This week in the gulf, so far

There's been a lot in the news for the last couple of days about the oil spill in the gulf. Reports are coming in about the new cap, the environment, the business, and the politics. Here's a little news round-up.

  • BP has begun tests on the new cap they've placed over the leaking well. They've closed valves on the cap to see how the pressure builds. They're hoping the pressure is just right to force oil to the surface of the water where it can be collected in large collection ships.

  • Scientists performing tests on animals found dead in the gulf are surprised and confused about what they're finding. Animals are certainly dying- 1,866 birds, 463 turtles, 59 dolphins and one sperm whale so far- but the vast majority of them seem not to have come in contact with oil at all. Researchers are working to find how exactly the oil spill has affected these creatures: Is the stuff they eat contaminated with oil? Are the dispersants being used toxic? Is it the oil fumes floating around?

  • A BP spokesman said this week that two of BP's partners in the Deepwater Horizon have refused to help pay, one ignoring a $111 million cleanup bill that BP requested last month and the other refusing a $272 million bill from BP last week.

  • A moratorium, or stop, to deepwater drilling was reinstated after a judge overturned it, but this time there are more limitations to the projects it reaches.

    • What can you do?

    Think about how your cause is related to the gulf spill, because it probably is in some way. If you're concerned about free speech, advocate for journalists to have more access to spill cleanup sites and beaches so they can be better reporters. If you're an environmentalist, see how you can support clean-up and research efforts.

    Also, take the opportunity to have some of the well and cap technical engineering mumbo jumbo explained! Watch this video of Bill Nye, everyone's favorite science guy, giving a simple breakdown of how this stuff works.

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