Posted by Tina
OK, so this won’t be the final word. These days there never seems to be a final word on anything. The forces for change have too much invested in their agenda to be deterred by the kind of information or common sense found in the Washington Times. It affirms the earth’s resilience and natural ability to cleanse and renew. It also affirms what many of us have known for a long time: radical environmental activists hype and exaggerate evidence for personal gain and political advantage. They overreact to situations like the explosion and spill in the Gulf. In short, they scare people for money and power.
“There’s just no data to suggest this is an environmental disaster,” said marine scientist and former Louisiana State University professor Ivor van Heerden, who also works as a BP spill-response contractor. “I have no interest in making BP look good – I think they lied about the size of the spill – but we’re not seeing catastrophic impacts. There’s a lot of hype, but no evidence to justify it.”
These observations came not a year after the Deepwater Horizon blew up, but a mere three months afterward, making them all the more blasphemous at the time. By now they’ve been amply vindicated, making the Obama team’s “moratorium” and more recent stonewalling on Gulf of Mexico drilling permits all the more preposterous.
What the experts in this article are telling us, although they would not say it, is that the leftist environmental activists in DC under President Obama used the occasion of the oil spill accident to shut down and destroy the oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico. It didn’t matter that in the process they destroyed jobs and ruined lives. They didn’t care that this action helped to inflate prices on goods or put a greater tax burden on the people. They didn’t care as long as their friends in alternative energy industries were given another advantage.
Deception and manipulation in politics and governance stinks whenever it happens but deception that so deeply injures the lives of American citizens is unconscionable and must be stopped. This is the last word and it should send the Obama administration and his environmental whacko extremists packing come 2012:
“People don’t comprehend how so much oil could break down in such a short time period,” explains LuAnn White, a toxicologist with the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine who also serves as director of the Center for Applied Environmental Health. “But we have natural oil seeps in the Gulf, and over 200 genera of microbes that break down oil already exist there.”
“It cannot be repeated often enough,” says Louisiana marine biologist Jerald Horst. Crude oil is a natural substance; it’s biodegradable. It’s a feast for microbes. And these consumed most of it from the BP spill.”
Nature’s restorative powers gives human beings a pretty big margin for error; we cannot “destroy” the earth. We should be good stewards, however, and that means taking reasonable precautions and using our creative powers to find the best possible solutions to challenges that present themselves. We learned a lot from the BP spill. New innovations have been created to make drilling in deep water safer. New products have been developed to make clean up of spills more effective. It’s time for the oil industry to be given a solid green light on drilling.
The BP accident was devastating but not impossible to overcome and should never have been used as an excuse to shut down all drilling in the Gulf.
While it is true that radical environmental activists hype and exaggerate evidence of environmental damage for personal gain and political advantage, it is also true that those who profit from the destruction of the Earth will give us the exact opposite point of view–but for the exact same reason.
There is no logical reason to believe one side over the other.
Having not seen the floor of the Gulf personally, one would be a fool to say either side was right.
Having not personally seen the alleged twelve-inch thick layer of goo that covers parts of the Gulf and smothers all life there, one would be a fool to say either side was right.
The Washington Times is a poor source for unbiased information. Note how they use the term blasphemous. They posit that earlier reports–before all the data could possibly have been collected–and before the oil was finished spewing into the Gulf should carry more weight than ones done after longer study. This is totally unscientific and destroys the credibility of the story.
The reason they wouldn’t say that the leftist environmental activists in DC under President Obama used the occasion of the oil spill accident to shut down and destroy the oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico is because it isn’t true.
Thanks for actually expressing yourself, Quentin.
None of these people work for the Washington Times and all have adequate credentials:
“There’s just no data to suggest this is an environmental disaster,” said marine scientist and former Louisiana State University professor Ivor van Heerden
“People don’t comprehend how so much oil could break down in such a short time period,” explains LuAnn White, a toxicologist with the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine who also serves as director of the Center for Applied Environmental Health. “But we have natural oil seeps in the Gulf, and over 200 genera of microbes that break down oil already exist there.”
“It cannot be repeated often enough,” says Louisiana marine biologist Jerald Horst. Crude oil is a natural substance; it’s biodegradable. It’s a feast for microbes. And these consumed most of it from the BP spill.”
Of course they used this accident to shut down drilling. Just like they will try to use the lizard in Texas to shut down drilling there. Just like they used the Delta Smelt to divert water (away from the farm land) into the Delta.
“There’s just no data to suggest this is an environmental disaster,” said marine scientist and former Louisiana State University professor Ivor van Heerden”
Yeah, but he said that before the oil stopped flowing. He could not have possibly have known the extent of the damage. I have already said that. Please pay attention.
Repeating your incorrect assertions will not make them correct!
