Seeking Solutions to the Oil Spill: Join the Live Chat
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Tonight on 360°, we share some of your suggestions to stop the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. BP and others aren't having much luck. Maybe your idea can solve the mess. Plus, a new controversy for Arizona after the governor signs a new bill. We also take you inside the battle for Afghanistan with author and journalist Sebastian Junger. That's tonight's 'Big 360° Interview'.
Want to know what else we're covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
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With thousands of wells in operation and no previous failures like this, why would someone think it was possible?
My two cents for BP –
BP reported earning in the billions. They have the best scientist at their disposal. So, spend some money. Hire some experts and do the unthinkable.......Clean up your mess!
Possible solution to the leak:
1)Float an empty tanker above the leak.
2)Manufacture a flexible tube the length of the depth of the leak
3)Run the tube from above the leak, to the tanker.
The solution might not be air-tight, however 95% of the oil should be possible to be contained and stored. Considering how large the well is, multiple tankers may be necessary. Ultimately, a new drill will be required to relieve the pressure from the leak. The above outlined solution may grant the environment precious time to survive until then.
Lower a long, pliable tube down to the opening. It doesn't have to seal around the opening, just cover it. The tube can be soft as long as it's non-permeable. Then let the tube guide the oil to the surface and then deal with the oil at the surface by guiding it into some sort of container or tanker. It might not get all the oil, but it will get most of it.
Hello Anderson, 360Team, Jo Ann, Mike, Megan, Starr, David & Isabel, Gloria, Casey, Nancy, Nicole & Bloggers!
That video of the oil escaping is very disturbing!
Just how much is in there?
Congrats to our fellow bloggers who offered some really good ideas, i especially like the ShamWow....gotta love it.
Of course BP is making it up as they go along. It has become apparent that they had no plan B< C<D or F.
I know i don't want More toxins put into the Gulf (like rubber tires, golf balls, etc).
I used to work for a big transnational oil company, one thing what we were mandated to do before initiate any business endeavor was a complete plan to reduce risk of the operation and if a crisis appears despite the plan, we had to have another plan to mitigate its impacts, it seems that bp didn't have a very well proofed plan. In other hand, what happens with all the 4000 rigs in the gulf, the government must audit this plans in a very responsible manner.
I knew the hair would work and thought what about feathers too? Thanks for reading my comment, I hope there are scientific minds working on this!
A comment was just read from MA about using bird feathers... it was treated as a real idea, and perhaps rightfully so, but I hope the dark irony wasn't lost on everyone.
Ethnic studies are needed until the time that the curricula and textbooks include more comprehensively the story of American Indians, Latinos, Blacks in this country. The White immigrant experience is given too much time at the expense of these other realities.
There is too much rhetoric on the AZ situation and not enough sensible and calm discussion using the facts of the challenges the state is facing (not to mention the country). As with many issues of our time, pundits use emotion and soundbites to champion their agendas. Reading bewteen the lines, most of us have the same end game, such as good race relations and freedom for all. Why can't we be more adult and work together to find solutions that work.
What about duct tape?
Anderson, great job as always. Thanks for extending the interview segment with the Arizona official and Dr. Dyson. I regret not pursing journalism. I live vicariously through you:-) Keep up the good work.
cover the pipe with concrete that is hardened with a catalyst.
That video of the oil 'leak' is disturbing. You would think these executive would be smarter to have a back up plan as a just in case for cases like this. What about creating a screw cover, dsepending on the material of the pipe, of course, to cover it that way
Oil Spill Cleanup– Why are we not entertaining the Walton County proposal of using Hay? The CW Roberts presentation that is on the web is absolutely brilliant. This should be looked into. Also it can create jobs and can be converted to energy. If the earth created the oil then the earth manufactures a counterbalance to keep order.
Put about 30 sham wows in the thing lol.I know it's no laughing matter,but seriously,we can go to the moon and have submarines so deep in the ocean etc and they can't stop this leak WTF.Our tech skills are weak.
Ok- I agree that all children no matter ethnic background need to be taught about their fellow classmates background- I was a minority in my elementary and I loved learning about cultures that are different from my middle class white home life- I would participate in the fiestas and the pow wows- I sang songs in spanish by the 4th grade- I am a leader in my company because I treat every one equally and with the same respect I expect.
Brianna- New Mexico
Yeah right im sticking with my idea it would keep the flow going while sealing it off 🙂
BP should have drilled a relief well prior to drilling the extraction well. It does seem like poor planning.
