Willow13's WunderBlog : TURTLES! :-)

Posted by: Willow13, 11:02 PM GMT on October 08, 2009

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Oil Spill News: BP Burning Endangered Sea Turtles

Posted on Jul 01, 2010

Environmental groups led by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Turtle Island Restoration Network along with local shrimp boat captains have filed a lawsuit and temporary restraining order against oil giant British Petroleum (BP) to stop the burning of endangered sea turtles. Using the Endangered Species Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the lawsuit alleges BP of “flagrant violations of its lease with the United States”. The Obama administration has confirmed marine creatures, including sea turtles, are being burned alive in the “burn fields”.

Mainstream media coverage of the oil spill clean up has praised the “burn fields” for a way of quickly disposing of a small part of the 70,000-100,000 gallons leaking each day. Dark billowing smoke can be seen from these 500-square-mile “burn fields” causing concern for the atmosphere, but corralled in the oil soaked sargassum are endangered marine animals, including the Kemp’s Ridley turtle. The Guardian explains:

The killing of the turtles – which once teetered on the brink of extinction – has outraged environmentalists and could put BP into even deeper legal jeopardy.
Environmental organisations are demanding that the oil company stop blocking rescue of the turtles, and are pressing the US administration to halt the burning and look at prosecuting BP and its contractors for killing endangered species during the cleanup operation. Harming or killing a sea turtle carries fines of up to $50,000 (£33,000).
According to the US government, 436 endangered sea turtles have perished since the Deepwater Horizon oil catastrophe began on April 20, 2010. There are five endangered or threatened species of sea turtles in the region: greens, loggerheads, hawksbills, Kemp Ridley, and leatherbacks. The Center for Biological Diversity describes the tragedy:

“This is the most inhumane thing I have ever heard, to light that oil when sea turtles are out there trying to escape it,” said Carole Allen, Gulf director of Turtle Island Restoration Network in Houston, Texas.

“BP is burning turtles alive and it is cruel, heartless and a crime we can’t and won’t allow to continue,” said Todd Steiner, biologist and executive director of Turtle Island Restoration Network. “Sea turtles were critically endangered before BP created America’s worst environmental catastrophe, and every effort possible must be taken to rescue endangered turtles from this oil spill. BP needs to reverse course and help double our efforts to rescue sea turtles, not prevent their recovery.”

By employing more resources, BP could still continue the practice of “burn fields” by removing and protecting species before torching. Killing sea turtles is just another example of BP’s, as well as the Obama administration’s, “incompetent response” to the catastrophe. The levels of environmental devastation caused by BP’s oil spill go beyond oil soaked beaches and birds. From toxic oil dispersants to burning alive endangered species, there is no immediate relief in site.

Article by Jennifer Lance
Jennifer lives on 160 acres off-the-grid in a home built with her own two hands (and several more skilled pairs of hands) from forest fire salvaged timber. Her home is powered by a micro-hydro turbine, and she has been a vegetarian for 21 years. She graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in art education and has been teaching art to children for over 16 years. Jennifer is the founder and editor of Eco Child's Play.

Please enjoy these awesome photos of turtles from Wunder Photograghers around the world! They may not be with us much longer.

People believe that we can't go back? If we are at the edge of a cliff, we can take one step off the cliff to our demise, OR we can TURN AROUND, and take one step FORWARD ... sometimes going the wrong way means you have to go back and find a better way ... it's not progress to destroy the planet for useless products. Progress is learning how to live in harmony with Mother Earth. That's real progress!

A Kindness Repaid

THANK YOU TO THE GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER

Duffy waves Bye-Bye

Sea Turtles

Enjoying the first sunny day in several days!

sea turtle

Diamond Back Tarrapin

Caretta caretta

Kemp's ridley release

THE TURTLE THAT COULD

Mud turtle laying eggs

Mug Shot....

A Large Female Trachemys scripta elegans

turtle eatin a blue bottle

Stuck Up!!

Basking

What has been will be again...

The Turtle and the Swan

Updated: 1:07 PM GMT on May 15, 2012

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Posted by: Willow13, 9:52 PM GMT on August 02, 2009

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Please post your outdoor newfie photos to Wunderground :)

Enjoying the summer!

Kermit

Kermit at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center

Newfie Puppy :)

Kermit at the campground

Kermit the Dog :)

Updated: 11:33 PM GMT on August 02, 2009

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Posted by: Willow13, 12:02 AM GMT on May 04, 2008

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Okay, It's official! Duffy is dancing and that isn't a transmitter on his back, it's a receiver and Duffy is listening to the Kermit the Frog's version of an Octopus' Garden ♥http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/viewsingleimage.html?mode=singleimage&handle=Willow13&number=61 3&album_id=136&thumbstart=1&gallery=EDITORSPICK#slideanchorMay 3, 2009 --Last time Dylan "Called Home" ;) She is west of Key West, Florida. Track Dylan, and other sea turtles at www.seaturtle...

Diamond Back Tarrapin

Look Out! Turtles Crossing

Kemp's ridley release

Turtle Nest Check Beach Patrol

Gustav and Sea Turtle nests

Hey There

Preparing for Ike

THE TURTLE THAT COULD

sea turtle

Duffy, the Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)Sea Turtle returns to the Big Blue!

Enjoying the first sunny day in several days!

Mud turtle laying eggs

Duffy waves Bye-Bye

Mug Shot....

Sea Turtles

A Large Female Trachemys scripta elegans

Updated: 12:17 AM GMT on June 29, 2009

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Posted by: Willow13, 5:44 PM GMT on April 12, 2008

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Willow is 3 month's old in this photo. She is so happy walking with her family to swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Willow is a Newfoundland. She was named after the Black Willow Oak tree. Her full name is Barton Bay's Heart of Oak "Willow" - Daughter of Shipwheel's Twist of Fate and Angel Sings. She lived with us from 1/24/92 - 10/10/03, 11 years, 8 months and 18 days ...'tip us Heart of Oak' Come cheer up my lads, 'tis to glory we steer',Heart of Oak are our ships,...