I am sure that I don't have to tell too many people the news that a massive oil spill is  currently spreading through the Gulf of Mexico and beginning to make landfall on the southeast coast of the United States.

That has been making the news for many days now.

What doesn't always make the news so much is the impact this spill will cause not only to the people living along that area whose livelihoods will be devastated, but also to the fragile wildlife that makes that area their home, much of it actually wildlife sanctuaries and preserves.

This will be a tragedy for the complex ecosystems there, especially this time of year, as many turtles, birds, dolphins and other species are currently breeding and nesting. An event like this can impact species and habitats for years if not decades to come.

All the animals pictured below are creatures that actually live right now in the Gulf of Mexico or the Southeast coast of the US, or are representative of those that do.


Say goodbye to these happy faces.  Soon their homes, their nests, their burrows, their eggs, their babies, the places where they eat and drink, will be soaked with a poison so toxic that the humans cleaning it will get sick if they even touch it.


Please, consider being part of the clean up effort now... Support prevention... and do your part by supporting organizations working to help the animals...  reducing over-consumption of fossil fuels.. and demanding better laws and safety provisions in future drilling operations, such as remote control emergency shut-off valves, which many countries require by law and the US does not.  Support the development of cleaner, safer technologies.

This article isn't meant to overwhelm people with a bunch of statistics, nor make them feel guilty for having a life. It is just my personal memorial to the innocent creatures who have never driven a car nor burned a piece of coal, and the suffering they will now endure, both right now and many years into the future, through this horrible catastrophe.



Articles about wildlife and habitats likely to be affected:

[link]"600-Plus Species at Risk From Deadly Gulf Oil Spill"
[link]"Scientists watch for environmental effects"
[link] "Spill could take Awful Toll on Gulf Coast Wildlife"
[link] "Oil spill puts coastal wildlife at risk"
[link] "Oil spill could be disaster for animals, experts say"
[link] "Oil Spill Gulf of Mexico 2010: Wildlife and Fish At Risk"
[link]"Dead Sea Turtles Wash Ashore Near Oil Spill"
[link] "Water Encyclopedia: Oil Spills: Impact on the Ocean"


Could we have been more prepared?

[link] "Document: BP didn't plan for major oil spill"
[link] "Military Planes Dispatched and New Drilling Put on Hold"
[link] "Growing oil spill threatens to become largest in U.S. history"
[link]"Oil from massive Gulf spill reaching La. coast"
[link]"Haunted by gulf oil spill, Schwarzenegger drops plan to fund parks with new drilling"


Ways to help:

[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]


Here on dA:

[link] Go to this blog for more information on the spill, and to donate artwork for a special 16-month calendar being created to support the clean up effort. All proceeds will go directly to efforts aimed at raising awareness, and cleaning and relocating wildlife.

If I see more projects like this here on dA I will link to them in the comments below.

Please do your part by sparing a thought for the creatures and wildlife that share our home.





SHIP OF FOOLS

<sub>Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
Copyright Ice Nine Publishing

If you'd like to hear the song: [link]</sub>
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Went to see the captain
strangest I could find
Layed my proposition down
Layed it on the line;






I won't slave for beggar's pay
likewise gold and jewels
but I would slave to learn the way
to sink your ship of fools


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Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me

It was later than I thought
when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools






Saw your first ship sink and drown
from rocking of the boat






and all that could not sink or swim
was just left there to float


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I won't leave you drifting down
but woah it makes me wild
with thirty years upon my head
to have you call me child


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Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me

It was later than I thought
when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools






The bottles stand as empty
as they were filled before
Time there was and plenty
but from that cup no more









Though I could not caution all I yet may warn a few:
Don't lend your hand to raise no flag
atop no ship of fools






:thumb145739107::thumb158669487:
:thumb154732304:

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Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me


:thumb155861671: GrackleIt struggles in nervous hands
Everything will be alright
Wings flap with what little strength it has left
It's okay, Baby
It becomes still again

Oil stains like blood on a chrisp, white shirt
There's so much..
Yellow eyes stare endearingly
It's so stiff, so cold
Its will is fading

Soap and water run continuously
Still more?
Chilling to the bone, washing away nothing
Shh....I'm here
Its eyes close

Voices com-endear; jobs are to be done
"It's in pretty bad shape"
Scrubbing, washing, hoping
"Looks like it's not gunna make it"
It stands on uncertain legs

Tiny claws clutch a rag desperately
You can do it, sweetie
The cage is:thumb162519748:




It was later than I thought
when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools
No I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools