Umpteen Horizons » Oil spill

Proof! Warblers Can Read!

Leo Denton — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:06:12 +0000

Swallow-tailed kite, photograph by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A dead warbler who fell in my backyard after flying across the gulf. Photographed April 2, 2011.

Our "clean beaches" "among the finest in the world." Photographed on Little Dauphin Island just a few weeks ago on March 17, 2011. Various facilities including the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in the background.

“Seen anything?” I asked at the Shell Mounds on Dauphin Island (a world class birding area). “No,” the Michigan birder replied, “but last year my brother came here and saw 10 ‘lifetime birds’ in 20 minutes.” “Wow,” I said, “and last year was a down year.” “Then, what would you call this year! Can’t believe my wife and I came 1100 miles for this! Do you expect any ‘fallouts’ soon?” “Not really,” I answered, “we’ve had the storms and cool, strong north winds to produce ‘fallouts’ several times but the birds just aren’t arriving in any numbers at all.”

Everyone I’ve asked says this is “the worse spring in memory.” The warblers, the highlight for many birders, have been the most conspicuous in their absence. Most birders have only seen a few warblers. So where are the birds this spring? One birder from Georgia said, “I just hope they’re still alive.”

During the spring migrations, in good years, like 2009, I see hundreds of colorful warblers of more than 20 species. Even in off years, I see around a hundred warblers of a dozen or so species. This year, after many outings, I’ve seen just one migrating warbler, a hooded warbler (not counting the one that fell dead in my backyard).

Like all years, this spring has had some highlights. My son, Nicholas, saw a swallow-tailed kite. These magnificent birds generally fly up and down the Dauphin Island sand dunes and above the wooded areas of Dauphin Island. Several in my family have also seen some bald eagles near Bay Front Park in Alabama Port. I have also seen some orioles, finches, kingbirds, and vireos. Unfortunately, these have shown up in much fewer numbers and varieties than usual.

On Dauphin Island, even the non-migrants are a fewer in number. Woodpeckers, wrens, thrashers, sparrows, blue jays, cardinals, towhees, and mockingbirds are noticeably fewer.

Somehow, according to experts, the birds, just like the humans, have become alarmed after reading reports from “various media outlets.” After all, according to the experts, it’s “fair to say that the oil is indeed gone.” But somehow, the birds too have failed to close “the gap between the public perception of the oil spill and the reality of where we stand.” And where do the experts say we stand? “The seafood appears to be abundant and is indeed safe to eat while the beaches are among the finest in the world.” So if you happen to see any gullible migrating birds, please pass the word along that all is well in the gulf and the surrounding areas. Also be sure to warn the birds about the “clear and certain danger” of “various media elements” who might cast doubts on the experts who say that there are “no ecological dangers” or “grave concerns” for the public to worry about … only “questions” of “academic interest” (for examples of such expert quotes see http://oil.disl.org/pdf/DHOSPerspective.pdf – for examples of irresponsible media keep reading Umpteen Horizons).

Umpteen Horizons Dreams

Leo Denton — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:20:17 +0000

In the face of adversity, what’s the difference between “try” and “triumph?” Last night I had some interesting sets of dreams. Each time I woke up one word would come to mind right away – then I’d go back to sleep:

first dreams – “misunderstood”
second dreams – “persecuted”
third dreams – “upbeat”

When I woke up the third time, I asked myself, how can I remember these words? MUP, no; PUM, no. UMP or better UMPH, yeah, as in the “umph!” of Umpteen Horizons – and “umph!” as in the difference between “try” and “triumph!”

When I got up in the morning from my bed, other words came to mind right away from “umpteen:” T for “truth” as in conveying and being faithful to the “truth;” E for “eternal” as in living with all time frames in mind and getting beyond our individual interests; E for “energetic” as in working hard; N for focusing on and meeting the “needs” of others “now.”

There’s a clear story coming out of Wikileaks. The “powers-that-be” regularly lie as just part of way they do business. Why should we believe a government who does not tell us the true scope of an ongoing disaster? Why does it take independent researchers using standard methods only hours to figure out how much oil is spewing from the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster? And why are these independent researchers persecuted (see also Empower News tab above and check Gulf Coast news)? And why should we trust the upcoming better-late-than-never government health study? Why should anybody trust the U.S. government when several U.S. administrations including the present one worked with China to derail international efforts to protect the environment?

