A breaking new story is making its rounds through several media sources that a man in Japan has invented a machine which can convert plastics back to their original oil form. If this is true, it would be a breakthrough in technology that solves several problems. First, the amount of garbage that has piled up in both developed and developing countries would be cleaned up immediately as people realized that what was once considered worthless trash now has a very practical value.

Second, according to the video documenting the creation of the machine, the oil that is burned from these plastics is much cleaner than the oil we use now and would lower our carbon emissions by 80%.

Third, this would temporarily solve the growing concern that exists about how the world will function once the drills have tapped all of the earth's supply of natural oil. (This last solution is one that is bittersweet, since it will cause governments and research groups to lose focus on the urgency for finding a clean, alternative energy solution.)

The machine is incredible, yet the process seems incredibly simple. It makes you wonder, "Hey, why didn't I think of that?"

As you can see in the video below, any type of plastics from bottle caps to grocery bags can be placed into this small machine (that is transportable), and the cover is shut. The machine then heats the plastic to very high temperatures, causing it to burn and emit gas that is filtered through a tube. This tube is connected to a pot of tap water, which cools the gas into liquid causing oil to build up in the pot.

The man's name is Akinori Ito, and he has taken his machine around the world to educate people about his new invention. According to Ito, people do not realize the value of the plastics that they throw in the garbage pail or in the street. If they understood that this "waste" could be converted to energy which would power their cars and motorbikes, and heat their homes, then they would have a much different outlook on littering and abusing the environment.

Americans get frustrated every time they have to pay $3 a gallon to pump gas into their cars. Once they put 2-and-2 together here, it will create an incentive for them to be much more enthusiastic about recycling their plastics.

And here's my favorite part (and you will know what I am about to say if you have been following my blog entries about the Gulf oil spill): It means less and less business for the BP Company and its competitors, who greedily plunder the earth's precious resources for a handsome profit!

Sure, we are all forced to give them our money because how else would we travel far distances to get to work in the morning? But with this breaking new alternative method available, I would not be surprised if people started plastic-to-oil fields right in their very own backyard, just to spite these corporations. I know I would!

So consider the value that this new machine can bring to the planet. It's a win-win for both you and the environment. Let's hope the machine is as efficient as the video portays it to be. Watch it and see for yourself.

The "going green" trend is beginning to take hold in various industries across the country. The latest type of business to practice green trends is the restaurant industry. At the Habana Outpost in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, owner Sean Meenan explained to the New York Times the different ways in which his restaurant has gone green.

The restaurant which is has been described as a "Mexican and Carribean-inflected hangout" will stay open until Halloween before Meenan gets ready to expand into different areas across the country.

Some of the eco-friendly processes that the owner has in place are as follows: a set of solar panels for energy, a rainwater-collection system that runs the toilets, a station for recycling and composting, wall panels made of wheat-board, and plastic cups which are corn-based.

Signs on the wall outside the Habana Outpost

Though there have been several mishaps with other people in the Fort Greene neighborhood, the idea of the eco-friendly restaurant seems to be catching on. In a couple of instances, Meenan explained that the bikers who gather outside the restaurant on Saturdays rev up their engines which create a disturbance. Others say that the total appearance and experience of the restaurant is not for them.

Most others have embraced the Outpost as setting the bar for most environmentalist restaurants in the area to come. The extra power from the solar-panels even gets funneled into the nearby buildings when it is not being used.

Now that Mr. Meenan has established the restaurant in Brooklyn, he plans on stretching the eco-friendly restaurant business out to Malibu and Venice in Los Angeles, and other cities including Manhattan and Las Vegas.

The concept of an environmentally-friendly eatery is truly fantastic. Food and hospitality businesses depend on constant foot traffic in order to drive up the profits of their store. With the "going green" trend beginning to catch on like wild fire across the country, its a no-brainer that restaurants start taking after the Habana Outpost in Brooklyn.

