BP Spells Big Problems

If a picture says a thousand words, then a video must say a million. This latest Gulf of Mexico fiasco may spell big problems for President Obama by the end of his first term. When certain media and rightwing pundits first begin criticizing the President and comparing his response to the oil spill in the gulf, with that of President Bush’s to Katrina, I dismissed it as mere politics. However, as the oil spill becomes increasingly more devastating by the day, I am starting to believe that this may very well be Obama’s dark cloud that looms over him, throughout the remainder of his first term in office.

This is a stark presumption, I know, but it’s one that I conceded to only after hearing Purdue Professor Steve Wereley reveal a more damning estimate on the amount of oil that he believes is spewing into the gulf each day. Using a technique called particle image velocimetry, Wereley and other scientific minds have been able to analyze a tape that BP released on Tuesday, and calculated, what they claim is a more precise projection of oil leaked in the gulf per day. Initially, the US Coast Guard had estimated that the compromised rig was leaking up to 5,000 barrels per day, but estimates using the aforementioned practice upped that number to around 70,000 barrels, and that’s modestly speaking. This is a startling realization if it is true, and more than likely it is, being that the scientist say that this technique has a 99% rate of accuracy (when conducted properly).

Obama, oh boy, I foresee many forthcoming problems on your hand. While some may argue that the President has done his best to manage the situation. I respond by saying that sometimes a little more than our best is required. I mean, why in heavens name is the federal government still allowing BP to call the shots, when it comes to this oil spill? It makes no sense. Yes, I agree that this conglomerate should be made to clean up their own mess, but since they’re clearly not capable of doing so in a timely manner, I for one believe that our government should act with all deliberate speed to use whatever resources we can to resolve the problem, and that we should just stick BP with the bill at the end of the day. I’m sure that a company that profited a little more than two and half billion dollars in recent quarters can pick up the tab, and that they can definitely do more than what’s being asked of them to do now.

Check out the disturbing video after the jump!

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Posted by:

Jabari Paul

Now Is The Appointed Time

Hey all,

So I figure that this is something that’s really interesting! I have given a lot of thought about the 3 fossil fuel disasters over the past 2 weeks and what is really interesting is that these came at a time when climate legislation is supposed to be the top of the list of priorities for the Senate! I think it is now the appointed time for the environmental movement to stand up and really fight for what is needed: One, safer working conditions and two, climate legislation that does not include off shore drilling, coal or natural gas! Especially since the companies can’t even keep their workers safe! Well, I hope everyone is now calling their senators and telling them that they need to pass a strong climate bill without “clean” coal, drilling and natural gas!  Let’s also keep the families of the 11 lost on the oil rig in our thoughts and prayers as it is a shame that we have to lose valuable lives in order to truly understand the need to kick the dirty energy habit!

Posted by:

Kirin Kennedy

I’m a fan but. . .

If you recall during the 2008 Presidential Campaign, while Democrats were chanting “Yes We Can,” Republicans were chanting “Drill Baby Drill.” On June 20th, 2008 this initially prompted Candidate Obama to give a speech in Jacksonville, FL proclaiming “When I am President, I intend to keep in place the moratorium here in Florida and around the country that prevents oil companies from drilling off Florida’s coasts.” A short time later when the Energy Reform Act came before Congress for debate,  Candidate Obama changed his position to say that he was open to offshore drilling, in an effort to compromise and reach an agreement with Republicans. Fast forward two years later; on March 31st of this year,  President Obama announced that his administration was expanding oil and natural gas drilling off Florida’s and other coastlines. Now, less than a month later we have complete devastation off US boarders in the Gulf of Mexico. A BP Oil Rig exploded, resulting in human fatality and one of the largest oil spills off US coastlines in our nation’s history. Mr. President you said that with new technology our coasts would be safe in terms of offshore drilling. It’s reported that this was one of BP’s newest rigs. I’m a fan of your policies Mr. President, but next time maybe you should think twice before compromising your position to try to please others.

Posted by:

Jabari Paul

Secretary Steven Chu Discusses Climate Science

Secretary Chu discusses the climate change debate.

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The Editor

Gillian Caldwell Pushes Obama on Clean Coal

Check out Gillian Caldwell from 1Sky chopping it up with Obama about clean coal. This is an awesome exchange.

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The Editor

No Throw Away People!

A clip from Van Jones’ amazing speech at #Poweshift09.

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The Editor

Playing Good Cop15

From my friend Christina Polcari:

What if Obama announced a plan today that promised green jobs for our urban youth, window panes and lower energy bills, urban gardens and lower medical bills, clean air and clean streets?

The Yes Men dare us to think so. They dare us to imagine the world is as we wanted it just for a minute. Earlier this week in Copenhagen, Canada dropped jaws when it announced a radical reversal of its climate change policy at the COP15. It was exactly the kind of action the world has been waiting for–bold and badass. But it was all a prank, compliments of the Yes Men.

We wanted a global deal out of the COP15. The Yes Men put the spotlight on countries standing in the way to publicly humiliate them. Because the people, the media, and the UN responded, and for a moment, we saw the change we believe in.

Last night, Jayme and Mahfam sat on the rogue Yes Men stage at the “Good COP15″ to tell our leaders about how urban communities are building a better environment and a better economy. People working together on projects like Green the Hood are the true agents of change.

This week, Mahfam has made us realize we need to go back home and “blow up our efforts and take them to the next level…to scale the movement.” She’s absolutely right. Coming from a global conference, to me, the next level looks more local. Our leaders can and must take bolder action but we have to do even more at home to show them exactly what that action looks like. Here’s to the next steps for our communities, the ones to scale the movement and to give our leaders no room to budge.

Posted by:

Heather Box

COP15: Fasting for Survival?

Follow all of Jayme’s and Marcia’s copenhagen coverage at http://youngvoter.org/cop15

Fasting today and my stomach hurts. Not because of fasting but because if we don’t get a deal, we should not have children. It is a matter of survival.

Heard yesterday that the negotiations are going to go at least through the weekend. We HAVE to keep on pushing! Contact your Congress person NOW!

~Marcia Lee

I really don’t like to miss meals i.e. fast. But when we, meaning the U.S., are making a conscious decision to not take all the steps to stop global climate change I have NO CHOICE but to turn my fork down. Join the movement before it really is too late.

~Jayme Montgomery-Baker

From the folks at Climate Justice Fast…

We, the participants of Climate Justice Fast!, are undertaking our international hunger strike in order to call upon world leaders – and all people, everywhere – to act with courage and good faith for our common, global good, by implementing the most rapid possible transition to stabilise atmospheric greenhouse gases below 350ppm CO2-e, and by committing to deliver justice for the global poor and future generations – who are the least responsible for causing climate change, yet who suffer the most from its effects.

Climate Justice for the poor and for future generations can be delivered by funding climate adaptation and mitigation activities in
developing nations with at least US$195 billion per year; by reducing and rejecting over-consumption, wherever it exists, and by phasing out both deforestation and fossil fuels completely – starting with the elimination of developed countries’ fossil fuel subsidies, shifting them
 wholly to renewable energy and international climate finance.

We urge all people, everywhere, to make a commitment to join the movement for climate justice, and to not to give up until we succeed in these demands being met.

Fasting today and my stomach hurts. Not because of fasting but because if we don’t get a deal, we should not have children. It is a matter of survival.

Posted by:

Jayme Montgomery