Of course, not all is lost, people, like the independent researchers, like us, can make a difference. For example, in the health arena, an important Gulf Coast health study was released yesterday. It was conducted by Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy (DRLA) and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and many volunteers helped to make this study possible. This study documents that large numbers of people in coastal communities believe that they have been exposed to oil and dispersants and have suffered from the affects of oil and dispersants (“48 percent of those surveyed reported an unusual spike of at least one health symptom”).

As Jesus said, “Blest are you who are persecuted, insulted, misunderstood … be glad and upbeat … you are the salt and light of the Earth!” (see Matthew 5). You are needed and together we will make a difference!

So, if you possibly can, come join the volunteers who are helping to build a quarter mile of oyster reef at Helen Wood Park in Mobile, just north of Dog River, on March 19, 8:00 to noon!

Lyrics from “Don’t look back” (video on left):

Don’t look back a new day is breakin

It’s been too long since I felt this way

I don’t mind where I get taken

The road is callin, today is the day …

(for full lyrics go to Zone Lyrics)

Merry Christmas 2010

Leo Denton — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 23:56:16 +0000

As oil washes ashore on Dauphin Island, ducks refuse to flee - photographed June 9, 2010

28 years ago, Rosie and I were expecting our first child, Vera. On a mid-December day, not unlike today, I was worried about our child’s future and how Rosie and I might do and make do as parents. A sudden thought crossed my mind: Jesus was born in a stable. It hit me hard – like I had never heard the Christmas story before. Being welcomed by animals, with nowhere else to go, Mary and Joseph wrapped him in rags and laid him in a manger. But the angels sang, “Glory to God in the Highest!” Somehow the paradoxes of it all showed me the path of trust and the knowledge of who to trust in.

Today, I think of so many who are suffering, who like Jesus have not been given a place, and yet I am filled with hope that not poverty, oil spills, wars, or anything else can take away the glorious future that is reaching out to the human family.

Reviewing this past year, I can hardly believe its momentousness. I’ve gathered some pictures below to tell something of this extraordinary year (click on pictures to see larger photo).

Vera Marries Ryan
Vera and Ryan were married on January 31, 2010 - Ryan is a wonderful gift to our family.	Vera and Ryan on Dauphin Island beach for Thanksgving 2010. Vera and Ryan are now expecting their first child.
More Family Pictures
Edward is confirmed - Nick is his sponsor Gabriel returning from a summer's work with Earthen Vessels Outreach in Pittsburgh. Nick spent the summer there too. Ryan and Vera are involved with this ministry too. Rosie kept care of all of us, taught yoga, ...	Mignon graduates from Bryant High School and goes to Auburn University Leo and friends representing Poland at the Model United Nation in Mobile Julita (on right) and her cousin Claire playing in the Mississippi Sound
Responding to Oil Catastrophe
Thanks to the clean-up workers who at the risk of their health dealt with much of the hazardous waste - photographed November 13, 2010 Leo, Julita, and Edward invited people to Hands Across the Sand on Dauphin Island's public beach, photographed June 24, 2010 Many sand crabs became stressed and unable to move well, photographed July 22, 2010. At Future of the Gulf Community Brainstorms, small groups shared experiences, ideas, and plans, photographed July 21, 2010 Mapping project using camera-lifting baloons, photographed November 13, 2010 on Sand Island	Oil soaking edge of tidal pool, photographed July 5, 2010 Sharing positive energy after Hands Across the Sand on Dauphin Island, photographed June 26, 2010 by Theresa Robinson My brother, Joe, captaining his boat, Mojoe, on one of our many trips to the Katrina Cut beaches An animated small group discussion during the Future of the Gulf - Community Brainstorm, photographed July 21, 2010 People networked and brought proposals to the Coastal Recovery Commission of Alabama
Loving Nature and Life
Dauphin Island sea grass before the spill took its toll on it The fragileness and beauty of life - Dauphin Island - photographed by Edward Denton We were blessed by many birthday parties Dauphin Island children played soccer throughout the year Gatherings with extended Denton family	Herons making do during the spill - photograph by Edward Denton My very old friend the magnolia tree of the Audubon Bird Sanctuary We were also blessed by dancing friends, birds, plants, and fish Friends gather awaiting the midnight solstice lunar eclipse Gatherings with extended Toomer family

Merry Christmas Everyone!

