A lot of help is pouring into the Gulf Coast of the USA with the largest oil spill on record. Since I can not go there first hand to see all the damage, I have to go on faith of what I hear in the media. Well, yeah.
I have never been to Louisiana or and of the Gulf Coast for that matter. I have seen pictures and it looks beautiful. It is on my list of places to visit one day. How about you?
I did grow up on the beaches of Southern California, and remember seeing water so dirty that it was scary swimming in it. I remember getting eye and ear infections almost every summer when I was a child. I spend countless hours at the beach and in the water, no matter what it looked like.
I remember tar sticking to my feet and then getting on my bathing suit and not being allowed into the house until I washed my feet off with gasoline. That seemed to be the only thing that worked the best at taking the tar off. The bathing suit was ruined though.
There were a lot of oil wells in Huntington Beach, and Long Beach could be dirty, too. Going to the Redondo Beach area always meant coming home with tar stuck on you. I remember the beautiful beaches of Santa Barbara and big globs of tar on the sand so you had to be careful where you walked.
Did they ever know what this was like on the Gulf Coast? When I was a kid I just thought that was part of the ocean. Somehow oceans produced tar. Nothing could ever be perfect.
How can life remain the same in the Gulf Coast? Families that rely on the economy driven by the fishing industry have taken a huge hit. This effects everyone. Fishermen and women can not work. Processing plants can not work. There is no money coming in. Families in difficult economic times have to cut back more or rely on aid. People who work in the local industries such as retailing, banking and insurance notice that their business is effected, too.
BP says they are getting money and help to the families. Are they? There are more than just the fishermen and their families impacted by this.
Bloggers Unite is calling attention to this with a Citizen Gulf National Day of Action on August 25. What can we do? Visit this site for more information or to participate. If you can donate there are lots of listings where you can be a part of the solution.
It seems that when there is a disaster around the world, the USA is among the first to step in and help out. We have people here, in the USA, right now who will appreciate your help. Even if you can share some links on your blog, or web page, or social site you are doing your part to help. Thank you!
