* Now watching: SPILLCAM (mostly live)
* So, we still have major leak points, only one of which has been capped. If you use this diagram as a guide, the oil continues to emanate from 1) the BOP, 2) the location of the insertion tube and 3) a possible new leak in the damaged riser. The insertion tube is catching only about 2000 barrels per day while the jury is still out on a precise daily rate. We have it firmly pegged at more than 5000 but less than 50,000 barrels per day. Thumbs up all around! Jesus.
* NewOrleans.com | Louisiana Fishermen Contemplating Suicide
“I spoke to a group of fishermen, mainly Vietnamese Americans and a group of them came up to me and said, they told me that they contemplated suicide because they’re in such despair,” says Congressman Joseph Cao. He says fishermen are feeling compounded stress on top of post-Katrina troubles. “For some people, this is almost a boiling point where they can no longer handle it and they’re going to crack.”
* GISUser | Gulf Oil Spill Poses Unprecedented Challenge to National Parks
Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, De Soto National Memorial, Dry Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Padre Island National Seashore …
* Did I tell you fishermen are thinking about killing themselves? It’s not a joke. Associated Press | In Alaska, Gulf Spill Brings Back Painful Memories
Crude oil from the tanker still lingers on some beaches a full 21 years later. Some marine species never recovered. Families and bank accounts were shattered. Alcoholism, suicide and domestic violence rates all rose in hard-hit towns.
… “Don’t sit around and wait for somebody, for the justice system, for instance, to come and rescue you because in our experience, that’s not going to happen,” said [Lynden] O’Toole … “What’s going to happen is they are going to end up exhausted,” [Alaska fisherman RJ] Kopchak added. “And eight or 10 years from now, they’re still going to be fighting this.”
* NOLA.com | Dead Wildlife Found on Beaches at Grand Isle
What you can do now: Help us at First Draft adopt oiled birds and sponsor their cleanup. Let’s “pool our resources to support the efforts of The International Bird Rescue Center in locating, rescuing, and cleaning oiled wildlife.” So far, two pelicans have joined our family – Big Chief Lambreaux (named by me) and FYYFF (VirgoTex‘s choice). You can help save many more.
* The fight has only just begun. GISUser | Gulf Oil Spill Poses Unprecedented Challenge to National Parks
Parks in the projected path of the Gulf oil spill include: Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, De Soto National Memorial, Dry Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Padre Island National Seashore …
