Oil spills
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a horror, for people and for wildlife. It will surely cause huge damage. It is a reminder that for all the talk of global impacts, the worst environmental crises are still local ones.
But it is worth pausing to reflect how rare such terrible oil spills have now become. Here is the data on world tanker spills over the past 40 years:
This despite a steady increase in the amount of oil transported by sea.
It is notable that 1979 saw not only the worst ever tanker spill -- the collision oif the Atlantic Empress with the Aegean Captain off Trinidad -- but also the worst ever rig spill: the IXTOC1 platform off Mexico, which spilled 138 million gallons into the Gulf of Mexico before it was capped. The current spill is thought to be leaking 200,000 gallons a day. The environmental effects of the IXTOC disaster were severe, but have not proved permanent. Not that this will be of great comfort to the people of Louisiana and neighbouring states.
Comments (5)
Current estimates for BP spill are 20 million gallons, or about 65 on the y-axis above. (65,000 tonnes)
Estimates are about 1 million gallons of oil seep into the gulf naturally, http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/j/d/jdf15/2010/05/back-w...
I read recently about what happened to the oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico on your blog - it was a local one, I am sure. Is there a way on how to prevent such a disastrous spillage from happening again? Experts inside and outside oil industry are doing it more in confronting that kind of disaster and should continue to do so for some time to come.
I also believe that there must be done on how to develop technologies for transportation, industrial, domestic and other sectors that make energy mix possible in the future.
In addition to this, let's not forget that efficiency improvements to the existing technologies in various sectors mentioned above are also important.
I personally suggest that such efforts targeting the energy mix, as well as preventing oil spillages, require a better degree of public information campaigns, rather than resorting to "scary news stories" and other propaganda sundry of environmentalism that are rather distractive, even somber and far from reality.
Ordinary people, like me, must not sit still before the news come out and pretend that there is trouble brewing at any time, any place. We must stand on the scandalous "bad science" propaganda created (or should I say, left behind) by activists and their ideological allies around the world before it happens on us.
I sincerely hope that discussions will be balanced and the economic bottom line will be worth the US Dollar(or any other world currency, for that matter).
Please think carefully and read it clearly, for as long as you understand what I wrote about. Thank you for the recent article I read about, Matt Ridley.
[...] http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/oil-spills It is notable that 1979 saw not only the worst ever tanker spill — the collision oif the [...]
Correction: I have to say that, as of today (R.P./Malaysia/Singapore time), "we must take a stand against the scandalous 'bad science' propaganda created (or should I say, left behind) by activists and their ideological allies around the world before it happens to us".
It is clear to ordinary people like me that this is a message can transcend today's political or ideological frontlines and is being sent safe and sound with a broader look at social and economic development, environmental conservation & protection, public governance & safety, energy, communications & transportation improvements, and many more.
Think carefully, and have a balanced discussion in a more meaningful, more relevant, and more appropriate fashion.
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand.<a href="http://www.oilpaintingonlinestore.com">Oil Paintings</a>
It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!