Stuck in the Same Boat: Oil Spills and Media Lines

As the oil slick winds its way to the Louisiana coast, we have been busy responding to media calls.

"Can it happen here? What would be the impact? Which species would be impacted?  What about chemical dispersants? Can they keep oil from reaching the shore?"

I try to answer the questions, but they are the wrong questions, so I tell them. Yes, it could happen here, yes it would be a disaster, but why are we taking such unnecessary risks? This isn't about relief wells and blowout valves; it's about gambling with the future of the planet.

For one horrible year I was Greenpeace International's oil campaigner.  My job description required me to “destroy the international oil industry”.  Needless to say, I failed miserably.

It was a long time ago, but I vividly remember being in a boat owned by a group of Spanish mussel farmers heading out to see how far the oil from a burning tanker was from their mussels.  Five years worth of mussels would soon be destroyed.

There I was, an international campaigner from Greenpeace and all I could do was think up lines for the media.

Like I said, the job didn't last long.

But it never seems to be over.  Here I am answering the same questions reliving that boat ride.

When will we learn and stop repeating this mistake?

John Bennett
Executive Director
Sierra Club Canada