Today marks the one year anniversary of the explosion of Deepwater Horizon which would end up resulting in the worst oil spill this country has ever seen. Today marks the deaths of 11 human beings that were killed in the explosion. It also marks the deaths and injuries of countless animals, plant life, industry, and health of the vast area of ocean, land, and its inhabitants near the original spill. We have only just begun to see the horrific damage that has been done and is still to come.
A Brown Pelican sits covered in oil on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast on Thursday, June 3, 2010. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon has affected wildlife throughout the Gulf of Mexico. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Thousands of animals were killed in the immediate aftermath of the oil spill. Many more continue to turn up dead, especially babies. People are seeing some adverse health effects, especially those involved with the clean-up. Industry is still in trouble, especially if it relies on healthy people, animals, and a healthy ecosystem.
A sea of crosses, placed as a protest to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,
is seen Sunday, June 6, 2010 in Grand Isle, La.. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The continuing effects on these things will not be known for years. There is still a lot of work to be done in the Gulf and still a lot of work we can all do to reduce our dependence on oil. We can’t let this happen again. Our children are watching.
But this is what is fascinating to me, and should be part of the larger context when we talk about the spill, Big Oil, and lasting eco-friendly changes we can make in our own lives. The leak was stopped on July 15, after it had already released 4,900,000 barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Sound like a lot? It is, as we can see by the enormous damage that it caused to the life and health of the region that is still ongoing today. But, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2010, the United States consumed an average of 19,148,000 every day.
The BP Oil Spill wreaked havoc with what was only a quarter of what is consumed every single day in the United States alone.
The one important thing that we can do is reduce our own consumption of oil: fuel, plastic, electricity, personal care products (toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, perfume, etc.), medicine, fertilizers, paints, asphalt, machinery lubrication. But by and large, the majority of oil we consume is for the transportation of people and products.
photo credit: flickr
So if you and your kids look at where we are a year after the BP Oil Spill, where we are more than 20 years after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, listen to Stories from the Gulf, and you decide that the time to make a difference is now, here a few ways to start:
- Drive less. Walk whenever possible. Bike when walking isn’t. Bus and carpool when human powered transportation isn’t doable. Teach your kids to help you resist the temptation to reach for the keys and everyone’s health will benefit.
- Avoid buying new plastic products, especially disposable ones.
- Buy stainless steel or glass water bottles for home and trips.
- Buy used (just make sure they’re safe, no recalls) plastic toys and playground equipment.
- Or skip plastic toys altogether and go for wooden and natural fiber play things.
- Bring reusable bags to the grocery store and retail store.
- Support companies and products that use less packaging materials, especially less plastic, and renewable energy practices.
- Avoid personal care products made with petrochemicals. They are bad for you and bad for the planet. Search ingredient lists for anything that end with “myreth,” “oleth,” “laureth,” “ceteareth,” or any “eth,” or include, “PEG,” “polyethylene,” “polyethylene glycol,” “polyoxyethylene,” or “oxynol.”
- Turn off lights and unplug appliances when not in use. Choose energy saving models when replacing old ones and only use when really needed. Screen-Free Week anyone?
- Buy organic produce, wild caught fish, and avoid artificial colors and preservatives. The pesticides and fertilizer that are used to grow conventional foods, artificial colors, and preservatives, are all made with petrochemicals that are again potentially hazardous to human health (carcinogenic) as well as the environment.
- Use green cleaners (I like Biokleen, Method
, or Seventh Generation
If your kids are older, see if you can help them list everything in your home that contains oil. See if there are any products that you might be able to find alternatives for or could use less. Have a discussion about why that might be a good idea.
Then, the next best thing we can do after taking personal responsibility for our own oil consumption and getting our kids involved in that process? Share with others.
Earth Day is almost here. I can’t think of a more opportune time to talk about this! Our children depend on us to not another disaster like this to happen again.
photo credit: flickr
Do you think the BP Oil Spill, and the damage it has caused through today, is enough of a motivating factor for you to think about reducing your oil consumption?
What is one change you can commit to for Earth Day, or any day?
What are your suggestions for reducing oil consumption? What about your kids (I have been surprised at some of their ingenuity)?
this weekend at the cabin we stayed in. It was a little old for the little ones, but my 7 year old really enjoyed it. I thought it was interesting to talk about the choice between college and not, how much things cost (relatively), and how things come up that you don’t want to have to pay for, but you do it anyway. Plus, the math involved with earning and paying money is great!
together.
