Pages

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Yes, DO cry over spilt oil

Here is a visualization of the Gulf oil spill on a Google map of the area:

oil_spill_in_gulf

Even with that map, it is hard to understand just how big the spill is, so here is the same visualization of it If It Was My Home* of Hartford, Connecticut -- pretty much wiping out the entire area between Boston and New York City:

oil_spill_in_hartford

Ironically, if it were a land-based spill, it would not have gotten this big, as it would have been more easily contained. It’s 48 days later, over 400 species of animals have been affected, and over 40 million gallons of oil have gushed forth. Tar is already washing up on beaches in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. If you have never stepped in tar-sand, let me tell you it does not wash off easily, you basically have to scrape it off your skin with a paint scraper. Unless you are a duck, egret, or seal, then you have to hope someone catches you and gives you a bath in Dawn dish detergent. If you are a fish, tough luck, you will suffocate. Experts say it is only a matter of time before the slick gets caught in the Gulf current and works its way up the East Coast and then farther east to Bermuda and Europe.

I encourage you to put a map of the slick over your town on your blog, to help more people understand how big it is (you will have to do a screencap to get the picture).

*Grammatically speaking that should say “If It Were My Home” but let’s not get picky, the guy wrote a program that can put the spill on a map anywhere in the world, ‘k?

9 comments:

essbesee said...

so depressing. I read the lorax to my son last night and it totally gives that book a new slant. I only hope BP can become as enlightened as the oncler is at the end.

cheatymoon said...

Wow. I saw the BP ad on TV twice this morning. Screamed some swears at the TV. It's obscene to spend $ on advertising to shine up an image. Please.
The situation is heartbreaking at best.

The House That A-M Built said...

I can't believe it. A company that big and they can't stop it. Surely there is some engineer or guru out there with an answer. Absolutely heartbreaking. A-M xx

Holyoke Home said...

I saw that on Facebook. Breathtaking. So sad. So heart throbbingly horribly sad.

laura said...

Oh, this is SUCH great perspective. Heartbreaking.

Pseudo said...

Sigh. This makes me so sad.

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

It's incomprehensible to me that something like this could happen. I have to turn off the news when they start talking about it now because I get so angry.

The Cassina Group said...

I hadn't seen this. Wow.

knitseashore said...

I'm late to your post, but I'm glad you posted it. It is so heartbreaking to think of the destruction, and I hope the animal emergency groups are able to help as much as possible down there.