Surfrider Foundation debates offshore drilling

On the other hand, Ericka Davanzo promptly reminded everyone of the aftermath the Exxon Valdez spill left and commentary from those current victims with their sentiments being extended to the Gulf Shore: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/videobeta/ca1ed79a-58a4-4d66-869c-a4ac5491181f/News/Valdez-victims-Gulf-Coast-has-long-road-ahead

The oil industry seems to be currently focused on the “accident” and in finding a cause, though slightly slow to react to the monumental and lasting impact the platform

Davanzo further explains, “In 1989, renowned Paleo-ecologist Dr. Jeremy Jackson studied the impacts of a spill in Panama. This most definitive research showed that after a bad spill, transplanted mangroves did not take and seagrass beds died on oiled reef flats. Stony corals in less than three meters had from 45% to a 96% loss of coral.”

Mica retorts, “In the wake of this accident, many people are understandably concerned about the safety and environmental risks associated with offshore drilling. But we should be careful not to rush to judgment on this issue until we’ve learned what went wrong, and it would be unfortunate if this accident were used as an excuse to roll back the gains we have made in finding new ways to explore and develop our own energy resources.”

So I ask you who has gained from the Horizon as a new way to explore and develop?  Certainly not the Gulf. Certainly not the wildlife. Certainly not the people. And most certainly, not our economic livelihood. Would you say the oil industry has gained from this accident? We are in a lose-lose situation, one that we all must face the facts about now.

The next time you get the chance to watch the beautiful Florida sunset, take note. Can you see the end of the Horizon?

View the entire transcript: http://www.tcpalm.com/live-chat/oil-spill-chat/