 Ducks close to a Dauphin Island Joint Incident Command Center, photographed June 9, 2010
 Seagull, wounded with an oil-soak wing, along Bienville Avenue on Dauphin Island, photographed June 9, 2010  The playground of Dauphin Island School, photographed June 9, 2010
 In all the comings and goings of heavy machinery, many bird eggs along the Gulf Coast lie in wait of an uncertain future, photographed June 9, 2010 |
Yesterday while riding bikes with my daughter, Julita, I watched the oil clean-up workers. I realized that these stressed workers covered with grimy, late afternoon sweats must have some very valuable perspectives. As I listened to several cough, I wondered about their health. I wondered also how their lives and their relationships with nature, people, and God were being affected by this catastrophe.
Today I tried several interviews. Here’s the first: Question: “What’s it like being a worker here?” Worker: “Work, work, work!” Question: “You, workers, understand things that the rest of us don’t about the spill, don’t you?” Worker: “Yes.” Question: “Like?” Worker: “I’m really sorry, I can’t talk about it, it’s against the rules.” Over and over again I heard the same response: “I’m not allow to talk with anyone.” In several places, security officials would not allow me to take photographs. Near the public beach, the school’s playground was no longer available for children to play. At the public beach, I met Mark from Chicago who reflected, “It’s about time that we start thinking of alternatives to gasoline engines. But of course that’s how I got here.” Like Mark I too was traveling by car. I spoke with the handful of families visiting the public beach. At one point, I asked a few adults what they thought of all this. No one knew what to say until a small child began running circles around me, crying out over and over again, “How are we going to save all the sea animals?” A voice from on High had spoken. At the public beach, others expressed shock that there’s another nearby drilling rig, the Ocean Saratoga, which has been leaking oil since at least April 30. Right now I want to forget all the “blame games” and all the “powers that be.” What about me? … us? What is the Spirit crying? What needs to happen with each of us? Where are our creative thoughts and actions? “How are we going to save all the sea animals?” Volunteer information and other important information can be found at Alabama Coastal Foundation. |
Umpteen Horizons
For peace, justice, and everyone's prosperity
Great to hear a local perspective, though also sad… Thanks for the update.
Your post reminds me of the NY Times article I read today about BP and the government limiting the media’s access to the spill, making it difficult to get sufficient information –
Praying for everyone involved!
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At several locations, the security workers, obviously just doing their job, were extremely paranoid about cameras and the enforcement of no picture taking. At one location, I said “So what would you do if I took a picture.” The immediate response was that I would be arrested. Free access for the press is in no way happening.
The honest, unrestrained child running around crying out, “How are we going to save all the sea animals?” was such a contrast.
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