People will be attracted to the store, simply because it falls in line with their personal values and belief systems. There is a certain amount of respect and admiration that customers will have for any store which has made the leap into a greener world.

Patrons of the Habana Outpost enjoying the eco-friendly restaurant

Going green will save your business money in the long-run as well. The only thing that seems to be stopping people are those "short-run" problems. The solar panels in the Habana Outpost cost $40,000. That is quite an investment, and one that many business owners are choosing not to make. But any good company owner knows the golden rule of business: you have to spend money to make money.

The cost of electricity becomes zero once those solar panels have been installed. And though it will take years for the Habana Outpost to make back its investment, once they break even they will never have to pay for electricity again. Plus, the added traffic that comes into the store in support of its environmental practices will drive up the profits, causing the business to make back its initial investment even quicker.

This is something that businesses must get into immediately. Eventually, it is going to be the norm because there is really no other option.

If you are interested in getting the word out about your eco-friendly business, consider the use of eco-friendly promotional products.

Most companies recognize it as a simple fact by now: eco-friendly promotional products are the future. Companies are beginning to realize that consumers now look for "green" labels in the supermarket and other stores. The buyer simply won't tolerate businesses any longer that manufacture their products in a way that is harmful to the environment. "Going green" is a fantastic trend and something that people should be proud of accomplishing, simply because consumers drive the market.

If your company practices "green" standards in its factories and workplace, then you should capitalize on this honorable decision by letting people know. If your business is first beginning to make the leap into the "green" market, then what better way to let the world know than with some of our eco-friendly giveaways? Check out a few of the recommendations below to help get you started.

1. Eco-friendly apparel

This Anvil recycled tee is made from completely recycled cotton and polyester.

Environmentally friendly apparel is one of the best promotional items that you can offer to consumers. Our eco apparel is made from either organic or recycled materials, making them environmentally safe while conserving the earth's precious resources. Recipients will take a great amount of pride in wearing this apparel when it is offered to them. Items like T-shirts make great promotions for two important reasons. First, the life of the promotion is an extended one. Clothing lasts a long time and people get into the habit of wearing the same shirt many times if they like it. Second, when someone puts on your custom imprinted tee, they become a walking advertisement for your brand. Everywhere they go, the people they come into contact with will notice your imprinted logo on the shirt.

This is a fantastic way to let people know that your company cares about the environment. Every time someone asks the recipient about the shirt, they will be happy to endorse your eco-friendly product.

2. Eco-friendly bags

The custom printed recycled circuit cinchpack pictured here is an durable drawstring backpack made from partially recycled materials.

We have a ton of different kinds to choose from, and they all serve different purposes. The key to offering a person something out of this category is that you are creating a convenience in their life. People can put all the stuff in these bags that they would normally have to carry in their hands. If students are your target market, then check out some eco-friendly promotional backpacks. If you would rather your logo be seen in the supermarket, then eco-friendly promotional tote bags are probably your best bet. The possibilities are endless. The point is that you want as many people possible to know that your company is one that supports environmentally friendly practices. Once you offer someone one of these bags, they will be happy to give their support of your brand in return.

3. Eco-friendly promotional pens and pencils

The Newspencil™ is made from 75% recycled newspapers.

This is a good category to make your selection from. Everyone needs a writing utensil in their daily life. Whether it is to jot down some notes at work, or write reminders at home people are always going to need these items. This is a great chance to capitalize on this universal need. People will take these environmentally friendly pens with them in their purses and pockets, and people will see them wherever they go. They make for a great conversation piece when someone asks about it, and you always want your brand name to come up in conversation. People will be impressed with the eco-friendly nature of this product, and will be much more interested in giving you their business because of it.

