatives who have forgotten who they work for! Thanks for your reporting, and I hopw to read more as time goes on.

Comment on Fending for Themselves by Annie Jacobs

Annie Jacobs — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:26:55 +0000

Thank you for reporting what so many TV channels and radio stations have glazed over. Here in upstate New York, the spill seems like a long way away, but we know that it will hit us all too soon. I wish the papers would run more stories like this so we could understand what really is going on. I appreciate your honest reporting.

Comment on Hell Has Come to South Louisiana by Independent

Independent — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:35:15 +0000

BP absolutely needs to support the victims of this tragedy. I also appreciate the frustration which all of the victims are having with the government as well, but the current administration has inherited all of the policies and procedures created by administrations of the past, along with a huge debt, an economy in free-fall, and two “wars”. Blaming the spill and the unacceptable response to the spill on Obama would be like blaming the 911 attacks on GW Bush. (Spoken like a true Independent).
Contrary to some political views, our government has the role to regulate, and regulation could have prevented this disaster. The dispersants were utterly moronic! This cleanup method is what was listed in the ancient cleanup plans, and it should have never been used!
As far as an action plan to have the Government respond to an oil spill, we already knew that wasn’t going to happen before this spill, based upon the previous big American coast spills. Oil Companies should have been prepared to handle this, but the Energy policies of past administrations did not address this. They wanted continued generous contributions to their political campaigns from the oil companies, and look where that got us!
Farewell to the world’s greatest shrimp (among other spectacular Gulf seafood), at least for my lifetime. It makes me so sad. BP MUST pay!!!! Hang in there Louisiana coast! Americans will rise up if no assistance comes your way.

Comment on Toxic Dispersants Near Gulf Harm Humans and Wildlife by Merle Savage

Merle Savage — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:26:39 +0000

In 1989 Exxon told the cleanup workers the same story, that the crude oil is not toxic. Some of us are living proof of the toxic exposure, and many others have died. Please view the YouTube video, and help get the message to Gulf residents, BP crude oil cleanup workers, and President Obama. Respirators need to be supplied to oil cleanup crews.
Thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M1J7U2GYA0

Comment on Toward the Gulf by Jo-Anne Skinner

Jo-Anne Skinner — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:51:39 +0000

You write so beautifully about such a tragic event.

Jo-Anne

Comment on Mitigating Annihilation by Jo-Anne Skinner

Jo-Anne Skinner — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:01:25 +0000

Erika and Dahr,

Thanks so much for your account. Our flags should be at half-mast to honor the fallen – birds, fish, wetlands, livelihoods, beaches……..for decades to come.