OCEAN-OIL Website Created for Gulf Oil Catastrophe

Leo Denton — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:05:28 +0000

Satellite photo of oil catastrophe - one of the many photos available at OCEAN-OIL

Funded by the National Science Foundation, Boston University, Louisiana State University, and the National Council for Science and the Environment have created the Online Clearinghouse for Education And Networking: Oil Interdisciplinary Learning (OCEAN-OIL). The site, part of the Encyclopedia of Earth website, is open-access and peer-reviewed allowing scientists, teachers, and concerned citizens to make contributions.

OCEAN-OIL has three project goals: “(1) Spur activity to develop and share educationally-valuable resources; (2) Facilitate dissemination and adoption of these materials in education; and (3) Promote deep thinking about the relationship between humans, their needs and wants, and the Earth.”

OCEAN-OIL’s current resources include over 1000 articles on the oil catastrophe, an oil spill glossary, and resource links as well as many other resources.

The submission process to OCEAN-OIL for several of Umpteen Horizons articles relating to the gulf oil catastrophe has begun including our proposals to the Coastal Recovery Commission of Alabama (see below).

We will have an informal Future of the Gulf get-together on Thursday evening, 6:00 P.M., December 9, at the Golden Corral in the Tillman’s Corner area. If you are interested, please email me at denton2100@gmail.com.

Future of the Gulf Community Brainstorm -Proposals for the Coastal Recovery Commission of Alabama

Ecological Needs

Clean, restore, and enhance gulf and bays
Build and enhance 100 miles of oyster reefs and 1000+ acres of coastal marsh and seagrass – see http://100-1000.org/
Ensure that water, air, and food are safe with ongoing long-term testing – data should be fully and immediately available to the public
Develop comprehensive, fail-safe regulations to prevent future oil catastrophes – prevention is a great deal better than the cure

Coastal Community Participation

Enlist local decision making and employment in coastal recovery efforts
Invest in coastal economic opportunities to support sustainable coastal recovery and enhance Alabama’s coastal areas and waters
Train south Alabama medical professionals to diagnose and treat environmental health conditions potentially related to the oil catastrophe
Immediate public transparency on all issues relating to public health such as the use of dispersants in area waters and the ongoing presence of oil and other health threats in area waters
Listen and learn from coastal communities in order to improve future responses to coastal disasters such as oil spills and hurricanes

Education and Support Initiatives for Oil-Affected Families

Grant full scholarships for children of low-income, oil-affected families to local universities, community colleges, or technical schools
Provide job training and a support system for coastal workers and others who have lost their livelihoods due to the oil catastrophe
Enhance science curriculum at all levels (K through college) to better appreciate Alabama’s coastal environment and to provide appropriate service-learning programs to support the environment (see service-learning resource center at the University of South Alabama http://caslce.usouthal.edu/)

Coastal Fire Protection

Develop a unified, comprehensive plan for coastal fire fighting resources
Several coastal communities need multipurpose fire engines with 75-foot ladders and with storage for water and foam
Fire and rescue response boat powered by twin engines and capable of pumping water from sea
New bunker gear capable of protecting the well-being of the firemen and providing self-contained breathing for firemen
Radio communications for hazardous-materials quick response needs that connect Mobile, Baldwin, and neighboring counties in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida

Freedom from Fear – The Strong Heart of Aung San Suu Kyi

Leo Denton — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 18:13:39 +0000

“It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it. Most Burmese are familiar with the four a-gati, the four kinds of corruption. Chanda-gati, corruption induced by desire, is deviation from the right path in pursuit of bribes or for the sake of those one loves. Dosa-gati is the taking the wrong path to spite those against whom one bears ill will, and moha-gati is aberrartion due to ignorance. But perhaps the worst of the four is bhaya-gati, for not only does bhaya, fear, stifle and slowly destroy all sense of right and wrong, it so often lies at the root of the other three kinds of corruption.” These are the words of Aung San Suu Kyi, a long time political prisoner and advocate of democracy, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who was just released from imprisonment in Burma.

