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[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/28/deepwater.horizon.gi.art.jpg caption= "100 days ago, on April 20, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 men and unleashing a torrent of crude. "]
100 days later, devastation and hope as oil spill efforts take hold
(CNN) – An oil well ruptured in the Gulf of Mexico 100 days ago, setting into motion the worst environment disaster in U.S. history.
The toll to the region has been crushing as millions of barrels of oil spewed from a mile below the surface.
On Wednesday, 100 days on, thousands of workers have lost their jobs, sensitive wetlands have been damaged and tourism is at a near standstill.
But efforts to contain the underwater gusher appear to be taking hold.
Coast Guard Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft, the federal on-scene commander for cleanup, said a fleet of 800 skimmers collected only one barrel of oil Monday. A containment cap put in place nearly two weeks ago appears to be up to the task.
At the height of the spill, they were collecting 25,000 barrels of oil a day.
"The task that's laid out before us is very clear right now," said retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the man in charge of the federal Gulf of Mexico oil crisis response said Tuesday.
"We have absolute priorities on killing the well, maintaining the recovery, making sure the oil is all removed and making sure the beaches are cleaned up and that the commitment by BP to the people is met," he said.
Crews are back on track to permanently shut down BP's once-gushing wellhead in the next few weeks, if setbacks are avoided and weather permits. Read more
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MeL- Start your own business?
Where can I go to get a job smoking pot?.....
Tom-V,
Thanks for your response. It seems like this article about the 100 day anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon blowout is mostly about the immigration issue.
You do sense a little frustration, and I agree that BP has lied from the start. But, that's not the thrust of my post.
I'm honestly surprised none of the news reporters on CNN or elsewhere are asking the simple question, why does the Deepwater Horizon bore need to be killed?
If this has been asked, I haven't seen it. If there's an answer that's been posted, I'd love a link.
-Mark
MeL says-
Why have borders then?... let's all become one big happy country!
I'll say it again... it doesn't matter where a person comes from... if they are in the US illegally they need to GO and any company that hires illegals should be seized by the Government and the owners, managers and anybody else in that company that is responsible for having illegals working should go to prison and have all their personal property seized and sold.
Actually it is extremely scary the way some of you people think. Rather see the destruction of the US than attempt to fix the problem.
================================================
MeL- Your life philosophy is woefully, no, shamefully incomplete. The understanding you've come to with yourself that life is 'extremely scary" speaks more to how far we have to go with regard to the experience of being human.
Change is inevitable. You can stand there like the old brittle oak in a storm and watch your branches snap, crack, and then fall away, or, learn to bend like a reed to retain your balance after the storm is over. It's a simple choice. Fear. Or Love. Amd I'm not talking about that mushy, silly, temporary love, either. I'm speaking to the interdependence of All Life.
We're ALL in this together. Get with the program.
Thank you.
Another part of the immigration argument that is often ignored is that the crime rate in this country would increase if all Mexican immigrants were returned. Many "illegals' are targeted for a variety of crimes because they are less likely to report the crimes. If these preferred victims were removed, more citizens would become victims.
Many try to tie illegal immigration to the drug trade. However, most immigrants come here to work so they could be better providers for their families. Most of these people do everything possible to avoid any contact w/ law enforcement. So they aren't about to use or sell drugs.
Theres no way that weed critic can tell the true strength of that pot without waiting at least 4 hours between tokes .
I question the good news surrounding the limited surface oil in the gulf and the residual oil in the sand. We know the approximate oil that leaked in the gulf, but do we know the oil recovered to date. How much is missing? How much is on the bottom? How much is floating in the subsurface that could still escape the gulf and/or continue to destroy the eco system.
I think they should give illegals the opertunity to serve in the armed forces to gain citizenship .
@MarkM, Do I sense some frustration in your blog? Most reasonable folks are frustrated as well (CNN reporters as well, I can see that by their demeaner). NOBODY likes to be lied to or have relevant information withheld. Oh yes, there is a lot of information out there, however there is a lot of disinformation as well. What exactly on IS everybodie's desk? HOW are they making decisions, based on WHAT? How about this one; that oil well could have been closed within 10-14 days IF they had the valve on hand! But NO,...they had to engineer and manufacture it from SCRATCH! I heard and that BP hand 150,000 ideas from the public, BP however said NONE of them would work. WHY? Because BP is withholding technical drawing info and strata info from the public vital for solving the problem. We, the public, the government, the 'competiton' need to know NOTHING in BP's corporate mindset. The oil industry has a long and sordid history of that. All that being said, there is an economic solution to all this. The question is, are the corporations, the government, the political parties and the public ready for this? I'm not sure. I'll give you a hint, its call COOPERATION. Now, why is it, I see nothing but JOBS everywhere. We must EXPEDITE. And do so wisely.
