7 Ways To Help With Clean-Up Efforts of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill

By | May 2 2010 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0)

As the Gulf Coast community braces for the devastating impact that last week’s BP oil spill will have on its ecosystem, a number of environmental organizations are working hard on the ground to mobilize volunteers for the clean-up. On the frontline of the oil spill are fishing communities, the marine ecosystem, and shoreline flora and fauna along the coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

With Louisiana being the largest producer of shrimp, crabs, and oysters in the United States, and with many people in the region making a living in either the oil and gas industry or the seafood industry, the spill will greatly impact both the environment and local communities and their economy.

Here are some ways to help:

If you are located on the Gulf Coast:

  1. Volunteer:
    • National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is working with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) to organize local volunteers to help with clean-up efforts. You can register to help by visiting CRCL’s website.
    • National Audubon Society is also working with private and public conservations organizations to recruit and coordinate volunteers and connect them with oiled-wildlife response leaders to help in the recovery effort, in the event the spill reaches the shoreline. Volunteers can sign-up at NAS’s here.
  2. Share Your Photos & Videos: If you are on the ground in Louisiana, NWF suggests sharing your photos and videos via Flickr by tagging them SPILL_NW10.
  3. Support Wildlife Rescue Organizations: Sierra Club recommends visiting the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) and supporting their work.
  4. Report Oiled Wildlife: If you are local, the Deep Water Horizon response team is looking for help in identifying shoreline and animals affected. Oiled wildlife should not be captured but instead reported at 1-866-557-1401. To report areas with oil ashore or to leave contact information to volunteer in the affected areas, call 1-866-448-5816.

If you are outside the affected region:

  1. Send A Message to Support Climate & Clean Energy Legislation: National Wildlife Federation and The Audubon Society suggest sending a message to U.S. senators to pass comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation. To learn more, visit NWF.
  2. Be Informed: Keep up-to-date by visiting: The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club. For real-time info via Twitter, do a search using the tagline #oilspill.
  3. Spread The Word: Share this post: – 7 Ways To Help Gulf Coast Oil Spill Clean-Up Efforts – and spread the word about climate issues and clean energy via your blog, word of mouth, or social media.
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Another idea: Get your local barbershop or salon to donate their hair to Matters of Trust. Hair collects oil and can be used to clean up the oil spill. http://www.matteroftrust.org/

Comment by Igor Kharitonenkov on May 11, 2010 @ 6:15 pm

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