Drill Baby oops...Spill?

Who can argue against the fact that we must take good care of this earth? No one wants to breathe and decay their lungs with dirty air. No one wants to walk around their neighborhood full of cups, bottles, and newspapers scattered around. No one wants to drink hazy water or swim with oil. The term "no one" is an absolute but I really can't think of anyone who would think is acceptable. Unless you are making money by throwing down the trash.

BP has had a woops-a-daisy spill on the Gulf of Mexico from an offshore rig that sank. Although the slow breeze weather is saving time before the oil reaches the shore, so far and then far, the well being of ocean life will be disturbed. Not only is tourism cut off in that region, fishing is too. In addition, it's extremely bad timing given the season, Spring, when reproduction is at it's fullest.

Some of us are questioning if offshore drilling is really worth the risk which is causing oil advocates to defend the presence of rigs on water. They say jobs are maintained and created. But if we switch to renewable energy, wouldn't we need people here too? They say there is too much dependence on oil and gas. True, we are at the moment, but if we make the shift to depend on other resources then more drilling shouldn't be necessary.

To prevent this bigger than Exxon catastrophe, change is a must. If we expect to rely less on oil and gas for energy and if we expect for this to be avoided in the future, there has to be specific and strict regulation. Fixing takes so much more work than making rules based on historical lessons. Instead of trying to burn the oil off the water, burn a candle under the oil company exec's rear. Instead of dissolving the oil with an additional pollution, dissolve the reliance and approval for the original pollutant. Instead putting a huge dome over the oil, put a dome over the oil companies and contain those people so they can no longer contribute to the destruction of the earth.

It will not be an easy or quick transition but it one that should be made. Change is inevitable, especially when it comes to preserving the land and water around us.