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DailyOm - How you can help the Gulf oil spill tragedy
July 20, 2010

How you can help the Gulf oil spill tragedy

Dear DailyOM Readers,

We have all felt a range of emotions around the recent and ongoing Gulf oil spill tragedy. Some of you, I know, have been suffering from feelings of hopelessness and depression which can be very common in souls that are sensitive. We all wonder what we can do to help beside sending prayers and light to the ocean, animals and people that have been affected.

I want to share a story with you. Shortly after the spill began back in April, my husband, Scott Blum, was working on putting the finishing touches on a song he had been working on called "Fragile Day." While he was in the studio with his producer, he was asked what the lyrics meant, "Fish are dimming while they're swimming / Blackened ocean of foam", and he explained that this song, the song he had written two years ago was about an oil spill. Immediately upon hearing this I told him that he needed to release the song and give proceeds to charity. It didn't take long at all before everybody was on board to help, including DailyOM. I really love it when things come together smoothly without roadblocks; this told us very clearly we were doing the right thing.

Click here to watch the video and download the song

If you are looking for an easy way to help, you can do so by downloading the song, Fragile Day, and 100% of proceeds will go to these charities: The Gulf Restoration Network, EarthShare and The WILD Foundation.

The song is for sale on iTunes for only $1.98. Imagine if all 1.2 million DailyOM subscribers downloaded this song, now that would make a difference! If this doesn't feel like something you want to do, please keep sending light to our precious Mother Earth. To watch the Fragile Day video and download the song, go to this link:

http://www.FragileDay.com

Blessings,

Madisyn Taylor
Co-Founder, Editor-In-Chief, DailyOM
For more information visit FragileDay.com

Oil spill in Gulf of Mexico in maps and graphics

A massive operation is under way in and around the Gulf of Mexico to halt a leak from a blown-out oil well and prevent the spread of the slick.

The graphic above shows the scene 1,524m (5,000 feet) beneath the waves where oil is leaking out of the damaged remnants of the oil well apparatus.

Below we explain the various attempts to stem the leak from the damaged oil lines on the sea bed.
Underwater efforts to cap oil leak

Initially, BP tried to lower a 125-tonne, 18-metre (59 feet) high container dome over the main leak on the sea floor. However, this failed when gas leaking from the pipe mixed with water to form hydrates, ice-like crystals, that blocked up the steel canopy.

Meanwhile, four robotic submersibles have been trying to activate the blow-out preventer, a set of huge valves designed to seal the well.

Experts believe the blow-out preventer (BOP) must have partially triggered otherwise the flow of oil to the surface would be more extreme than it is.

In an unusual move, BP, the British oil giant which contracted another company to drill the well, has also started using dispersant chemicals down at the leak site as well as on the surface.

A long-term solution is also in progress - drilling a relief well which can tap into the leaking well and take the pressure off the broken well. However, it could be three months before this is operational.

Up to five thousand barrels a day are thought to be leaking from the site of the Deepwater Horizon rig which sank on 22 April after an explosion in which 11 workers lost their lives.

The delicate eco-system of the gulf coastline is rich in wildlife including the brown pelican, many species of duck, turtles, and whales.

There are fears that the disaster could reach the scale of the 11m gallon Exxon Valdez spill off Alaska in 1989.

How the oil has spread

Approximate oil locations 22 April - 15 May

TACKLING THE OIL SLICK

Emergency teams are using several methods in attempts to deal with the oil at the surface, which has created a slick covering about 2,000 sq miles (5,200 sq km).

More than 275 vessels, including skimmers, tugs, barges and recovery vessels, are being used.

Skimmers, which skate over the water, brushing up the oil are also being employed and more than 90,000 barrels of oil-water mix have been removed.

Around 190 miles of floating boom are being used as part of the efforts to stop oil reaching the coast. A US charity is even making booms out of nylon tights, animal fur and human hair. Hair donations have been sent from around the world to help make the special booms, which will be laid on beaches to soak up any oil that washes ashore.

Dispersant chemicals, rather like soap, are being sprayed from ships and aircraft in an effort to help break down the oil - which is also degraded by wind and waves.

Burning is another method used to tackle oil spills - although it can be tricky to carry out and has associated environmental risks such as toxic smoke.

So far emergency crews have had little success in containing the spill using those methods.
New underwater technology aimed at stopping crude oil rising to the surface at the site of the leak has had some success.