Being imprisoned because of her words and her popular leadership, Aung San Suu Kyi has not depended on the powers of this world (see Luke 4:4-6 and John 18:36). Instead she has proclaimed, “Without a revolution of the spirit, the forces which produced the iniquities of the old order would continue to be operative, posing a constant threat to the process of reform and regeneration. … A people who would build a nation in which strong, democratic institutions are firmly established as a guarantee against state-induced power must first learn to liberate their own minds from apathy and fear.”

Enduring imprisonment she has lived out her universal call to overcome “fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear of death, fear of losing friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of isolation, fear of failure.” Instead of fearing, she has relied on “the wellspring of courage and endurance in the face of unbridled power … [and] a firm belief in the sanctity of ethical principles … [and] a historical sense that despite all setbacks the condition of man is set on an ultimate course for both spiritual and material advancement.” She believes in a “vision of a world fit for rational, civilized humanity” and in “concepts such as truth, justice and compassion” which empower her “to dare and to suffer to build societies free from want and fear.”

A BBC article, also found under Empower News (see tab above), provides more information on today’s release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

God bless Aung San Suu Kyi and God bless us all!

The night before last, I had a dream of a man who was in a barracks building in which he lived. Without warning some uniformed men entered the building and arrested him. They took him to another building and accused him of disturbing the social order because he had asked this question: “If our work with underground oil can suddenly cause such a catastrophe, what can result from our work with bombs?” The interrogators viewed the man as a danger to society and intended to keep him in custody for a long time.

Today, with a much greater appreciation for the scriptures, the Catholic Christian tradition identifies Bible readings for each day. After the dream, I read the Gospel reading of that day. It is very relevant to the Aung San Suu Kyi’s call toward liberation from apathy and fear:

“’As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, a person who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise a person in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.’ They said to him in reply, ‘Where, Lord?’ He said to them, ‘Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.’” – Luke 17:26-37.

For me, one very convenient source of receiving daily scripture readings by email is The Daily Gospel.

In an earlier post, Make Your Noise, I also quoted Aung San Suu Kyi.

Gulf Seafood not Known to be Safe

Leo Denton — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:09:54 +0000

My son, Leo, and the grouper he caught, photographed by Joe Denton on September 4, 2010.

I love to fish and love to eat the fish I catch. But I and others have been involved in some correspondence taking place between Captain Chris Bryant of Bayou La Batre and Jim McCallum, a policy analyst with the National Fisheries Service. A key fact coming out of these communications is that the seafood in the gulf oil disaster region is NOT BEING TESTED FOR DISPERSANTS. Not only that, we don’t even have a seafood test for dispersants yet. The government, however, is working on such tests and expects them to be available soon. Meanwhile we’ve been assured that the seafood is safe and hopefully it is. But this is like instructing your children that it’s safe to look only one way before crossing the street. We’re testing for oil in the seafood, how reliable those tests are is another story, but we’re not looking the other way for dispersants. How safe is that?

This week we’ll be having our Future of the Gulf – Community Brainstorm. It’s Thursday evening, September 30, 7:00 P.M. at the Coastal Response Center – 7385 Highway 188 in Coden, Alabama. Our purpose, in light of the ongoing oil disaster, is to share community needs, resources, ideas, and opportunities with other people who care. As everyday people, we will brainstorm and encourage one another to act and move positively together to restore our way of life, health, and coastal fishing communities. Please share the word and come.

Umpteen Horizons provides gulf oil disaster news under the Empower News tab above. On that webpage, oil news can be found under Crises. Please continue to check Empower News as it will continue to improve.

Future of the Gulf Community Brainstorm on Saturday

Leo Denton — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:55:07 +0000

Artist, Lori Bosarge, with one of her signs, photographed July 19, 2010

Our next Future of the Gulf Community Brainstorm is this Saturday, August 21 at 2:00 to 4:00 P.M at the Shelby Center at the Dauphin Island Sealab – 101 Bienville Blvd. Dauphin Island.

We will be following up on our July meeting and creating action items that each of us can start working on. At the beginning of the meeting, some environmental groups will give five minute overviews of what they’re currently doing and how people can get involved with their work. After that, we’ll meet in smaller groups and discuss the specific concerns that we want to work on, the goals we hope to accomplish, and the actions we can each take to get us closer to those goals.

Everyone who came to last month’s meeting brought a lot of passion and dedication to the discussion. If this is your first meeting that’s great too! Let’s keep the momentum going and turn our passion into action! Your presence is very important to us all! Also please take a moment or two to invite some friends or family who might be interested in our meeting.

