The Future of America's Gulf Coast

We are mesmerized by watching the amount of oil gushing into our Gulf Coast waters. Every day brings a new revelation on how much oil is actually flowing - and we wonder if indeed these are the days preceding the 2012 Mayan Prophecies of the End of The World.
While human nature is mired in the negativity of blame and revenge - now more than ever we need to come together (as the Beatles so brilliantly sang) and work cooperatively to become the stewards of this planet that we ought to be.
While BP has pledged 20 billion for compensatory damages and clean-up - the plan is flawed in that it is over a 4 year period (5 billion per year) - and for what my opinion is worth - BP has garnered so much bad publicity here that I doubt very much they can continue as on oil company per se. And in the scheme of things - $20 billion is not enough.
My soul aches for all the innocent victims slaughtered by greed - for the 11 souls who lost their lives on the Deepwater Horizon - for the millions of ocean life forms who have died and will continue to die for years.
If not stopped - this "mother lode" of an oil reservoir could gush into our oceans for years and years (best estimates at this point - 5 years or more!) Should this unthinkable happen - our oceans worldwide would be affected - and could very well herald the end of our civilization. The Hopi say one of the signs of the end times is that the oceans will turn black.
It is quite clear the way of life of our Gulf Coast will never come back. Those who have fished all their lives no longer will have that option - but despite the loss of these ways of life - there is hope. I can visualize the Gulf Coast becoming a shining beacon of a new way of life. I say the Gulf Coast is ripe for development of alternative energies - of developing ways to clean the Gulf Waters of the oil - in short - to rise from the ashes much like the legendary fiery Phoenix bird. Imagine the Gulf Coast revitalized in this way - a shining example of the best of human ingenuity.


I call on the federal government to give tax breaks to those wanting to start green companies...and local governments to do the same.
I call on the scientists and engineers of the world - our best minds - to design new green technologies. If someone like Keven Costner can do it - then surely our best scientific minds can also.
I call on ALL the oil companies to take their profits and plow them into safer alternative energies starting now.
I call on ALL stockholders to give up their dividends now in order to help place these changes into effect.
I call on the Citizens of Planet Earth to cut down on oil usage - stop driving one day a week - change all your light bulbs to compact fluorescents - cut down on buying anything plastic - stop buying polyester - or any clothing made with petrochemicals - buy a hybrid car next time around or an electric vehicle - promote recycling in your community - and buy locally when you can.
If BP wants to survive as a company - then they should get new management and lead the way to safer alternative energies.


Humanity is at a critical crossroads now. We either continue on - status quo as if nothing has happened - or we dig deep down into ourselves and our souls and make the necessary changes to get off oil and move to greener, safer alternatives. Time is of the essence here - we have deeply wounded our Mother Earth - and the time for healing is NOW.