Everybody has an opinion about the Gulf oil spill and whether or not the President is handling it properly. Like multitudes of others, I am disturbed by the behavior of British Petroleum, as well as most of the oil industry. They have had a free ride in this country for far too long.
I credit Bobby Jindal for leading the charge for the Cajon Country and the fishing and tourist industry of southern Louisiana. Charlie Crist, another Republican, is involved for Florida. I also credit Governor Haley Barbour of Yazoo City, MS for exercising some discretion with the President rather than using it for political purposes.
Today, I heard a disturbing story of a fifty (50) years long oil spill and pollution problem in southern Nigeria, which I had not heard before. I frankly wondered WHY we are not hearing about this oil spill and the ruination of Nigeria’s fishing industry and coastal waters in that area. WHY?Is it only Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida that count? What difference does it make to the most populous nation in Africa? Do those people not count as much as Gulf-coast Americans?
We are demanding accountability from BP, we say; or, we are criticizing the President for doing not enough for our coast. Of course, one Republican Senator, whose word no longer counts for anything more than warm wind, says the President is “shaking down” BP because he demands a $20 million accountability fund (then he turned around and apologized for apologizing to BP!) I don’t know what Glen Beck calls it, but I’m sure he has an opinion, which he has about everything, especially when it is profitable to him--like disowning soccer and making it “unAmerican” to play soccer.
Back to Nigeria: the oil industry has had a free ride for many years and we have all been manipulated by big money’s paid advocates in Washington and elsewhere. But, back to Nigeria and a fifty-year-long problem: that only illustrates what could happen in our Gulf-waters.
Such problems affect not only states or regions, but whole nations; in fact, everybody--the whole world. When Corporations are allowed the privilege of harvesting our energy (be it coal, lead, zinc, oil, or gold for that matter) they have a responsibility--a moral obligation to all of us--to protect our global garden. It is not ours to simply subdue, or pillage, or ravage, or waste; it is all we have for human survival and our common humanity ought to bond us together to cooperate and compliment, as well as complement, each other. Ultimately, WE ARE ALL ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WE DO WITH THIS MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE--the globe we inhabit.
We didn’t create it, or just accidentally find it. Most of the world believes in some kind of higher power; I choose to believe that power is God and that we are accountable to Him.
Believe what you will; but, we have a job on our hands. Taking better care of this world of ours,and of each other who occupy it, is a moral and ethical issue--a deeply spiritual matter that has consequences for all of us.
From Warner’s World, I am
walkingwithwarner.blogspot.com
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