Now, think this through, Tina: WHY would they want to shut down drilling in the US?
and
WHO are THEY?
When you can answer the second question correctly, you should be able to figure out the first question. Maybe not, you’re kinda thick. But if you can get to the second answer, I’ll help you figure out the first.
“The Washington Times is a poor source for unbiased information. Note how they use the term blasphemous. They posit that earlier reports–before all the data could possibly have been collected–and before the oil was finished spewing into the Gulf should carry more weight than ones done after longer study. This is totally unscientific and destroys the credibility of the story.
The reason they wouldn’t say that the leftist environmental activists in DC under President Obama used the occasion of the oil spill accident to shut down and destroy the oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico is because it isn’t true.”
Quentin, a great big WORD to all of this. I wish you were always so articulate in your postings here–sometimes you let your anger get the best of you and it damages your argument. But here, I completely agree.
“Profit from the destruction of the earth”…????
What incredibly erroneous blather.
It is you who should pay attention. Neither of these comments depends on a time frame…what they have to say is always true. I repeat!!!!!
“People don’t comprehend how so much oil could break down in such a short time period,” explains LuAnn White, a toxicologist with the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine who also serves as director of the Center for Applied Environmental Health. “But we have natural oil seeps in the Gulf, and over 200 genera of microbes that break down oil already exist there.”
“It cannot be repeated often enough,” says Louisiana marine biologist Jerald Horst. Crude oil is a natural substance; it’s biodegradable. It’s a feast for microbes. And these consumed most of it from the BP spill.”
Supporting evidence:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129475847
Researchers reporting in the journal Science say they have discovered a new species of oil-eating bacteria
living half a mile down in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/08/study-oil-eating-microbes-plentiful-in-gulf-oil-spill.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/110405-nsf-oil-somasundaran-video/
And innovation:
Scientists are experimenting with “green” microbes in the lab that could someday be used to gobble up oil spills along coastlines without damaging the environment.
Conservation is one thing…environmentalist sky is falling BLATHER, is another.
They are the people in positions of power in our government, the UN, and at universities who believe the same crap that you apparently believe and would use the power of government to destroy the oil industry asap.
http://www.ibtimes.com/welcome.html?surl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibtimes.com%2Farticles%2F128614%2F20110330%2Fbarack-obama-energy-speech-preview-oil-nuclear-gas-alternatives.htm
Obama’s speech at Georgetown University is set to start at 11:20 a.m.
By 2035, the Administration is looking to a diverse group of “clean energy” sources to make up the bulk of the nation’s energy sources for electricity. About 80 percent of the country’s electricity should come from wind, solar, biomass, hydropower, nuclear energy, natural gas and clean coal, the Administration has said under a Clean Energy Standard goal.
Obama is also expected to call for the reduction of oil imports by one-third by 2025.
The administration is also taking steps to move the auto industry shift away from gasoline powered cars.
New standards for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions should be finalized by July. The standards are meant to cut oil use and promote alternatives.
The shift toward electric cars may also be highlighted. The Administration wants Congress to pass a $7500 tax credit for electric car buyers, grants for communities hospitable to such cars
Please try to pretend this administration and it’s ultra green supporters wouldn’t shut it all down in a heartbeat if they could and will do whatever they can to make oil production difficult and expensive so they can boost alternatives.
A natural free market approach to alternatives would be welcome. Creating endangered species out of thin air to shut down production is a strong arm tactic indicative of the brand of thug politics used by leftist. It is repugnant and against the principles of our republican form of government.
I see you have once again resorted to insults.
Chris: “Note how they use the term blasphemous. They posit that earlier reports–before all the data could possibly have been collected–and before the oil was finished spewing into the Gulf should carry more weight than ones done after longer study.”
Read it again Chris that is not what they wrote. They asserted that the remarks made by the scientist were blasphemous “at the time” because they were made before the data was all in…but were later vindicated.
If it “isn’t true” how do you explain the following actions which not only stopped or shut down oil exploration and drilling but also cost a lot of jobs and tax revenues to states at a time when both are sorely needed?
Obama shut down all offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico (78,000 jobs)
Obama reversed the Bush plan to sell leases off the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and around Alaska, even rescinding leases already granted and paid for in Alaskan waters
In 2011, the Energy Information Administration estimates, the U.S. has seen a decline in production of 220,000 barrels a day, and it projects a reduction of 150 million barrels in 2012 from the Gulf.
Obama’s proposed tax on leases “where they aren’t producing a thing” would tax companies for not using a lease the feds have not yet allowed them to use. (permits)
Tina, I didn’t write that, Quentin did. Perhaps the calm, rational tone threw you off. 😉
Chris my apologies…you did however remark about what Quentin said giving his remarks credence. I’m sure it was the calm attitude that threw me off…lol.