Response the Last

So, what should be done about the oil spill? Well, it should be cleaned up, of course. But this article from the Environmental Defense fund calls for two very specific things: clean/protect the wetlands, cut down fossil fuels.

The first one was fascinating to me. I thought that of course everyone's focus would be the main parts of the gulf, but even the Vice President of a foundation for the oceans thinks that wetlands comes first. Why? Wetlands are incredible aquatic environments, especially ones close to the coast that blend salt and freshwater. They hold important species and are economic engines. They are where sea and river water blend -- which I see, could be a problem if the sea water is tainted with oil. The article calls for the systematic, immediate protection of all of these areas, above the efforts to disperse or hold back the spill in the gulf.

This crisis is so large that everyone has something different to say. This being my last major article (my next information being a student news video overview), I've read about fifteen so far, and everyone has different ideas about how to clean up, what should be cleaned up, what should be protected. Honestly, I'm so far disconnected I can't make a definite decision on what I think should be prioritized. I'm not an expert and I don't know enough about crude oil, oceans, estuaries or the fishing industry to say what I think should be done. The EDF's article makes sense, but so do many others, and many other suggestions. Why not just do them all? Why not pull out all the stops and stop this thing once and for all with all the power we've got?

I believe this article to be very credible. Why? Well, mostly because of this -- http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=914 a handy, easily accessible full profile and background on the person who wrote it. A link that tells me his history, education, things he's helped accomplished. This information makes me feel confident in this author, and in the EDF's expert opinion.