Green Options

As more shipping—ranging from container vessels to oil tankers to cruise ships—is using Arctic waters, the risk of major oil spillages increases but the actual incidence of minor spills resulting from trimming vessels or flushing tanks is growing and remains largely unreported by shipping lines.

While being nursed back to health, a sea otter was supported by a huge online gathering.

The California sea otter was found covered with oil, and stranded at Sunset Beach in Monterey. It was taken to the California Dept. of Fish and Game’s Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center in Santa Cruz. She was named ‘Olive’ while being cleansed of the oil stuck in and encompassing her fur. Oiled sea otters can die from hypothermia because the oil disrupts the furs capacity to retain heat. (Oil is also toxic when ingested).  Olive spent about 6 weeks in rehab to get healthy. She was de-oiled using a combination of olive oil, dish soap and warm water repeatedly.

A director of the Shell Petroleum Company in Nigeria revealed at a conference that oil theft is costing the company and the country tremendously.

“Even with low oil prices, the (Nigerian) government loses between $1 billion and $1.5 billion every year to crude theft,” Mutiu Sunmonu said at the Abuja conference. Nigeria is one of the top producing oil nations in the world with hundreds of miles of oil pipes used for transporting crude.

In the Napo region of northeast Ecuador, the nation’s second largest oil pipeline leaked tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil.

The pipepline company’s website described the leak as being due to ‘natural causes’.

American environmental scientist Douglas Beltman witnessed the amount of oil in the Santa Rosa river in the area and was quoted in a Reuters update, “The river was completely covered with oil from bank to bank.” (Mr. Beltman was generous enough to provide some photos taken of the spill for this story.) About 100 workers are cleaning up the area and a spokesperson for the pipeline company, Oleoducto de Crudos Pesados Ecuador, said the leak had been contained.

This week from our friends at ZapRoot: The FDA needs to have their heads examined. We respond to the numerous Chinese comments. Explore the world through Google Earth’s Environment section.

This week’s show links:

Eco Child’s Play - CA Fails to Pass Chemical Ban in Baby Products
Eat Drink Better - FDA Allows Producers to Irradiate Spinach & Lettuce
BPA Opinions
Corn Syrup All Natural
Google Earth Environment