Watson Pond on a Grey Dayacrylic on canvas, 20"x24,"
The rainy season has started here on Marco Island. Early in the day the gorgeous thunderheads begin to build and later will drop their load of life-giving rain onto the waiting landscape. Today we had a strong storm just before daybreak and the sky is lovely with pinks and purples.
Yet the threat of the Gulf oil spill continues, and the fact that the oil is still flowing freely is appalling and saddening. Although no oil has arrived here in South Florida yet, the ongoing threat is causing grave concern to anyone who loves our fragile environment.
The National Park service is closely monitoring the results of clean-up efforts in the northern Gulf, and making plans to protect visitors and responders. This week a national Incident Management Team has taken control of the parks and begun a baseline assessment of conditions, expected to finish this week.
Much of the Big Cypress National Preserve is inland, and probably will not be severely impacted, but the mangrove fringes of Everglades National Park that ring Southwest Florida are sure to be threatened. If you go to the Everglades link, look for the map and see how the Mangrove fringes follow the path of the Gulf Stream around the Florida peninsula. (sorry the link wouldn't copy)
These areas where shorebirds and dolphin flourish are remote, wild and lovely. There are no hotels, white sand beaches, or big money involved. These areas have been left to the plants and the animals, in a unique and special protected environment. It will be impossible to get in and remove the oil from in and around the multiple legs of a hundred thousand mangroves, or even the wings of a suffering shorebird far from where roads, and even boats can travel.
And still, no one in Government is telling us to conserve and limit our use of oil. BP and the Government won't let us help. No one is spreading hay and collecting oil on barges ahead of the oil as it approaches delicate areas. Why? You can follow the progress of the spill here.
5 comments:
This is an incredible disaster. SW Florida may be spared, unless a tropical disturbance blows the oil shoreward. In that case there will be no limits to the damage it could do to your islands and the Everglades. I have my fingers (and toes) crossed.
Me, too. It's just so sad for all of the coastal life, people and animals alike. Let's hope for a stop soon!
I love your painting.
I am at a loss for words regarding this disaster to the wetlands and sea life AND people who make their living from and live along the shores.
Just horrible. We were watching "Greed" on MSNBC last night and there was a clip of the Bushes supporting (pumping money into) Enron and that whole house of cards.
Makes you wanna just hide in a closet.
Stay cool, Joanne. XO
Just lovely....
Oh, Mary, it's waiting for Doomsday here. We know it's probably coming and can't do a thing about it.
Thanks for your comment, Karen. I assume you mean the painting!
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