Florida & Her Beautiful Beaches

I am a native Floridian, I was born in Rockledge Florida and have been a beach baby all my life. Even when I lived in Texas our family made summer pilgrimages to Galveston. The beach has been a constant in my life until now. I have been robbed of my one true love, the beautiful colorful clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. My favorite thing was snorkeling or diving on the reefs with their flourishing marine life. Everyone has a favorite thing and that was mine. Diving for shells and just exploring the peaceful serene beauty under the water.

Well those days are gone, I have only been in the water once since the BP spill and then I only went in up to my knees. I remember all to well the screaming in my head every time they showed the planes flying over the Gulf spraying dispersant's after the explosion and consequent spill of billions of gallons of oil. But BP said it's ok it is just like dish soap, really it is. Well we all knew that was a lie and with the capping of the gusher one year ago yesterday where are we now you ask?

Here is a link to TampaBay.com from April 17th, 2011.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wildlife/sick-fish-suggest-oil-spill-still-affecting-gulf/1164042

Here is another from ABC Action News from today...

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_south_pinellas/madeira_beach/usf-scientists-partner-with-commercial-fishermen-to-study-gulf-fish-lesions

I will not eat seafood from the gulf, nor will I go in the water to float leisurely on a raft or any other water activities I used to do. I never imagined that I would be here now looking at a toxic waste dump. Even NOAA is warning people of the sick fish in the gulf.

http://www.floridaoilspilllaw.com/noaa-warns-of-sick-fish-with-lesions-and-discolored-skin-in-gulf-lsu-scientist-studying-problem-very-worried/comment-page-2

http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2011/07/12/oil_spill_scientists_made_national_headlines

Read the following article that was written 20 years after the Valdez spill,

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29838444/ns/us_news-environment/t/oil-plagues-sound-years-after-exxon-valdez/

I will leave you with a few youtube videos from this year..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu-amEoBA6U&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOBl1qAPmHw&NR=1