The BP Company along with the U.S. Federal government announced this week that the threat of oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico is officially over. In what sources have referred to as a "static kill", the Deepwater Horizon rig was plugged with heavy drill mud which should successfully hold back the weight of the high pressure oil trying to escape. So, on the 107th day of the worst oil spill in American history, the initial problem is finally over. What seems to be more encouraging is the fact that expert sources are reporting about 75 percent of the spilled oil has been accounted for, through methods that include burning and skimming.

Though the actual leaking of the well has been dealt with, this problem is far from reaching its conclusion. 25 percent of the oil from the spill is still washing ashore along the Gulf beaches, killing wildlife and destroying economies. This 25 percent equals roughly 50 million gallons of oil, making it much worse than the Exxon-Valdez spill that occurred in 1989. With the focus being on the fact that the majority of the oil has been cleaned, there is fear ripping along the Gulf coast that BP and the government are going to pull out of the cleanup early. No government official or BP spokesperson has come out to reassure the citizens of the Gulf coast that this won't happen.

This picture taken from CNN.com shows the progress of the 'Static Kill' operation. You can see the heavy drill mud packed in on the picture on the right.

Though the fast rate of cleanup seems encouraging at first, the long term effects of this efficiency may weaken the impact of the lesson to be learned from this disaster. This is a sad but true fact. The quicker this oil gets cleaned up, the quicker people are going to forget about what happens when corporations irresponsibly plunder the earth. It is startling to think that soon people will forget to hold BP responsible for its actions, and its just pure human nature for a company like this one to begin sneaky operations within the next few years to see if they can get away with something like this again. We had them on the ropes, now we might let them off in the 12th round without the knockout punch (i.e. monumental changes in United States law restricting the actions of corporations, class-action lawsuits from both businesses and residences along the Gulf coast, and a formal suit brought against the BP Company by the United States government.)

Carol Browner, the director of the White House Office on Energy and Climate Change has been quoted as saying that the remaining 25 percent of the spill poses little concern. Read that twice if you'd like. 50 million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico poses little concern? It is truely eerie how quickly politicians will try to wash their hands clean of any disaster the second they see the first opportunity. Browner is a person that President Obama appointed to office, and Obama is an elected official that is teetering on the border of re-election. It just suggests more of the same in Washington, meaning that history will be doomed to repeat itself once again. And really, if the magnitude of this calamity isn't enough to make long lasting changes in laws and policies as well as in the behaviors of every individual, then nothing is going to do it.

I often waver back and forth between the standpoint of saying, "It is our fault as voting citizens for electing these self-serving officials to govern our society" and one that says "Well, it's not really our fault since we are only given the choice between electing weasel A or weasel B."

Let's see if we can get it right this time. Take a mental picture of this moment, when the Gulf Oil spill went from being a "disaster" to "not that big of a deal." This is what is happening, right now. The only way we can prevent it from happening again is by remembering this moment and collectively organizing to say anyone who acts irresponsibly is wrong, and it is unacceptable. We can boycott their companies and speak out against them.

As far as government officials go, the enablers for these corporations, the best we can do is use our voting power to shake things up. It does not even matter anymore who is the best person for the job - what matters is to show politicians that they can be out on their rear ends faster than they think. We can only do this as a collective group. Then, maybe someone in Washington would start to wise up, stop worrying so much about campaign donations, and just play by the rules.

I know I don't hold public office and I have a lot of nerve to make a statement like this but I will say it anyway: Governing is a simple thing. It really is. It only becomes complicated when self-interest becomes involved. Do the right thing Washington.

Earlier this week, an environmental cause made history. "Plastiki", the name of a 60-foot boat constructed entirely out of recycled plastic bottles completed its journey on Monday when it docked in Sydney harbor in Australia. The ship set sail from California four months ago, and traveled along a course of 8,000 miles. The concept for the ship was imagined by environmentalist David de Rothschild, who attempted to raise awareness about the damage that is caused to the Pacific Ocean by plastic waste. Rothschild brought specific attention to an accumulation of garbage in the Pacific that is twice the size of Texas. The crew of Plastiki visited this "trash vortex", and were able to successfully complete their course despite having to endure extremely difficult weather and limited space to move. The entire journey was documented on Twitter, Youtube, and Flickr.

