Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
Posted by: EcoKids Volunteer in Consumer Habits, Energy, Environmental Issues, Nature, Science, Underwater Creatures, Wildlife
On Earth Day, April 22, 2010, an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded and sank. There is now an open oil well off the coast of Louisiana that is leaking about 795 000 litres of oil every day. That’s almost as much as filling an Olympic-sized swimming pool with oil every three days.
The US Coast Guard and many volunteers are trying to plug the hole, clean up the oil and stop it from spreading. This is very difficult to do. The hole is really deep in the water and it is very hard to plug. The weather is also causing big waves that are pushing the oil past the big inflatable bars, called booms, that are trying to keep it in place.
The Coast Guard has set fire to the oil in different spots to burn it away. Once burned, the oil forms into hard balls that can be scooped out of the water much easier than liquid oil. Nobody knows how many days it will take to plug the hole and clean up all of the oil.
Oil spills are very dangerous for the wildlife living in the area, which includes birds, sea turtles, dolphins, fish, crabs, oysters, shrimp and many other species.
After seeing the damage that the spill in the US caused, the Sierra Club of Canada wants to delay offshore oil drilling. They think this disaster has shown that the process is not safe enough.
If you want to help, try to walk, bike and use public transit as much as possible so that you use less oil and won’t need offshore drilling!
Let us know what you think about what’s happening with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill!
Lauren, EcoKids Assistant
Photo credit: Courtesy flickr user Marine Photobank
Reference:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/803480–barack-obama-vows-to-stop-oil-spill-crisis
May 5th, 2010 at 3:36 am - Edit
the oil spill in Mexico would surely be one of the greatest environmental disasters for this year.;*;
May 8th, 2010 at 4:43 pm - Edit
The oil disaster is one of the biggest problems for the nature this time. I hope it is possilbe to reduce the damage and to help the nature to regulate herself.
May 8th, 2010 at 6:03 pm - Edit
The oil disaster is a problem which must be solved. Only the BP has the possibility to stop the damage on the nature. But I think the biggest damage is already done.
May 10th, 2010 at 9:37 am - Edit
this is horrible
May 10th, 2010 at 2:47 pm - Edit
we need to help the animals in the gulf of mexico and donate money for it.Thats my plan so help us please.
your friend hanna
May 10th, 2010 at 2:53 pm - Edit
help please with the oil spill
May 10th, 2010 at 2:54 pm - Edit
i love the earth so I will help it
May 10th, 2010 at 9:26 pm - Edit
It’s a shame that all those animals will have to die because of the oil spill!and I promise that I will try to reduce the oil I use.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:19 am - Edit
I am so glad that BP is finally starting to get the spill under control.
May 18th, 2010 at 11:19 am - Edit
Help with the oil spill. Its killing animal’s species’ we don’t help there might be no more of those animals. HHHHEEEELLLLPPPP!!!!!!!!!!
May 21st, 2010 at 9:42 am - Edit
help the world u see wats happing 2 the earth
May 21st, 2010 at 4:19 pm - Edit
The oil spill is really sad. Animals are dying because of it, and it happened on EARTH DAY!!!
We really need to do all we can to help.
May 22nd, 2010 at 10:21 pm - Edit
we should help the animals that are hurt from the oil spill. we could donate money to help.
May 25th, 2010 at 6:42 pm - Edit
People need to help about the oil spill in golf of Mexico it seems and sound really bad we should help anybody can help. I donated money to help I donated 100$
May 25th, 2010 at 6:47 pm - Edit
Did anybody else donate money because if you didn’t you should like Kay said. I donated money because you said we should and I thought it was a good idea
sincerily your true friend sophie
May 27th, 2010 at 2:32 pm - Edit
The Gulf of Mexico undersea gusher has already spilled more oil than the Exxon Valdez disaster. Has anyone heard more about the underwater plumes that supposedly exist?
May 28th, 2010 at 4:26 am - Edit
OK good to see- useful blogs are always welcome! See yas.
May 28th, 2010 at 9:35 am - Edit
Thanks for the over view.
May 28th, 2010 at 2:05 pm - Edit
Thanks for the over view.
May 29th, 2010 at 3:35 pm - Edit
I am the first time on this site and am really enthusiastic about and so many good articles. I think it’s just very good.
Always yours Mr. Cialis
May 30th, 2010 at 8:24 pm - Edit
That is some inspirational stuff. Never knew that opinions could be this varied. Thanks for all the enthusiasm to offer such helpful information here.
