Gulf Oil Platform Explosion and Spill

At Latitude 28/40/00 N and Longitude 88/26/00 W [decimal Latitude 28.6666 Longitude -88.4333] in the Gulf of Mexico is an ancient volcanic crater. It's geographically classified as an undersea hill and the common name given to it is the Biloxi Dome. It's located approximately 7 miles or about 12 kilometers southwest from the BP Deepwater Horizon well [Latitude 28/44/17 N Longitude 88/21/57 W].

In this satellite picture, the Biloxi Dome is at the center of the picture and looks like a shoe or an oblong shaped rim of a volcano:

I have been interviewing family and friends who live along the Gulf of Mexico coast in Louisiana and Mississippi. Many of them had been working on shrimp boats before May 1, 2010 and a cousin is a shrimp boat owner. I have also spoken at length with two RN's working at a Gulf coast Emergency Room and an Emergency Clinic who are close family friends. I am basing what follows on their observations and knowledge along with my own personal research.

A cousin who owns his own shrimp boat was hired by BP to assist with oil boom and cleanup operations. Other family members were also hired and have been his crew while undertaking BP boom and cleanup assistance operations. They were all forced to sign agreements not to publicly speak about their work or anything about BP operations. Their legal agreements do not mention anything about speaking openly to their families.

burgundia wrote:and it is totally ridiculous that they say that they still have to see if this is realted to corexit...we here are not that stupid, but what about the rest?

What does it take to get a half dozen travel writers to Navarre Beach?

This weekend, it took a check from BP and a white stretch limousine.

Six travel writers — chauffeured around in a limo — are on Navarre Beach this weekend to get the word out that this summer's BP oil spill is over, and the beach, along with the rest of Santa Rosa County, is open for tourism.

Using money from BP, the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council hosted a familiarization — or "fam" — tour for select out-of-town reporters, showing them the pristine beaches and other assets of the county.

"We've had travel writers come often, but this is an actual 'fam' trip, a planned package of events to show them the whole county," said Kate Wilkes, executive director of the council. "Having the money from BP enabled us to do this."

mudra wrote:Travel writers visiting beaches on BP dime
SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

What does it take to get a half dozen travel writers to Navarre Beach?

This weekend, it took a check from BP and a white stretch limousine.

Six travel writers — chauffeured around in a limo — are on Navarre Beach this weekend to get the word out that this summer's BP oil spill is over, and the beach, along with the rest of Santa Rosa County, is open for tourism.

Using money from BP, the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council hosted a familiarization — or "fam" — tour for select out-of-town reporters, showing them the pristine beaches and other assets of the county.

"We've had travel writers come often, but this is an actual 'fam' trip, a planned package of events to show them the whole county," said Kate Wilkes, executive director of the council. "Having the money from BP enabled us to do this."

The tour was covered with part of $551,000 from BP, some of which also funded a voucher program which gave gift cards to tourists who stayed in local accommodations and this weekend's sand sculpture event on Navarre Beach.

The writers — who are staying at the Summerwinds condominium — come from media outlets like Baton Rouge Parents, the Houston Tribune, Southern Hospitality Magazine, www.Planet EyeTraveler.com, www.UPTake.com and www.JustSayGo.com, among others.

Ron Stern, editor of www.JustSayGo.com based in Colorado, said he will tell his readers that the oil hype has been overblown.

"What the national media has been saying is totally untrue, for the most part, and blown totally out of proportion," Stern said. "What they're going to get from me is the truth. You can come down here, and you're not going to get oil on your feet or tar balls on your shoes. ... I haven't seen anything in the sand other than sand, and I've been swimming in the water."

Apryl Thomas, a freelance writer from Athens, Ga., has written about the oil spill on the coast for several websites and publications, including Southern Hospitality.

"I knew the spill was kind of blown up. I had done many articles when this happened. The way it was first covered in the national media, you honestly thought, 'It's gone,' but once I did a little research and calling, I felt like it is important to let people know everything is good to go."

All of the reporters who are visiting have agreed to write something about the area. Although the trip is paid for by BP and is intended to combat the misconceptions created by the spill, Wilkes said she doesn't think oil will be a big part of the tour.

"From now on in, we're not going to mention oil, unless it comes back," Wilkes said. "In our advertisements, the message is that the beaches are beautiful, but, also, it's that there is more to do."

The writers arrived Friday and are scheduled to leave today. They visited the new Navarre Fishing Pier, the Gulf Breeze Zoo, Hidden Creek Golf Club in Navarre, Adventures Unlimited north of Milton and the Rufus Hayes Training Stables ranch in Milton.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20100926/NEWS01/9260329/1056/NEWS10/Travel-writers-visiting-beaches-on-BP-dime

Love Always
mudra