"Happy" World Oceans Day.

(taken from the examiner)

With about a minute to spare, I'm just now getting around to my World Oceans Day post. I've been fairly silent about this BP oil spill in the Gulf because I wasn't really sure quite how to approach it. I'm mad, of course. Saddened, most definitely. More than that, I've been keeping my head in the sand (the soon to be tar-ridden Florida sand), hoping that something would happen quickly and that they would be able to stop this. But after reading about some of the most ridiculous ideas ever (golf balls to plug up the hole, anyone?) I realized that more than anything, I need to educate myself about this obvious crisis. Somewhat selfishly because I love the ocean and I love being able to go to the beach at a moments' notice if I should want to, and less selfishly because I don't know how many more pictures of dying and dead animals washing ashore I can take... I implore you to find ways of helping to bring more attention to this devastating situation. Contact your representatives and let them know how pissed off you are. Contact BP and let them know how REALLY pissed off you are. If you're able to, volunteer your time to one of the many organizations that are helping to clean off, save, and rehabilitate as much of our wildlife as possible. Read the blogs that are popping up everywhere, giving us up to the minute information on the situation itself and how you can help.

Here's a few links I was able to put together in just a few minutes time. Imagine all the information you could sift through in more time than that:

NOAA
BP Drilling Disaster
Save Our Seabirds
Greenpeace
National Wildlife Federation
Deepwater Horizon Response
Volunteer Florida Disaster
Friends of the Earth
Not The Answer

And if you're in Miami, why not add your name to the growing volunteer list at our local Audubon Society, who aren't taking chances being caught unawares when it finally hits home.

And there are still other ways....
Try becoming less dependent on oil. Use less plastic. Recycle. Drive less (or not at all). These are little things that anyone can do. They won't stop BP, but honestly this isn't the first time this happens and it certainly won't be the last. Still... we need to work towards the goal of alternative energy. It's ultimately what needs to be done.