Thanks!

Public ‘Forum’ Lacks ‘Open Discussion’

Leo Denton — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:11:28 +0000

Today the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held a public “forum” in Mobile on whether the six-month moratorium prohibiting new drilling should be suspended early. The purpose of the moratorium is to allow for renewed consideration of oil well safety reforms, oil spill containment issues, and oil spill recovery and response strategies. While Steve Russell, a representative from the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, was given a prominent speaking role, no Mobile area environmental leader was allowed to speak at the “forum.” Steve Russell provided the audience a simplistic the-wells-are-safe and we-need-jobs message asking for a halt to the moratorium and asking for increased drilling. His lack of appreciation for the magnitude of the current problem and his lack of appreciation for the ongoing safety and environmental issues were appalling.

The one speaker from an environmental organization, Manley Fuller of the Florida Wildlife Federation, insisted that the current general plans for oil spill catastrophes be beefed up to include worst case scenarios such as oil spill recovery efforts complicated by major hurricanes and simultaneous oil catastrophes. Representing the State of Florida well, he restated Florida’s stance against any new drilling near Florida.

In other highlights, Dr. Edward Overton, an LSU professor, stated that “the booms were not particularly effective” and the coordination of clean-up efforts were characterized by a “lack of nimbleness.” Dr. George Crozier of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab questioned the use of dispersants in deep water and spoke of “profound uncertainties” connected with that use. To further our knowledge of the gulf, Dr. Crozier asked for deep water research tools that would enable research in the gulf waters at depths of 3000 feet and more where we have insufficient scientific knowledge.

David Underhill appeared outside the room wearing duct tape over his mouth succinctly symbolizing the lack of public participation allowed at the forum. The audience was not allowed to even ask questions and was told to remain silent at all times.

If you would like to express your opinion to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, you may submit your opinion at http://boemre.gov/forums . In my own comments, I underscored the importance of clean environmentally friendly energy sources that could also provide area jobs and not further jeopardize numerous community jobs such as the jobs currently lost in fishing and tourism.

Jerry Pogue of Mobile discusses his concerns with passersby, photographed August 10, 2010.

Though not allowed to speak at the forum Heather Emmert of Environment America speaks with the press after the forum, photographed August 10, 2010.

David Underhill silently holds his sign outside the forum, photographed August 10, 2010.

Citizen Rain Water Tests in Louisiana Show Unsafe Levels of Toxins

Leo Denton — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:29:34 +0000

Many people, including Kindra Arnesen and the Coastal Heritage Society of Louisiana, are doing great work in Louisiana. The video below with Kindra speaking from the August 5, 2010 Buras Town Hall Meeting about the gulf oil catastrophe is powerful and informative. The video includes the importance of bio-remediation as well as the serious problems with toxins in the environment including the rainwater. The level of denial shown by the official (see the 9:15 point of the video onward) who Kindra speaks with is also illustrative of what many face when trying to realize common sense care for the gulf.

Uncertainty

Leo Denton — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:47:45 +0000

Very close to the gulf shoreline, this grand magnolia tree in the Dauphin Island Audubon Bird Sanctuary has stood the test of life’s many uncertainties and storms, photographed July 27, 2010.

To say that we live in uncertain times is an understatement. Did the rapidly decaying oil (see previous two posts) contain recently applied dispersants? People, who know far more than I, say it’s likely, but we don’t know that and perhaps we never will. But right now I want to say something about uncertainty and action.

Life is filled with uncertainties. So what are we to do? If I wait for certainty, I will have procrastinated too long and my gifts, how I can contribute, will be wasted.

Two months ago, I woke up with a very compelling thought, “Just do the basics and progress will follow.” We don’t need to understand everything; we’re not in charge; we just need to show up and do what we can well.

As difficult as uncertainties can be, certainties can be dangerous, “The oil wells are safe.” Uncertainty that leads to inaction can be just as dangerous. In contrast, appreciating how much we don’t know can keep us alert and spur our creativity and action.

Thus uncertainty is ultimately about courage – courage to do what we should do, following the basics of who we are, even when it means not knowing where our actions will lead us. Curiously this kind of uncertainty sounds a lot like living faith.