The Plastiki sets sail across the Pacific Ocean

The creation of Plastiki is one of the most creative environmental causes that I have heard of since the "Go Green" trend began. Not only did it take a tremendous amount of planning and persistence by David de Rothschild and his crew, but the courage that it took to actually get in that boat and sail across the entire Pacific Ocean is immeasurable. Rothschild really wanted to make a statement - and he did. The journey of the Plastiki has captured the attention of the world, and hopefully that means the world will receive the message as well.

The most intelligent people in our society are busy figuring out cleaner and more environmentally responsible ways of disposing of our trash. Once these solutions have been discovered, governments across the world need to implement these policies immediately by creating new laws which have harsh consequence for breaking. In the meantime, individuals can do several things to contribute their part to the rehabilitation and restoration of our planet.

First, you must recycle. Nearly every community in the United States has a system which collects all of your plastics to be recycled, and takes them to a plant where they are broken down and reused. In 2010, there are still plenty of people who dump their plastic bottles in the garbage. The Plastiki mission has shown you where these plastic bottles will end up if you do this - in the ocean, creating a giant mass of garbage. This needs to stop immediately if we expect to restore our precious ecosystems to the level that they were operating at before people started abusing resources and becoming wasteful.

David de Rothschild demonstrates the limited amount of space available aboard the Plastiki

Second, educate. If you are following this blog, then you already know what the effect of irresponsible waste disposal is. You probably recycle as well. Unfortunately, this is not enough. Whenever you see someone throwing plastic in the trash, stop them. Don't worry about what people will think. It is your duty as an inhabitant of this planet to make sure that as many people as possible under the consequences of their actions when they don't recycle.

Third, start using more products which are safe for the environment. If you don't know where to get them, Motivators is a great start. We have a ton of eco-friendly promotional products which are especially appropriate to use in business. Every other type of store, from supermarket to apparel is starting to carry more eco-friendly items in stock. They know that the accepted opinions about the environment are quickly changing, and they will be looked down upon if they don't get on board with eco-friendly trends and environmental responsibility.

The Plastiki made a remarkable statement this week that was well received. Do your part to continue to carry their message in your daily life, and practice environmentally responsible behaviors. In doing so, then when the news of Plastiki fades out people around you will still remember.

An innovative company in the "Going Green" movement is starting a new trend. SimplyFido manufactures pet toys which are completely eco-friendly. Their merchandise is made from natural dyes and organic cottons, which are safer for both the planet, and the pups that enjoy them. The New York based company which was started by Jean Chae six years ago, has now set the bar for the "green toy association".

SimplyFido was originally developed as an idea by Chae and her sister after their mother was diagnosed with liver cancer. Chae decided she had a new lease on life, and wanted to make a lasting change in society. She chose to make her mark in the world of pet toys. As Chae explains, "Pets are like an extension of our family. We have to be responsible for their well-being."

After over two years of research, SimplyFido has developed 35 eco-friendly pet toys which are carried by over 4,000 retail stores across the world. These pesticide-free toys include special dyes which give off the scent of natural herbs. For instance, the yellow dye is made from a gardenia seed. Dogs are strongly attracted to this scent, and seem to go crazy over it. Their products include everything from an entire line of fuzzy stuffed animals, to bones and rope toys.

SimplyFido has created one of the most fantastic lines of eco-friendly products that I have ever seen. As a pet owner and dog lover, I see a great potential in this company. Nowhere before have dog owners been able to provide for their pups in a way that coincides with environmentally responsible trends.

I, myself have been in the pet store many times and debated over whether to make a purchase for my dogs, based on the fact that it might not be healthy for them. What makes SimplyFido so great is that they have developed a product that is safe on two very precious fronts: safe for the environment, and safe for pets.

