BP burning sea turtles alive

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 12:29pm

A rare and endangered species of sea turtle is being burned alive in BP's controlled burns of the oil swirling around the Gulf of Mexico, and a boat captain tasked with saving them says the company has blocked rescue efforts.

Mike Ellis, a boat captain involved in a three-week effort to rescue as many sea turtles from unfolding disaster as possible, says BP effectively shut down the operation by preventing boats from coming out to rescue the turtles.

"They ran us out of there and then they shut us down, they would not let us get back in there," Ellis said in an interview with conservation biologist Catherine Craig.

Part of BP's efforts to contain the oil spill are controlled burns. Fire-resistant booms are used to corral an area of oil, then the area within the boom is lit on fire, burning off the oil and whatever marine life may have been inside.

"Once the turtles get in there they can't get out," Ellis said.

More... Updated On: 6/24/10 at 12:29 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 12:38pm

This just made me really upset.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:01pm

There are also reports that it has been raining oil in New Orleans. It's the end of the world as we know it...and I don't feel fine.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:03pm

Yeah, I heard about the oil in the rain earlier, too. I don't think I posted it here, but I've been posting all this stuff on Facebook, where it probably looks like I'm having a monumental meltdown over all this, which I suppose I kind of am.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:04pm

God, that's just too awful for words.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:10pm

The reports are that the turtles and other willd life, even if the catch them and clean them up, more often then not die anyway. I believe it is something like 1 in five survive for any length of time. They are already poisoned.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:16pm

There was a baby dolphin who died in transit to a rehab facility after washing up in Pensacola, FL yesterday, too. I saw it on the news and it almost made me cry.

[clever name]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:28pm

I saw that little dolphin,too. I can't watch anymore. It's making me sick.

[James885]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:33pm

That is so heartbreaking. The damage to the gulf ecosystem is astounding. It may never recover. It's absolutely sickening.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:36pm

It may never recover.

I know. That's what's been keeping me up at night as of late.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:41pm

"The reports are that the turtles and other willd life, even if the catch them and clean them up, more often then not die anyway. I believe it is something like 1 in five survive for any length of time. They are already poisoned."

True...but it's an endangered species so even 1 in 5 makes it worth the effort.

The real reason BP is burning them is money. Since it's an endangered species they can be fined for every turtle that dies if it's shown it was because of the spill.

Phyllis...my Facebook page has been the same way. I was trying to limit how much I posted because I felt I was being such a downer but IT'S RAINING OIL IN NEW ORLEANS!! And there are still people out there defending BP and the big oil companies.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:45pm

Erik, I didn't mean it wasn't worth the effort. Even if only 1 in 100 survived it is still worth it.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 1:49pm

No worries SNAFU...I didn't think that's what you meant. I took it as you just thought it was horrible that only 1 in 5 had a chance. It's just that I've seen other people making that arguement.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 2:07pm

Oh this saddens me so deeply.Ill creatures damaged by man's carelessness being viewed as expendable simply burned alive. This does sound like the end of compassion and humanity. I'm heartsick.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 2:14pm

RATS IN THE STREETS AND THE LUNATICS YELLING AT THE MOON IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD.

Sorry. Had to.

But I have to wonder- oil is falling from the skies and animals are being burned alive to save a buck. What does that say about us as a culture, as a human race? It sounds like some kind of terrible steampunk pseudo-Holocaust that Orwell and Huxley could have dreamed up.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 2:30pm

And then there's this.
Jude denies Obama's request for stay on deepwater drilling moratorium

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 1:55pm

This is so upsetting.
I know they're trying, but if you really want to stop the oil spill, just shove your asses in it, BP.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 2:39pm

That is awful. I'm at a loss.

[PauloFanClem]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 3:15pm

That's just BAD! BAD! BAD! Okay, if 2012 really is the end of the world, I don't see why not!
Updated On: 6/25/10 at 03:15 PM

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 3:48pm

"Kevin Pereira's special report on the devastating BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues with his look at the oil's impact on the fragile wildlife. He learns about the techniques used to clean up the oil and save the affected birds."


BP Oil Spill Effect on Wildlife

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 4:22pm

It makes my stomach turn.

Which also brings up what a friend asked me today: what am I willing to do? Am I driving less? Taking the bus, biking instead?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 6:40pm

"oil is falling from the skies and animals are being burned alive to save a buck. What does that say about us as a culture, as a human race?"

And has anyone else thought, while looking at the spill, 'And Then The Seas Turned To Red..." People have been thinking blood, but it's obviously the oil.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/25/10 at 11:37pm

This is so sad
Oil Spill 'Too Much' for Skipper Who Killed Self

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/1/10 at 11:21pm

Threatened whale sharks seen in Gulf oil spill

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/2/10 at 5:15am

Throw these people in jail already!