| Bail Outs, Spill Outs, and You're
Outs
![]() You've probably noticed that the last few
editorial pieces that you've received from Green Builder® Media have been
focused on the runaway oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. We're devastated by sad
stories from the locals, ghastly images of oil encrusted birds and fish, and
disturbing reports of the deteriorating benthic zone on the ocean floor that
maintains the health of the marine ecosystem through essential recycling
services.
But our urgent concern is
not just due to the decimated habitats and destroyed livelihoods that make up the
worst environmental disaster that our country has ever experienced. We're also
gripped by the political and economic power play that is unfolding, with its
infinite potential repercussions and opportunities.
As recently deceased coach
John Wooden said, "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep
you there." Heartbreak of any kind—whether it's a loss on the court or the
environmental equivalent of open-heart surgery—will certainly reveal the
true character of those involved.
How will the battle of the
governors play out, as Crist reconciles Florida's $60 billion tourism industry
with Jindal's $65 billion oil and gas industry in Louisiana? How much infighting
amongst neighbors will we see as they wrestle to protect jobs and revenue? Can
they collaborate to find local solutions that will benefit their communities as
well as their shared ecosystem? And, with local property values slashed by 30% and
regional unemployment at 12%, what methods will they use to stabilize their
economies?
Detroit Tigers pitcher
Armando Galarraga can teach us all a little about grace in the face of calamity
after umpire Jim Joyce blew the call on his perfectly thrown game. And while
Galarraga's comment that "It's just a game" is correct, the humanity of his
reaction showed integrity, fortitude, and, perhaps most important,
perspective.
Will our political and
business leaders show the same strength of character in response to the oil
calamity? Will they have the political courage to make difficult decisions that
are best for humans and animals, even if those decisions require the overhaul of
entrenched alliances that have become obsolete or destructive? Will they unite to
find the silver lining in this disaster rather than use it to advance their
individual political agendas?
With an excess of 30,000
barrels of oil still spewing into the Gulf on a daily basis, it's nearly
impossible to recognize any silver lining, but if you look hard enough, it's
there. Just as the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara helped generate
enough environmental awareness to launch Earth Day and the Clean Air Act, today's
spill has the potential to become a catalyst for the development of an
economically and environmentally viable national clean energy program and to force
the improvement of safety technology (as opposed to production technology) in the
oil sector.
And if we're completely
honest with ourselves, we'll admit that the Gulf of Mexico wasn't exactly the
Garden of Eden even before April 20, when the Deepwater Horizon exploded. The Gulf
of Mexico contains one of the largest dead zones in the world, caused by millions
of tons of synthetic nitrogen and mined phosphorous that leach from Midwestern
farm fields, sewers, and manufacturing plants. These chemicals make their way into
streams that drain into the Mississippi and spill into the Gulf, where they feed a
7,000-square-mile algae bloom that sucks up oxygen and snuffs out sea life
underneath. As we clean the mucky oil from the Gulf, will we have the foresight to
also remediate the deathly outcome of our agricultural, sewage, and industrial
practices?
At this point, it's
impossible to discern what the long-term effects will be on the inhabitants that
depend on the Gulf area's pristine beaches, lush wetlands, and diverse marine
landscape. The uncertainty is excruciating, and Green Builder Media isn't
prepared to sit on the sidelines in this battle. We are committed to take action
on behalf of our readers and community.
There are many ways that we
can pitch in. Some have suggested that we raise money to support cleanup efforts.
Others suggest that our human and financial capital is better spent on the
development of clean technology solutions.
What do you think? Please
write to us at sara@greenbuildermag.com with
feasible ideas about how we as a community should respond to this
tragedy.
For more information about
important topics related to sustainability and green building, follow me on my
Twitter page at SaraGBM..
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