When I was in Newfoundland at the beginning of my ministry a friend and colleague served on nearby Fogo Island. His first Spring this landlubber was conscripted to participate in the annual blessing of the fishing fleet. These events are part celebration of the gifts of the sea, part prayer for good catches, part plea for protection.
This year the blessing is more of a lament on the Gulf Coast in the United States. The liturgy has been modified to reflect the environmental disaster which is undermining and shutting down a hugely lucrative fishing industry. In many places boats are tied up and the fear is that they will be for a long time. Not just months, but years -- perhaps decades. Take a look at this short documentary on the blessing of the fleet in a small port in Alabama http://vimeo.com/11698068
It appears that BP isn't even close to a solution for the mess it has created. How is it that the quest for oil always seems to trump environmental concerns, as well as other industries of great value?
I invited your reaction shortly after this disaster first unfolded. Any further thoughts as the weeks go by?
3 comments:
It really is alarming, this whole situation. The Huffington Post was reporting yesterday that the amount of oil seeping out into the Gulf is now 11 times bigger than the amount released during the Exxon/Valdez incident.
I remember when Earth Day became a really mainstream media event back in the late 80s, and since then ... well, what have we really accomplished on this front?
Oh, have I got a comment! I am livid at a recent comment made by senior mgmt at BP(it may have even been the top guy). He minimized this catastrophe by saying the Gulf of Mexico is a large ocean and that the amount of oil in it is very small in relation to the amount of water.
IS THIS GUY SERIOUS?!! So I guess we can all just stop dwelling on the fact that 800,000 litres of oil are pouring into our precious ocean and killing countless creatures and destroying livelihoods.
The arrogance and ignorance of BP knows no limits. I am going to be writing a letter to BP very soon. May make no difference, but it will hopefully help with my anger towards them.
In the meantime, stop this offshore drilling until the proper safeguards are in place!
Geez!
I certainly concur with what both of you offer in your comments. And Johnny, I always enjoy some feisty righteous indignation.
Post a Comment