It's a good thing that the govt can't round up the 11-12 million undocumented workers in this country & ship them back to Mexico. The economy couldn't handle the shock that it would cause.
Some businesses would shut down, unable to find workers. Others that could find workers, would have to increase prices/rates that would probably force them out of business. Restaurants, farms, meat packing plants, etc would be shutting down at a much higher rate than they are now.
We would have to import more produce from foreign countries because there would be no pickers here. We hear a lot of the tourism industry being hurt in the Gulf. What would happen to tourism everywhere in this country if busboys, maids, janitors, etc disappeared?
We already have conservatives that want to end minimum wage in this country. Many illegals don't receive a minimum wage. Many Americans refuse to work for minimum wage so they aren't about to work at jobs for less than the minum wage. Most illegals work at labor intensive jobs. Face it, Americans don't want to bust their butts like they once did.
Why have borders then?... let's all become one big happy country!
I'll say it again... it doesn't matter where a person comes from... if they are in the US illegally they need to GO and any company that hires illegals should be seized by the Government and the owners, managers and anybody else in that company that is responsible for having illegals working should go to prison and have all their personal property seized and sold.
Actually it is extremely scary the way some of you people think. Rather see the destruction of the US than attempt to fix the problem.
Im still waiting for all these middle east people to walk up to our commandoe's and give themselves up what a crop of crap that was .
The sociologist talking about porn does us all a disservice, and is not true to her profession, when she does not tell us WHO ARE the men who visit porn sites. I doubt that it is all men across the board. And I doubt it is particularly the young, who she is "concerned" about. She slanders the youth I am aware of, who are much more concerned with humane and equal treatment of all, including women, than any previous generation.
The illegals done went and stole all the spilled oil .
lol...
Now propoganda concerning SEX! ... lol..
What the boys are doing to the girls .... lol.. OH.. stop it ... you're killing me ... lol.. Whatever the boys are doing to the girls – the girls are doing right back. To blame boys and/or the interent is nothing more than shifting the blame for the problem – if there actually is a problem.
I hate to think like this, but the Coast Guard origionally lied and toed BP's line telling reporters that there was no oil leak. Then the govt. assisted in keeping reporters off beaches and preventing planes with reporters from flying over the spill. Why am I supposed to believe them now, they have already lied so many times in this one incident. There was no national security reason for them to lie, the only reason was to protect an oil company's image.
Some yahoo with a British accent is talking about how porn is ruining America?
It really must be a slow news day at the Cable News Network.
My soul-u-tion is to update the mechanism within the immigration process. We're using the same mechanism which was used in the early 1900's. It's outdated, and ineffective.
By the way, your solution for mine fields is, well. I don't know what it is. But it says more about you than it does about anyone else.
The best and least expensive border fence is to start deporting all ivaders with extreme prejudice. You just have to mean what you say.
Larry
Rick Sanchez is going where no Liberal dare go in search of oil that is not there, and elsewhere CNN is reporting that foregone tourism is having major economic consequencesalong the Gulf even though the beaches are still untouched.
Maybe, just maybe, Tony Hayward was right when he opined early on that the impact of the spill would be less than we might think. Maybe his mistake was underestimating the effect of hysterical and hyperbolic media coverage not the oil.
There was an article by the AP the other day concerning the "invasion" of Grand Isle, LA. There weren't many residents lining up for the $12 an hour jobs cleaning up the oil. So BP had to hire workers from elsewhere to do the job. Now the residents feel threatened by the people who are helping them.
Not much different than what has been happening for decades. US co's desire cheap labor & illegal immigrants not only give them cheap labor but allows them to skirt labor laws & taxes. Much of the southwest was built by illegal immigrants from Mexico!!! As long as there is a demand for cheap labor there will be illegal immigration!
Saying illegals are taking jobs from Americans is ridiculous. Most Americans are unwilling to work hard for long hours, usually under extreme conditions, for little pay & no benefits. If these jobs were "Americanized," the consumer wouldn't be able to afford many products & services!!!
With your way of thinking .. you expect all Americans to leave and go back where they came from... and somehow – that makes sense to you?...lol...
We need a solution that will differentiate those who are spoiling the American dream from those who are exemplifying it. I understand the solidarity approach taken by many hispanics, but why politically shackle yourself to others based purely on race?
