As the Gulf bleeds…

Today’s topic: The Spill as Metaphor

Right now, as I write these words, tens of thousands of gallons of unrefined oil continue to spew, largely unabated, from a collapsed pipeline several thousand feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. The impact of the BP oil spill has been catastrophic to the region’s marine ecosystem, threatening the safety and well being of countless species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.  The economic devastation is equally damaging, if not more so:  an entire network of coastal communities which, for generations, has made a living off the Gulf’s rich natural resources hangs in the balance. Thousands of families are being pushed further to the brink of economic collapse and poverty, as their livelihoods as fishermen, boat operators, and engineers are being literally and figuratively stained with black crude. It is day 72, and there seems to be no end in sight.  While BP and the government talk about their latest and greatest plans to stop the leak, the Gulf continues to bleed black.

But even long after the rig is plugged, the aftermath of the spill will be felt for decades.  There is a long road ahead to get the region to pre-spill conditions, ecologically and economically speaking. Low-wage workers and national guard reserves will be scrubbing the shoreline for years. Scientists and environmental groups will be washing down petrol-soaked birds and other wildlife long after the news cycle of this disaster dissipates. Generations will be needed for the Gulf’s marine flora and fauna to be restored to healthy levels.

While it is unfortunate that the spill has taken place in the backyard of a city that is still reeling from a disaster of a different making, there is an opportunity to learn from this crisis.  It’s my hope that the proximity of the spill to the world’s largest oil consumer will give we Americans  some pause.  The spill as metaphor can provide some valuable insight as to our nation’s consumptive patterns.  And from an ecopolitical perspective, I hope that this disaster will  bring greater awareness to the fact that we, as a country, will continue to suffer the consequences from the lack of a coherent and comprehensive energy policy that incorporates renewable sources at every turn and limits our dependence on fossil fuels, such as oil.   Esteemed journalist Lisa Ling said it best over Twitter on May 20: “I can’t help but think that we all bear some responsibility for this oil spill. It (oil) sustains our livelihoods.”  Anyone who has spent time on the 405 in rush hour knows exactly what Ms. Ling is talking about here.

This post is not meant to be a preachy rant.  I’m just as guilty as the next guy – even the one sitting next to me at Starbucks reading the New York Times and eating a bagel with latex gloves – for my part in consuming oil.  After all, I live in the car capital of the world – Los Angeles – and consume my fair share of goods that are manufactured courtesy of fossil fuels.  The oil spill, however, should not come and go without any lessons learned.  The more that we, as citizens and advocates, can be engaged in the myriad complex issues surrounding energy policy, transportation, governmental oversight, disaster response, etc., the stronger our country will be in the end.

I could go on and on, but instead I’ll conclude with a few random figures which represent the approximate equivalent of the $20 billion that BP has committed to cleanup and compensation in the Gulf of Mexico.  These are of my own thinking, so I take full responsibility for any errors or misrepresentations.  Feel free to add to the list.

$20 billion in perspective…

*The GDP of Estonia

*A check of $60.61 payable to every US resident

*Ownership of 107,000 f430 Ferrari coupes, but not including insurance coverage

*At $5.00, a fast food combo meal for two-thirds of the world’s population

*The operating budget of the State of New York

*A one-year private school education, valued at $20,000, for every public school student in Los Angeles, with money left over for books, school supplies, and field trips

*LeBron James’ next contract

*6.5 billion gallons of refined gasoline at current market prices, enough fuel to drive a car at 25MPG to Pluto and back to Earth about 20,000 times

*Enough cash to put an iPad (16GB, Wi-Fi only) in the hands of  every man, woman, and child in California – according to 2009 estimates

*One-year salary, at $50,000, for 400,000 unemployed Americans