Editorial: British Petroleum Oil Spill Continues to Distroy the Gulf of Mexico and Beyond

British Petroleum's numerous failed attempts to control this horrific incident have more than likely caused immeasurable damage the Gulf of Mexico. This off shore drilling horror is now being considered the worst million potentially billion dollars catastrophe of the century. I seem to remember an over zealous Sarah Palin and friends chanting, "Drill Baby Drill" in that annoying, third grade, mean girl way. Where is your off shore drilling chant now? Could there be a big "Oops" in your adolescent subconscious or do you not talk about such global atrocities on your hackneyed Fox News segment. I couldn't care less about Sarah Palin and her juvenile ranting, but she's such an easy target. I couldn't resist.

Our history of drilling for oil has been a long standing economic tradition in America. Industry has relied heavily on it and it continues to be a vital commodity in our country's economic survival. The sight of old oil rigs strewn across the country was a symbol of wealth, progress and pride. As a native Pennsylvanian I remember studying the Pennsylvania Oil Rush; an oil boon that started in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859. Oil jobs were plentiful and the harvesting of this oil kept our country afloat. As United States oil fields ran dry industries that relied on oil began drilling and harvesting from foreign oil rich countries. So became our dependency on foreign oil.

Even TV characters profited - the Clampetts and their windfall. Jed didn't need a new- fangled drilling process to get oil. One shotgun blast while looking for food, then up from the ground came his million dollar bubbling crude. Oil that is, black gold, Texas T! Images of Jed Clampett came to mind when CNN reported early today that BP is entertaining the thought of using nuclear muscle to stop the gushing underwater spill. I can see Jed shaking his head in disbelief. Now I don't know how many country folks read my articles but when I was a kid we used cherry bombs in the lake to catch fish. The blast would stun them and they would float to the surface. Now imagine if you will a nuclear blast set off in the Gulf of Mexico, glow baby glow. Instead of crappies and sunfish coming to an untimely demise, the sight of endangered species like whales and dolphins floating lifeless in the gulf somehow upsets me. How about, "Throw another hideously deformed three-headed, shrimp on the Barbie mate!" Sad indeed, but I digress.

The BP oil spill has the deadly potential to permanently destroy countless miles of sea life, obliterating the protected marsh lands not to mention leaving generations of Gulf families destitute for decades. Will Florida lose its tourist industry due to oil engulfed beaches? Now there is talk of oil traveling as far as North Carolina! Who will pay the price for this? Will we as tax payers bear the weight this catastrophic event? Will our children be saddled with this clean up bill or worse their children. They will never know the full extent of what oceanic life forms were annihilated due to an unwillingness to fund sustainable communities and alternative fuel.

I totally understand that my opinion is just that - an opinion. However, let me be perfectly clear, as citizens of the world we must be extremely vigilant . . . never let this happen again! Stop off shore drilling until an educated failsafe is in place to contain future disasters. Or better yet, use that funding to educate consumers on ways to cut back our consumption of oil and rely on cleaner forms of fuel. Walk to work when possible, install wood stoves, use fireplaces, bicycle, car pool, or simply doing the speed limit when driving back and forth to work helps more than you realize. I'm sure we can come up with a half dozen more ideas to end our daily dependency on oil.

Now don't get me wrong BP is not the only company that needs to be brought to the carpet, but it has in the words of Desi Arnaz, "BP you've got some c'plainin' to do for the handling of this situation." A friend mentioned to me that we can not let the patients control the asylum. Letting BP handle this situation is prime example.

Let's assemble a World Wide Counsel addressing the need for Sustainable Communities to educate and establish viable solution and alternatives to drilling all together so that something of this nature this never ever happens again! And remember it is vital for all of us to keep it clean and keep it green if not for us but for generations to come.

Remember: KEEP IT GREEN, KEEP IT CLEAN!