"The Oliver Dog" - One of the many eco-friendly pet safe toys that SimplyFido has to offer

I am very excited about the fact that this company has begun to grow, and I will definitely be purchasing some of their toys in the near future. Furthermore, since this is a private company that was developed by a person out of the goodness of her heart, you can expect the company to do the right thing as it grows larger (i.e. charitable donations). SimplyFido was founded to make a positive change for the world, with making money as an afterthought. On the other hand, a corporation like the BP Company tries to make money at the cost of anything in its way. You can clearly see how one company is constructive, while the other is destructive.

Let's hope in the near future that the public begins to back companies like this one with their consumer spending and investments, and let the damaging corporations die out. SimplyFido has shown that it is possible that capitalism works within reason - that you can still turn a large profit without unreasonable greed.

It's official...at least for now. Pending further integrity testing, the BP company has announced that is has succeeded in stopping the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The spill began 88 days ago when a pipeline explosion in the Deepwater Horizon rig caused oil to spew into the sea at an extremely high pressure. The BP Company has experimented with a variety of solutions since then, all of them proving unsuccessful until now. In the process of their testing, the oil reached the shores of every Gulf state, destroying beaches and killing thousands of wildlife. Now that the oil spill saga is finally coming to a close, we can take the opportunity to reflect on the past three months of this avoidable tragedy.

One thing that strikes me in particular about the spill is that the final solution seems like it was pretty simple. It didn't involve any rocket science, groundbreaking physics, or the James Cameron Avatar think tank. Just a simple cap. Why couldn't BP accomplish this within the first week of the oil spill? The circumstances haven't changed since then.

Is it because they wanted the entire world to turn their backs on the company by ripping BP in the press, and boycotting their gas stations? I don't think so. Did they want to exhaust every possible solution that was cheapest, to see if they could fix the problem without having to dig deeper into their pockets? That probably makes more sense. I personally don't know how much it costs to cap the oil rig, but I can take the educated guess that it's cheaper than the billions of dollars that the BP Company has been forced to spend to clean up the Gulf beaches. It just doesn't add up for me.

Now, while we may never grasp the corporate double-talk or absurd explanations, we can still use this disaster as a learning experience for the future.

This image shows the cap cutting off the flow of oil, compared to the image below which shows the oil spewing from the pipe.

So, what then can we learn? Well for one, let's not exploit this event as an opportunity to display our self-righteousness. I personally have thrown the BP Company under the bus on this blog, in conversation, and in my thoughts. Though after I finish writing this, I am going to get into my 6-cyclinder car powered by high-emission gasoline and merrily drive into the sunset. The BP Company is despicable and I hope they ultimately fail in business, but it's not because this oil rig exploded on their watch. It just as easily could have happened to Exxon Mobil. No, the BP Company is despicable because of the irresponsible nature in which they handled the circumstances of this crisis once it had occurred. It is important to make that distinction before we decide to collectively bad-mouth them.

BP could have jumped all over the problem the second it happened, came out and said, "OK. We messed up. We are going to do everything it takes to fix this as soon as humanly possible." Yes, they came out with a similar statement, but it clearly felt forced. They were acting in their own self-interest as these poor animals suffered and died in the water and on the beaches. And it was not until Washington came out and ordered BP to foot the bill for the cleanup that the company agreed. There is a right way and a wrong way to handle crisis - they ultimately failed, embarrassing themselves in the process.

Next I ask, can we use this disaster as a learning experience to evolve from as both a society and as individuals? I hope so. Have we finally grasped the concept that continuing to abuse the earth's resources will lead to our ultimate demise? I think it's too soon to tell. Exxon Valdez happened 21 years ago and we didn't get the message then. And if you are thinking, "Yes, you're right. We have to be much more careful when we do our offshore drilling", then you are completely missing the point.

