Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

The explosion of the oil platform leased by British Petroleum in the Gulf of Mexico and the resultant oil spill of 5,000 barrels of oil per day will soon exceed the environmental damage caused by the Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound, Alaska, March 24, 1989.  The recent oil spill is a significant environmental disaster.  With the changes taking place on planet Earth, more man-made environmental disasters are one more element we don't need.

President Barack Obama has cleared the way for more access to oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico while, at the same time, authorizing more research into alternative sources of energy.  We may have the technology to drill for oil, though not sufficient technology to control unexpected consequences of the process.

The economic impact of the newest oil spill on the economy of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas has not even begun to make itself felt.  Worst of all, the oil spill continues to grow and to spread.

We need to keep focused on measures we can take to make a smaller, less negative, environmental "footprint" (impact) on our planet.  I love the Gulf beaches in Florida and will hate to see them looking like the tar sand beaches in California and Canada.