The Tragedy in the Gulf & How You Can Help

The number 60,000 keeps rolling in my head – “60,000 gallons of oil a day are spewing into the Gulf……” 60,000 gallons with no end in site. Images of pelicans, crabs, dragonflies and the latest dolphins and whales coated in oil are so heartbreaking that it sickens me to look at them. Politicians talk about how we’ve got to keep it from our shores, and all I can think about is the damage that has been done already. Even if it never reached our shores physically it will still have an enormous impact on the entire ecosystem.  The gulf is already thick with oil, I can’t help but imagine the fish swimming into a cloud of black that consumes them, chokes them and how the oil leaves a wasteland in its wake. And all because of our dependence on oil, our negligence, our lack of foresight. Cannot bear to think of the suffering that the inhabitants of our oceans will endure and at what cost.

It’s difficult not to feel defeated and helpless in light of the magnitude of this tragedy, but even the smallest of steps add up in the end. Consider 11 year old Olivia Bouler who asked the same question and has since created over 150 original bird illustrations to thank National Audubon Society donors who have contributed to oil spill relief efforts. Olivia’s one small act has raised awareness and inspired others that there is hope in the most impossible situations.

So what small steps can you take to aid the relief efforts in the gulf?

1) DONATE – You can donate to reputable organizations like the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy or the National Wildlife Federation who are spearheading the wildlife rescue and clean-up efforts in the Gulf.  Click the links below to donate today:
National Audubon Society
The National Wildlife Federation
The Nature Conservancy
International Bird Rescue Research Center where you can support their relief efforts by “donating, becoming a member or adopting a bird.”

2) VOLUNTEER – But not yet.  Most of the volunteer opportunities right now are for highly specialized volunteers, so volunteer services are on reserve. You can sign up and get your name on a volunteer waiting list through the The LA Gulf Response Louisiana Volunteer Program. You could also call BP’s Deepwater Horizon Response Volunteer Request line at 866-448-5816.

3) PLEDGE – Take a look at the label and pledge to change your behavior, to give up one single petroleum based product in your life, be it lip balm, lotion, crayons, or a plastic water bottle. Or pledge to carpool, to ride your bike, to walk or to combined errands in to one trip. Although it may seem insignificant, reducing our dependency on oil and petroleum based products could have a huge impact on industry, the market and the types of products we consume. Often dollars speak louder than words… For a list of petroleum based products, click here