Blow it up, close down the well. Blow it up.
send a sub to blow the hole shut...
a Quebec company uses peat moss to absorb oil (same type of approach as the feathers, hair and hay).
The new Arizona bill is being misinterpreted. This bill prohibits classes that are "designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group." The key word here is "for". This bill does not prevent schools from teaching about ethnic groups, it simply prohibits classes that only members of certain ethnic groups are allowed to take. There is a big difference between the two. If you read the bill as it is actually written, you will see that it is not as controversial as you are making it seem.
Can't they blow up the Well head?
Seem we humans like to Blow stuff up.....
Here is an idea to contain the oil. Pick a manageable perimeter around the spill area. Lets say half mile radius around the hole....float a boom that has a retaining wall of sorts that suspends below it down to 200 feet or so. Th eoil makes its way to the surface, roughly in this area, and the containment zone could provide for a pooling area that could be harvested to separate off the water and put the oil into tankers. Could contain more than half the spill?
Cap it with an 80X80 concrete structure that is reinforced with steel. Construct it like a chimney with a funnel to the surface where they can create a capture area. They can then skim it off the surface. Then never let them drill again!
Anderson, Why don't they throw in the kitchen sink while they are at it?
It sound like an old river!
what they are doing is trying to make a connection to pump the oil for use but what they should be doing is trying to stop the flow of oil and the only way that can be done is to insert an apparatus that slides in and opens up to block the flow of oil from the in side not the out side like they have been doing. but it would open up like a umbrella
Mr. Horne does not have a good argument. Why not offer ethnic studies classes to all students if there is an issue with separating students and teaching ethnic studies? This is a no brainer and it is obvious that this is politically motivated. He is running for Attorney General.
Good evening.
@ Cessy-Chicago.,, I agree with you. Its so important for our young people to learn about different cultures and American history.
They only have these culture classes because it is not taught in the history books like it should be. I remember in school that they had one or two pages on slavery leaving out tons of other information. They made the pictures look normal when people were actually demoralized.
Wow....all that oil....and not only damaging everything but totally wasted, too.
They keep saying that the reason for these changes are that former ways of teaching "incited" students to feel oppressed and become rebellious. Do they have statistics on this? What evidence is there for these allegations? I sincerely would like to know. Is this just their belief? And if kids do wind up feeling oppressed and rebellious, how do we know it was because of a certain curriculum in school? There would seem to be many many other causes for those feelings.
Does anybody think the BP ""Leak" will be stopped this month? Next month?
Good evening everyone! Are you enjoying it, Kenya? I'm not....I tuned in late and come upon these two men jabbering at the same time, neither one listening, each just talking over the other guy. I almost got up and turned off the sound, but thankfully they were cut off for lack of time. I despise that kind of interaction-think it's part of what's wrong with the world...not listening or letting the other talk, just running over each other and trying to drown the other one out. Hate it! (Anderson, please don't let guests do that....it's so obnoxious.)
Mr. Home has it right. If someone doesn't think they are oppressed until they take a class, they aren't really oppressed.
It should be a crime against Humanity to Teach Hate to our children.
I support the idea of teaching all of our children a comprehensive study of how America became America and what each culture brought to this country.
Not to divide, but to unify all of us.
I would also like to see Civics as mandatory in every school.
It is my understanding the riser pipe spewing the oil is 12" in diameter and if it is a maleable material I don't understand why a parallel clamp device custom built can't be used to straddle the pipe and crush it. Hydraulics probably could be used to close the jaws.
we should just switch to other energy forms, simple.
"If we do not know our history, we are bound to respect it! It is good to know where you come from and where you are going!
Anderson. That the scientists and 'experts' are suggesting plugging the billowing oil with old tires and golf balls is a square peg in a round hole solution. Copious quantities of the same coarse gravel that you find at the bottom of fish tanks, delivered from a container ship on the surface a mile above, however, will stem the flow. Thank me later. Richard
I'm enjoying this debate. I should grab a bag of popcorn. 🙂
If it werent for our different ethnicities, we wouldnt be here.
What we do not learn about we are bound to repeat. This law is not good!
Mr. Horne have a good point there, they have to right teach their culture kids to learn.
They should teach the good and bad about all races and ethnicities and not hide anything no matter how politically incorrect.
People should be taught about oppression in history and as it occurs now around the world. This is a truth that should be taught in public schools.
But, in American public schools, we should also encourage togetherness, and focus on bringing society together. We should not be teaching children that we are inherently different based on the color of our skin.
Perhaps the an ethnic diversity class should include ALL races, and teach the fallacies that have led to oppression throughout history.