Evening Buzz: Saving the Turtles
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Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Tonight on 360°, Anderson will be reporting from the Audubon Aquatic Center rehabilitation facility in New Orleans, where oiled turtles are nursed back to health.
The oil gushing into the Gulf can threaten the health of sea turtles, irritating their eyes and skin, and damaging their digestive, respiratory and immune systems. We'll give you an up close look at the work being done to save the sea creatures.
Back on the water, there are allegations that efforts to skim the oil is being slowed by red tape. There are 433 skimmers at work in the Gulf, according to The Times-Picayune. The specialized boats can separate oil from water, and come in many different sizes. The newspaper reports there are more than 1,600 available in the continental United States. So, why aren't more in the Gulf? The answer tonight on the program.
Meanwhile, the skimmers that are available are not allowed on the water due to rough seas. Tropical Storm Alex can be blamed from that development. Chad Myers will have the latest on the storm.
We're also tracking where oil is coming ashore. Tonight, the inlet into Florida's Pensacola Bay is closed as a six-square-mile patch of "dark red tar mats", some as large as 10 feet across, approach the area. There are also new reports of oil hitting land in Mississippi.
The mess is hurting so many people. We've told you about the impact on the fishermen. Tonight we'll talk about what this all means for restaurant owners. Anderson will talk with famed New Orleans chef Susan Spicer. She's suing BP on behalf of at least seven restaurant owners and seafood supplies, claiming the oil spill has damaged their businesses.
Join us for all this and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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BP could serve their shareholders and global customers by cleaning up the oil ASAP. The result would be improved goodwill, stock price, and improve the viability of life in the Gulf region.
I don't believe Presdent Obama or Vice President Biden care about the people of the gulf. I think that they have connections and dealings with BP and the BP is calling the shots. 71 days later and we still don't have the use of 21st technology of other country skimmers to clean up the oil. It is amazing that other countries have that techology and we don't or the President is determine not to utlilize the help from other countries because BP is telling him what to do. Also with the unemployment at where it is now and the increase unemployment that is occuring in the gulf we soon will be reaching astronomical unemployment where families will no longer be alble to pay there bills I beleve the president just doesn't care because he is confortable setting in the whitehouse, playing golf and has money to spend on his family and friends out of site out of mind. When we elected President Obama to lead the country we failed to understand that he has no leadership qualities in this matter and is failing the american people. God help us.
Anderson, thank you so much for keep on keeping on. Don't get weary keep up on this horrific story. There is nothing more important to our country and Americans than this. Thank you . God Bless you
Thank you, Anderson Cooper, for sticking with this story. I grew up in Biloxi and was in the water offshore more than on land, it seems to me now. Please keep bringing us the latest in developments. We have to keep the pressure on for the sake of all of the life along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida. Stop the oil well now!
I live on the Florida Panhandle, right in the path of this toxic oil. On Santa Rosa Island (Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach) a few sea turtles have managed to make their way through the oil and laid their eggs on the beach. So now little picket fences are marking the locations of those nests. The plan is to let the baby turtles hatch and go back into the oil polluted water where they can then die with all the adult turtles. Where are the environmentalists when we need them? Why aren't these eggs being transported to a sea turtle sanctuary where they can hatch and live? Then maybe someday in the far off future those turtles can be brought back to our coastal waters, assuming a time will come when the water is no longer filled with toxic oil and dispersant.
I'm glad to see that when other countries have catastrophes, the US government is there and expected to step up to the plate. They even go "rogue" against the world in the futile search for WMDs beginning an economically draining war. But as BP soils our seas, lies to our nation, kills our wildlife as well as a beautiful, rich Creole culture, threatens the physical and mental health of our citizens, I ask where is the backbone of this liberal government promising to help the poor like those already let down by the conservatives after Katrina. I'm ashamed of human nature passing the buck instead of looking at the greater picture here. We are killing the Earth, the planet that sustains us. Armani suits, cocaine, fancy titles, mistresses and lies will not matter in the end.
Well gentlemen, I've been following the 'spill' every day since the explosion on Earth Day 2010 & getting more & more furious between my tears. More must be done to undermine BP's SABOTAGING the clean-up. I find BP's attack diabolical w/total disregard for life whether human, animal & our earth. Isn't the surface burning actually making turtle soup, the disbursements damaging beyond belief. Why aren't workers wearing protective masks; who has the right to stop them from doing so. And to James Carville & Billy Nungessor, who are the people that don't understand your losses of livelyhood, culture, way of life! I am a 'people & my heart aches for all of you. Could you not 'take up your arms' & take over. As you've said over & over, "who's incharge". I'm just frustrated & mad enough that if I could, I would. Be reminded that the world is watching & grieving w/you & for you. A huge bless you to those organizations who are caring for all the threatened wild life.