The scary part now is that in 2010, we are fully aware of the consequences of our actions. And while sometimes it feels to me like we are making a lasting change, other times it just feels like we are watching ourselves fall faster, and while the cord for our parachute is right there for us to pull, we just can't seem to bring ourselves to do so.

Our world is at a crossroads in the present day that is analogous to this oil spill. We need to decide whether we are going to continue to let our values and our resources dissipate into thin air, or if we are going to turn the corner for our civilization, and live in harmony. The solution is simple. Now we just need to apply the cap to our leak.

It seems as of late that mainstream media interest in the Gulf oil spill is beginning to wane. The public has a short attention span when it comes to the news, and I commend our nation for concentrating on the crisis for as long as it did. I, on the other hand, have not forgotten. I am still just as frustrated and disappointed as I was when I first heard the news of the spill. I can't help but believe that if there was not billions of dollars in stocks and company assets at stake here, this spill would have been cleaned up long ago. That being said, there have been a few new breaks in the story in the past day that have not made the front page of newspapers. For those who have not heard, I will take this opportunity to tell you.

Early today it was speculated that the BP Company will succeed this week in stopping the leaking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that began three months ago. According to BusinessWeek and the New York Daily News, BP is on the verge of preventing any more oil from leaking into the sea, made possible with the use of a new containment cap. This new cap is being fitted on the oil rig, following the removal of an old cap that proved to be inefficient. While the new cap is secured over the leak, a relief well is simultaneously being drilled next to the Deepwater to divert some of the intense pressure that is making the leak so difficult to plug. The completion of the relief well should take another two or three weeks.

In light of these new events, the price of the BP stock has risen 9.4 percent, the highest it has been at since its 39 percent decrease following the accident on April 20. I would not normally mention the price of the BP stock on this blog, since I do not care. To me, a rise in BP stock is bad news. However, I do feel that this information is relevant for the purposes of the cleanup. When the shareholders heard the good news about the price rise, it clearly increased the confidence of the BP execs. This, in turn has made the BP company work even harder to bring an end to this tumultuous saga.

It should be noted as well that the BP Company has considered selling over $10 billion of its assets in Alaska to the Texas-based Apache Corporation. The Exxon Mobil Corp. has been in the discussion for the purchasing of BP assets as well. While Wall Street investors seem to be weary of this potential acquisition, my personal hope is that this cutting of loses will allow the BP Company to focus entirely on the cleanup operation.

As news of the Gulf oil spill continues to break, I will update the status on our Go Green blog accordingly. Please check back if you are interested in hearing my perspective on the spill.

In the depths of the California desert, schools in the Coachella Valley are preparing to go green.

The school boards of several districts have begun the process of improving the efficiency of their energy infrastructure, a move that will create a dent in the education budget of several hundred thousand dollars. This comes at a time when the education system is in shambles nationwide, with record-setting budget cuts and layoffs.

According to one article written for the Desert Sun in Palm Springs, California, Coachella Valley schools will begin to be fitted with solar panels and wind turbines in the coming days. Other "green" renovation projects in the district include installing more efficient lights and air-conditioning. These new lights are expected to conserve electricity and emit less heat, which will create less of a need for air-conditioning. In addition, special skylights called "Solatubes" will be mounted in the ceiling of the main district office. These skylights act as reflective vents which intensify and diffract the natural light of the sun, resulting in less demand for artificial lighting.

This is how a Solatube works

This story is striking because it fully grasps the mentality that an institution has to adopt in order to fully "go green". The point that was particularly profound for me was the reference to the fact that "going green" will cost this district an initial investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars, during the worst economic environment in this country since the Great Depression. Why then make the decision to do this right now? The answer is, because it is now or never.

