Agreement that since Exxon Valdez, everyone involved was not proactive to take on Gulf spill

It's obvious that nothing has been done to stop the gushing of oil because they have no solutions. Since the Exxon Valdez?

When I called the Administrator who wasn't in today, I was transferred to at least a dozen numbers; all in administration and who merely referred me to the hotline number. I decided to go to the laboratories listed at the EPA and talked to a scientist in the Ecological Exposure Research Division. He listened with compassion and asked ME questions. We had a long discussion about the role of scientists in this situation. He agreed that since the Exxon Valdez, scientists have not been proactive, esp. in coming up with the solution which contains microbes which are harmless to the environment but do eat oil and toxins. Why, after 15 years, have they not come up with this solution on a mass level? "Lack of coordination." I suggested that everything be dropped and scientists should be working together, 24/7, to come up with this ultimate solution. He AGREED! However, it seems most have and will say that it isn't in their capacity. I asked him to do whatever he could do to exert pressure on his colleagues and asked him to take ten minutes to do whatever he could to focus only on the oil spill. He promised he would.

Obviously, he saw the whole picture and promised to do his part in assisting in this crisis. Kudos, Mr. B!

Dealing with Bureaucracy

I called another scientist at the EPA this morning. She said, "It's not her job. Her lab works with pesticides." "I don't have the authority to talk about the spill." "There's an EPA administrator at the spill now." This conversation took place in EPA's Dept of Microbiology where news of microbes can help in cleaning oil and toxins. She was familiar with it, but her lab works with pesticides.

If it's not a scientist's job to do whatever can be done to clean the spill, whose is it?

If she doesn't have the authority, who does? We spoke heart-to-heart about our sharing the same planet. She too was concerned for her children but felt her hands were tied in that Management wouldn't authorize her to work outside her capacity.

I suggested she place as much pressure on Management as possible to work on the spill. It is our/their number 1 priority. I/we should expect that from our Environmental Agency. I also suggested her reaching out to fellow colleagues by making one phone call today and urging whatever can be done, focusing on the spill. Let's pray she does.

I asked her for someone in Management to talk to. She gave me her Administrator's number. Will let you know how that goes.

Are you willing to take on the challenge?

What have you done today and every day until the oil spill has been cleaned?

I believe, it's the responsibility of every inhabitant of this planet to reach out in cleaning this spill. We cannot stand by and passively accept what the government and BP are doing, although they are powerful enough to see it get done. But we cannot underestimate the voice and power of the people.

We can make this happen by reaching out and calling every scientist, every government official, friends, relatives, anyone, to work round the clock and come up with a "cure" for this spill. What is the point of spending billions on cures for anything else when we don't have a healthy planet to live on -- for us, our children, and their children.

I beseech everyone to reach out to everyone you know to take part in this effort.
This is OUR planet! Not BP's. Not the government's.

This morning I spoke with a scientist at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reach out to his colleagues and take on the challenge. Whether I was heard or not doesn't matter. I will persist, and continue to reach out while there is a breath left in my body!

My Gulf Oil Spill Blues

This can't be happening!

Let it be.

Just be.

While wildlife dies.

Life dies.

Don't ask why.

Alternatives to oil?

Let it be.

Not while there's a breath in my body.

**written by petra michelle**