2. Chemical Dispersant Cover-Up-5 Reasons You Won’t See the Worst of the Gulf Oil Spill

I think there is truth in this...


http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/05/22/5-reasons-you-wont-see-the-worst-of-the-gulf-oil-spill/

Posted by Brian Merchant at 12:15 pm
May 22, 2010
comments1 COMMENT
5 Reasons You Won’t See the Worst of the Gulf Oil Spill



oil-boats-cleanup-photo.jpg
Photo by Brian Merchant
1. It’s Not a Photogenic Disaster … Yet
................

Dispersant-epa-bp-stop.jpg
Photo via Oil Spill Solutions


2. Chemical Dispersant Cover-Up

Which brings us to what may be BP’s greatest aide in furthering this aim: the chemical dispersants. BP’s plan to spray the dispersants on the leak from the source — as well as dump them from planes flying above — will effectively prevent oil from reaching the shore in the same form that the notorious slicks did in famous spills like the Exxon Valdez.

Despite the fact that nobody is sure exactly how toxic the stuff is, or how being deployed on such a large scale will effect ecosystems, it will have at least one effect: it will delay public outrage by masking the apparent extent of the spill’s damage. After all, BP must know how damaging the Valdez spill was for Exxon’s image — some people still conjure up pictures of oil-coated birds at the mention of the brand. But make no mistake — chemical dispersants will disrupt ecosystems in a massive way, even if you never see the true effect with your own eyes.

Watch CBS News Videos Online
3. BP, Feds Cutting Off Press?

But there are other concerns as well. Most recently, video surfaced of the Coast Guard turning press away, claiming it was BP’s orders. An NPR team was turned away when trying to access the oil-hit Chandeleur barrier island chain. The workers hired to cleanup the spill seem to be under pressure not to talk to press — whenever I would approach a hired fisherman or contractor, they’d most often wave me away, or refuse to talk on record...............