June 2nd, 2010 at 8:55 am - Edit
I think it’s a disgrace that the Government allows companies to wreak such chaos on such a fragile ecosystem and all in the name of profit. Failing to enforce safety measures, that would have undoubtedly prevented this environmental catastrophe. It is time to stop pumping crude and adopt new and more efficient, cleaner energy, that is already in commission, like the sugar cane ethanol in Brazil. Heartbreaking, that greed as caused such a calamity, is it to late or will someone finally step up, to stop the attack on mother nature?
June 3rd, 2010 at 12:27 pm - Edit
that’s really sad from the oil leak
June 4th, 2010 at 9:26 am - Edit
BP should have to pay 1,000,000 for every animal we find covered with oil.
June 4th, 2010 at 10:54 am - Edit
The entire issue is very disastrous for the environment and for the global market in a number of altered points. This problem should have been restricted but everyone once in a while these accidents happen. BP should be held responsible for this new oil spill.
June 4th, 2010 at 3:35 pm - Edit
It is almost unbelievable that this oil spill is still not taken care of. It’s been what, like 46 days now?? All i see on the television all day long is dead fish, and poor birds coated in oil.
June 4th, 2010 at 4:46 pm - Edit
I feel so sorry for that poor animal i wish the whole world would work togaether and stop oil spills. its almost unbeileveable that oil spill has not been taken care of for 46 days now all i see on t.v is poor animals dieing like dead fish in oil spills i hope they will clean it up soon because animals should not die like that if of any death it should be dieng of age like being too old so people dont kill them o maybe other animals so they can livelong too and be healthy!!!!
June 5th, 2010 at 3:37 pm - Edit
I think that this is even worse then the oil leak at the great berrier reef. Because the birds really don’t deservie this. And the fish and whales (maybe?)
can be killed. Isn’t the earth already polluted enough? Can’t anybody stop this from happening? our earth is getting sooo bad!
June 6th, 2010 at 8:05 pm - Edit
this article give many tips. it is useful.
June 7th, 2010 at 9:09 am - Edit
BP, Hayward, and the MMS are crooks and liars. I don’t believe a single word that comes out of Haywards mouth. They better make this right.
June 7th, 2010 at 5:20 pm - Edit
Thats why u should never by BP my dad stop buying from them 7 years ago b/c he predicted that something like this would happen and the need to fix this now!!!!!! Im really and i feel bad for the animals. Obama really need to give more money 2 BP and he thinks that this spill is kinda funny. It ain’t!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish there was something i could do. He barely ever cares…….I think. But I hope this is over. PEACE TO THE WORLD!!!
June 8th, 2010 at 12:03 pm - Edit
Thanks so much for writing this good information! Looking forward to checking out more posts.
June 8th, 2010 at 12:31 pm - Edit
Thanks very much for sharing a lot of this good information! Looking forward to reading more posts.
June 14th, 2010 at 3:22 pm - Edit
Great information I have Tweeted this, I will keep a eye on your other posts. Ohh what do you all think about the about oil spill?
June 15th, 2010 at 12:40 pm - Edit
AAAAA poor swans or whatever it is that is amazingly sad i cant even tell what bird it is ;( i hope the birds will be better soon ;D im trying to be an eco kids reporter to report things like this and join the activities ;P
June 16th, 2010 at 11:26 pm - Edit
I love Animals so please HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS OUT
IF WE DONT HELP SOME ANIMALS MIGHT BE EXTINCT 
June 23rd, 2010 at 10:23 am - Edit
Thank you for your worthwhile post. Advantageously, the question of the Florida oil polution is really a burning question. I am constantly looking forward to next updates, which hopefully brings hope and terminates the oil problem.
July 5th, 2010 at 1:53 pm - Edit
British Petroleum better now not request off allowing for a slap in the week the general wrist for the present incident. They’ve got destroyed therefore several folks’s livelihoods.
July 15th, 2010 at 11:49 pm - Edit
Hey, good writing.
July 29th, 2010 at 8:40 pm - Edit
the oil spill is over :-} no more animals will die :-}
July 31st, 2010 at 2:06 pm - Edit
Its so sad.
August 7th, 2010 at 11:36 pm - Edit
This oil spill has not only affected the US but it will soon affect the whole world. It seems as if no one can acknowledge the fact that we; the people are held responsible for this issue. My question is, WHAT ARE WE THE PEOPLE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT!?!