I haven’t wanted to write about the oil spill in the Gulf Coast because it’s so upsetting. Every day I search for new pictures of oil covered birds because I think it’s important to understand the depths of this tragedy. If you want to feel your heart break you should look here, here and here.
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If you want to read about an amazing group called the International Bird Rescue Research Center, click here. They have more cheerful pictures of birds being cleaned and released into the wild in safe areas.
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Last night at 10 p.m. in Salt Lake City, an oil pipeline owned by Chevron broke and over the course of the next 9 hours it dumped 33,000 gallons of oil into the Red Butte Creek. This oil reached Liberty Park yesterday morning and resulted in hundreds of birds being coated in oil. The spill harmed Canada Geese, Mallards and babies. Babies that are now dead. Babies like this:
I feel so helpless about this. Since we moved to Salt Lake City, our commute went from 40 minutes each way for me and 60 minutes each way for Jon to 20 minutes for both of us. So that saves a little gas. We typically bike to work twice a week so that saves a little more. I bought a composter so that I reduce the trash each week. I’m creating a garden so that, someday, I will buy less from the grocery store that was carried in with trucks. I want to buy from a Salt Lake City farmer’s market to reduce the shipment of vegetables. These are all great steps, but they’re so little. Sometimes I wish that I could just move to a cabin in the woods and make all my own stuff so I never use any oil again.
I hear you. Unlike you, I just don’t have the stomach to search for the pictures. I have accidentally stumbled upon a few, and they still haunt me.
It is just heartbreaking.
It is heartbreaking. I don’t know why I keep looking.
I’m feeling very frustrated today trying to get information on whether the oil did or did not reach Farmington Bay and the bird refuge up there. I find it odd that there isn’t more recent information on the internet.
As far as farmer’s markets, have you been to the Saturday market in Pioneer Park? It opened last Saturday. It’s a wonderful market that I look forward to going to each year. Wish we had a year round market like Seattle and other places!
Bobbi, I don’t understand why people in SLC aren’t more upset. I see a lot of trucks around Liberty Park, but the place still reeks of gas. There are reports of the oil reaching Farmington Bay, but now Chevron claims it’s unrelated to the spill! I’m going to try and make it up to Farmington Bay this weekend to see for myself.
I didn’t go to Pioneer Park last weekend because it was so rainy. But I really hope to go this weekend. I’ve heard great things!
You know, I woke up the last two mornings smelling something really sulpher/chemical like. It is actually what woke me up. Do you have any idea where we can get real information?
I’ve found the most detailed information at the Salt Lake Tribune. KSL has some articles too, but they’re not as detailed. The Deseret News has an article here that is pretty good: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700040818/EPA-monitors-oil-cleanup-efforts.html