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Community Corner

How Much Damage Can the Gulf Take? Class Trip Dispatch 5

Meredith Stevens was one of 23 seniors chosen from Scarsdale High School to participate in this year's senior class trip to Mississippi. This is the fifth in her week-long series about the class's adventures, which took place June 14-19.

Writing from Bay St. Louis
June 17, 18

Oil oil everywhere…?

The explosion – which killed 11 platform workers and injured 17 – led to even further disaster as roughly 2 million gallons of crude oil gushes into the Gulf of Mexico. We didn't see it, but we did feel it, as a haunting reminder everywhere we went.

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It's tragic that the impact is killing millions of aquatic animals – birds, fish, marine mammals, coral reefs and numerous endangered species – but the oil poisoning the Gulf of Mexico also impacts land dwellers in the Gulf region where we were staying for our work with Habitat for Humanity.

Hundreds, probably thousands, are out of work in the Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Mexico. The entire seafood business in the South suffers as fisherman, who aren't working, can't have their goods transported by the hundreds who labor in shipping jobs.

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I spoke with one restaurant owner in New Orleans who said, "So far only the price of our oysters has really gone up, but I expect it all will go up sooner or later."

He went on to explain that many restaurant owners in New Orleans were going to file a Grand Action law suit against BP, for loss of revenue.

I asked a New Orleans shop manager if the oil spill has affected the amount of tourists they get, and he said, "I haven't seen any changes yet, but that is probably because this isn't our big tourist season – people don't like this heat."

After my group arrived at LESM, during our information session, I asked if there has been any oil on the beaches – which were just a mile in either direction.

Our guide said, "No, but we have groups out there monitoring the bay and ocean waters." This was relieving to us all, although he added, "but we did have our first oil bird a few days ago."

This upset most of very much, and I, personally, am upset by this situation because I am very passionate about preserving wildlife, especially coral reefs  – which will be affected in Florida and the Caribbean.

When we visited with on the first day, he was asked to share his thoughts on the matter.

His answer surprised us all: "I think that this oil spill is worse than Katrina." 

He went on to explain that people can work together to rebuild lives and communities, but we can't fix our planet so easily. "This oil will stay in the water for generations," he said, noting that "our grandchildren" may have to clean this up but with Katrina, the city is almost back to normal.

Our SHS group was allowed to swim in the bay, which is protected from the oil by merit of the fact  that there are no strong currents going into the area.

However, the "oil bird" was found on a bay shore, that was closer to the ocean, just days before.

Some of us were hesitant... not me though! I went right into the water, although it was uncomfortably warm. We had a great time at the bay that night, which was our last night. That was the night we bonded as a whole group and reflected on the trip.

We realized what adversity these hospitable folks have had to face for the last five years and how they have struggled to rebuild their communities and lives only now to face an ecological disaster the likes of which has never been seen. 

This could well poison their environment for generations and for many affect their livelihood; one wonders how much more this area, with its hardworking inhabitants, can endure.

For Meredith's other dispatches, read

  • Not for One's Self (Part 1)
  • New Orleans 'No Grey NYC' (Part 2)
  • How Katrina Built a Hero (Part 3)
  • Hammer Swings for Humanity (Part 4)

Her final thoughts and reflections on the trip will be published tomorrow, Saturday, on Patch.

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