How is the comparison irrelevant, MeL? It's an US vs. THEM mindset.
Most Americans wouldn't work at the entry level jobs immigrants engage in, even though their ancestors who arrived at Ellis Island did.
Your mindset even goes against the most important truth I've ever read from you on this blog, which was the insight that all life is sacred.
Unless your hungry and broke, and looking for a means to provide for your family......is that about right? And don't hand me the nonsense about doing it legally. Do you really believe that ever Pole, or Irishman, etc., arrived here legally?
Brillant CNN!
Broadcasting more anti-American propoganda from Mexico City!
Pauly ... your opinion and thoughts are pointless, irrelevant and anti-American.
Invasion? This country has a long history of invading other countries. In fact, our ancestors invaded this country!!! When Columbus arrived, Mexicans were already here!!!
To compare the Berlin Wall to the US border is irrelevant. One doesn't have anything in common with another.
@CNN and those interested, google exactly the following phase: Great Lakes Crude Oil Reserves , then read carefully all of the top 4 links. There is a lot of relevent info regarding oil spills, toxicity, organic compounds, and even spills that still have not been cleaned up after 32 years! Not to mention ground water contamination. Lots of investigative journalism is required. The public needs to be educated. The oil industry knows the public as a whole will forget. Out of sight, out of mind... Mr. Dudley said "BP is not reckless"...play that back...I want to hear that again. We need to 'pull back the carpet' and see what is and has been swept under it.
Dudley doesn't even think BP done anything wrong .. how can he "fix" anything? He doesn't think they cut corners. Expect no change from BP.
Minefields in the US? You obviously have never seen the devastation caused by land mines. Does anyone who wishes to flee the violence and/or corruption, or just to seek work & a better life in the US, deserve to lose a limb or even their life for chasing their dream?
The govt doesn't have the money to build a great wall. Nor does it have the money or manpower to patrol the border effectively. Especially while we're in the midst of 2 wars. The Guard & Reserves have been getting deployed regularly. No matter how many troops you place on the border, it would never be enough. Not when we have thousands of miles of open coasts.
Dudlet being in england during the phone interview says ALOT about Dudley .. and what to expect concerning the oil spill.
The National Debt is a joke!
art.. whatever it takes.
What is YOUR idea for stopping the invasion or do you not care?
The US should have the same law as Mexico concerning illegal aliens – have them arrested and jailed whenever they are found. Does anybody see the irony of the Mexican Government? They don't want illegals in their country but the dump, ship, promote their criminals and poor into the US so that Americans can deal with them.
Nobody cares about "Oscar's Story" or any other person that's in the US illegally. CNN shouldn't have a pro-illegal alien position but rather a pro-American position as CNN is an American company. CNN should be more concerned with Americans and not for the criminal illegal aliens. Yes criminal. That's what ILLEGAL means. CNN should be charged with aiding and abetting illegals every time
they "broadcast" one of their stories. CNN should be doing news on the effects illegal aliens have on the US. How about an honest report on the negative effects of illegals in the US? If Warren Jeffs is an "accomplice to rape" CNN is an accomplice to the illegal alien problem.
Man UP CNN and act like you actually care for the country you are living in.
Morning CNN!
Do you have any info about an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf exploding? I hope not – more bad news for our environment.
Great job!
do you think arizona passed their immigration law because Pheonix become the kidnap capital (the kidnappers could be traced back)
On Thursday, a pair of 60-foot shrimpers tugged a specialized, U-shaped boom through a 10,000-square-foot oil slick - "pudding," they call the oil - ten miles from the site of the Deepwater Horizon rig. When ignited, the boom transformed the oil into a roaring mass of flames as high as 150 feet and a column of smoke of biblical proportions (see below video, courtesy of the Coast Guard, shot from a helicopter).
In half an hour, 21,000 gallons - 90 to 95 percent of the oil - were burned.
This was one of approximately 200 such efforts in the past six weeks, according to Al Allen, CEO of Seattle-based Spilltec, hired by BP to conduct controlled burns. Allen estimated that more than two-thirds of the boats are vessels of opportunity helmed by Gulf area fishermen, shrimpers mostly. The shrimpers' alacrity and singular knowledge of the waters, he says, have made them ideal for the job. They have managed slicks as large as 30,000 square feet–burning up to twenty barrels [840 gallons] per minute and 3,000 barrels in a single job. With greater availability of vessels of opportunity and better weather conditions of late, "in situ burning" (cleanup in which oil is burned directly where it spilled) has been increasingly relied upon.