I just want to say thank you anderson for reporting on everthing that you have i am sure its not easy to see it live down there and see the peolpe going threw this i feel so bad for the familys and wildlife ever living thing will be troubled by this for years to come and i hope the gov... well start to step up and start doing what they should be doing cut the red tape bull crap and start helping these people and there way of life befor its to late and i do hope with all my heart that you do win Susan Spicer someone needs to stand up to BP lord know are goverment has'nt!!!
Hi,
It is so sad to watch this state just be assialed. I am so dissapointed in President Obama not being bold and telling BP what to do and when to do it, as opposed to not letting our reporters on the beaches and not changing the laws to do what is needed.We are being treated like a colony. I also think it is a shame for those congressmen to apologized to BP for the "shake down", they should be made to go help clean the turtles.What a shame, to let this destroy a whole way of life when we have the means to get it done right. To add insult to injury, their "reporters" seem to get their cues from iranian government, spinning stories on BP's web site , having the nerve to say "they can't find oil on the beaches".Shame on BP,Shame on the government for being so weak.
I think what is going on in the Gulf of Mexico is just sickening. I live in a small town in Illinois but I am so concern over this situation. I watch everynight. Why isn't BP stepping things up? Why isn't the President stepping up? I personally believe something more is going on and it's not good. I don't have a good feel.
Thank you.
Lisa G.
Anderson, You are doing admirable work. I'm sure BP and our government are hoping you will get bored of reporting on the oil spill and move on to the next topic, but you are being relentless in the way our President should be. As long as you continue to report, I will watch every minute of every show.
I feel for all the parents who have to explain to their children what is happening. Try explaining to someone who is 6 why the water is black/orange and how sea life is dying due to our inability to 1)prevent this situation in the first place and 2) stop it and clean it up in a timely manner. You know the situation is terrible, but when you hear the words coming out of your mouth to your children, its worse. Especially when your children seem to understand the urgency more than anyone else is. I realize accidents happen (not to excuse, it), but come on, do the right thing and get the support out there to clean this up. If my child can understand the urgency of this why cant those delaying this clean up.
I am angry with Bp for using oil dispersants! We do not know the effects of oil dispersants on humans, wildlife, and marine life. EPA should notify the public about the effects of oil dispersants. Also, what is the effects of oil dispersants on the seafood ( shrimp, oysters, and fish)? I am concerned about eating seafood with oil dispersants. BP should stop using oil dispersants! Bp should be using large number of skimmers to collect the oil.
Thanks to Anderson for reporting the truth about the oil spill.
When will people wake the hell up and do something about whats happening BP could care less about the turtles or any thing else except profits our great elected folks any care about poto opts and the donations from BP and other oil companies so they can get elected again not doing whats right. Anderson cooper is starting to make me sick with the same reporting every night lets get some thing going like drive our rep crazy with phone calls e mails or better yet campain for all new rep
BP Employees cannot possibly be "reporters" its a complete contradiction. Its obscene. I live on the gulf coast...I'm mortified and this propaganda just adds insult to all our injuries!
I voted for this Prez. He will NOT get my next vote if he doesn't get this situation under control. Ridiculous!
Obama & his administration have reached new heights of incompetance.
Great to save any wildlife ,but if dispersants are not stoped all small creatures will die. I've seen first hand oil laying on the bottom in Alabama surf friday morn. Friday evening dead crabs ,sand fleas,1inch juvinal fish . Go diving animal life is ether top ten feet or the bottom ten feet very little in between. A chain reaction is going to happen and it will be a slow slow death . EPA are only worred about quality of water not impact of oil on Plankton and larger . Test are performed in lab with no live animals by not using a few shrimp what will the death toll be. God help us , shield us from the Fed. Government stupidness.
I watched as antibiotics were administerd to turtles during this program. When Mr Copper asked why the reason given was nonsense. Oil is not bacterial. Antibiotics would do nothing against oil infiltration. This is a waste of time, money and energy. Who is profiting from this? They are clearly fleecing us.
The more people put their foot down and say "enough is enough" the more pressure will be on BP. Congrats to Susan Spicer for taking a stand. I applaud her.
Looking forward to seeing the segment on the turtles; any plans on how to protect the hatchlings from the eggs that some sea turtles have already laid on the various beaches and covered up? From what I recall the turtles hatch and make a mad dash to the ocean; a lot are picked off by birds and other predators so not all make it but this year with the oil the ones that make it may not have a chance at life either. Glad Susan Spicer is suing BP and I sincerely hope she wins a big settlement from BP.