"It's an incredibly valuable technology," Allen told me, adding, "The trade-off is black smoke for a few hours as compared to black oil on the beach."
Although in situ burning takes place at least 50 miles from shore, naturally it raises concerns about pollution. In order to ensure safety, the Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring air quality. Meanwhile, reports have emerged of immediate peril to wildlife, such as sea turtles. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration offers guidelines to mitigate such casualties.
Overall, NOAA's Incident Operations Coordinator Doug Helton agrees with Allen, to an extent. "We think the decision to burn oil at sea is reducing the overall environmental impact," Helton told me. "Once oil's been spilled, there's no good outcome, there are just least-worst outcomes."
Adm. Allen says "We have absolute priorities on killing the well..."
I'm wondering why none of the reporters are "WHY?"
Now that the well is under control, why are they killing it? What justification is there for this, either scientific or business?
It seems clear to me that there is oil under the this location (able to produce 40,000 to 75,000 barrels per day).
It seems *CLEAR* that BP or some oil company will be drilling to access this proven oil reserve.
It's clear from the Deepwater Horizon tragedy that drilling a new well is A) very expensive (about $1M/day), B) very dangerous and even deadly (11 perished), and C) very risky to the environment (as the oil spill demonstrates).
So, it seems pretty clear that the Deepwater Horizon well should be rehabilitated if there is ever going to be drilling in this area. Which leaves me wishing some reporter would ask:
WHY IS THE DEEPWATER HORIZON WELL BEING KILLED? WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC OR BUSINESS REASON THAT JUSTIFIES KILLING THE WELL NOW THAT IT IS UNDER CONTROL?
What do other readers think about this?
Thanks CNN/AM for a great morning program, and thanks for considering this question.
Sincerely,
-Mark
What a conundrum! How do we secure our border with Mexico? Do we allocate a significant sum of money and time to constructing a barrier fence, which is long enough and strong enough? Do we deploy large groups of border guards to prevent infiltration?
I don't believe that there are any good solutions. But, still, we must try. I imagine that this difficult problem will remain with us, unresolved for some time to come.
MeL
They've already tried that. In Berlin.
During the celebration when the Wall began to come down, there was a sign which read- "Sorry. It was just an idea."
In my opinion, BP et al appears to be getting ready to 'close' this ugly chapter and move on to the next page. For what its worth, do not trust anything this corporation says. Verify everything. I find it incredible, that the past couple of week's news headline makers are concurrenty on a massive public image compaign. For this, I do not blame them, however, I see little or no reversal on policy or issues. At this point, I feel quite 'suckered'. Am I the only one who was 'suckered'? Emphatically no, this went all the way to the White House. Think about it, the real and important news (legislation wise) was 'buried' by controversy. All of this are part of a strategic plan.
Last week it was the NAACP.
This week it's "illegal Mexicans,"
Next week it may be you.
You know, it amazes me that in 2010 we are STILL trying to get racists to see the error in their ways. Stop it already. They will never see the fallacy within them. In fact, they see themselves as the victims for being labeled as such.
If you really want to get a more accurate perspective on racism, ask a white mother of an adopted black or spanish child, or the white spouse of a person of color and watch the tears flow. Interview people like Heidi Klum and Seal on the racism they both have experienced from whites and blacks and you'll get the point. But, STOP "polling" two wolves and a hen what they would like for dinner. It's disingenuous and insults the intelligence of the few rational people we have left.
hello ccn i wanna say hi to you all on service good day too you all ..............
Make a real fence .. with a mine field in front of it ... guard towers ... patrolling National Guard troops ... lights .... whatever it takes to stop the invasion.
Seal the border NOW!
Dudley will be just another BP public mouthpiece. His main concern will be making a buck for BP and not fixing/improving pipelines or oil wells.
I'm delighted to see that the worst of the oil spill disaster is behind us. Man is often tested by terrible tragedies and disasters. Unfortunately, both good and bad come with the life experience. How we meet our challenges indicates the degree of strength of our society. Hopefully, our great nation will overcome most every test. We must always be vigilant and prepared to act, when the moment calls for it.
P.S.-Kiran, I C U, U C ME. Love you.
Robert Dudley is going to shmooz America this morning on CNN? Wowee! Would someone ask him how he feels about upgrading the Alaskan Pipeline?
I'd also be interested in hearing about how he feels about the U.S. getting out of, Afghanistan.
Good Morning CNN!
Is it possible that there is some good news with the oil spill? Still a long ways to go... but a glimmer of light maybe ....