The officials of the Coachella Valley United school district understand how to break out of a vicious cycle. The main problem with changing any routine for the better is that the initial cost of the change outweighs the current cost of the bad habit. Lots of the slow-going in the "Go Green" movement is due to this very problem, this human necessity for instant gratification. Businesses say, "Well, we know going green is the right thing to do. But, its going to cost us a lot of money that we don't have, especially now. So we're just going to keep doing what we're doing, until we are faced with the Doomsday scenario of having to stop being wasteful and polluting, or else leave the earth."

A new solar panel is affixed on top of the school building.

Coachella Valley United has fully recognized the short-term consequences of their actions here. This huge investment will mean less budget room for extracurricular activities, school programs, and hiring new teachers that have been laid off during the recession. But the leap of faith has to be taken somewhere, and what better time than now. The officials who made this decision are leaders, and leaders make unpopular decisions when they know it is being done for the greater good. In present day, people will say it is irresponsible spending in a tumultuous time. In ten years, Coachella Valley United will be revered as setting the bar for the rest of the country to rise to the occasion. Their patience and resilience will pay off.

Motivators offers a wide selection of eco-friendly promotional products for your choosing. Feel free to browse if you would like to reduce your carbon footprint, and live more efficiently.

This week, the United States government announced that it would consider enlisting the aid of a giant oil skimmer ship known as the "A Whale" to help clean the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The vessel, a 1,100-foot converted petroleum tanker will have the ability to collect up to 500,000 barrels of contaminated water every day. Here's how it works.

The oil skimmer will collect the contaminated water through a dozen large slits on both sides of the ship. The oily water is then percolated though several tanks designed to separate the oil from the water. Then, the oil is transported to another ship, and the cleaned water is redistributed into the ocean.

There are already several much smaller oil skimmers doing this cleanup work in the Gulf, but none seem to be making a dent in the process. So, everyone has high hopes for "A Whale" as the savior. The ship has been ready for deployment since June, but has still not begun its work. This fact begs the question, "Why didn't we have this ship put into action immediately?" The answer lies in several factors, all of them nonsensical and ridiculous.

Let's begin with a little something called the Jones Act of 1920. This piece of United States legislation was passed after the end of World War I to ensure the rebuilding of the American shipping industry. In a nutshell, the act restricts the transporting of any cargo between U.S. ports to American-built ships operated by American crews. Since "A Whale" was built in South Korea, and is owned by a Taiwanese company, the Jones Act may prevent its use. President Obama has not yet waived the Jones Act, and several foreign ships ready to offer their help have already been turned away.

Don't get confused here. You may have read that the United States has accepted the help of 12 different countries. However, these countries have only been cleared to contribute things like booms and dispersant chemicals to the cleanup effort. This is minor stuff compared to the foreign ships that can really make a dent in the cleanup, but are being held at bay because of this act.

So you can't believe that the alleviation of this dire situation, involving the welfare of thousands of wildlife is going to be prevented by the enforcement of a 90-year-old law that can be waived at will? Don't worry, I can't believe it either. Let's make a quick distinction here: An oil spill is a real thing, it involves real pollution that is affecting real lives. The Jones Act is make believe. It is just an idea concocted by a bunch of self-serving individuals with ties sitting in a room somewhere. A factor such as legislation becomes completely arbitrary when applied to disasters that affect nature. The infected Gulf of Mexico does not recognize man-made law, and I am sure that the oil-drenched birds who are dying painfully pay no mind to it either. Nevertheless, it seems to be a major player in hindering the cleanup efforts in the sea.

Another reason for the delay of "A Whale"'s deployment is almost as irritating. The Environmental Protection Agency has made clear that if the ship was cleared to act in the Gulf, they would still have grave concerns about the quality of the filtered water being put back into the sea. Apparently, this water may still have traces of oil in it which could be considered harmful, so they may want to hold off on using it. Are they insane? As if the water sitting in the Gulf right now is not exponentially more contaminated that it would be if this tanker was used. Why are we not using this ship immediately to clean the overwhelmingly majority of this water, and dealing with the rest later?

This is just another example of a "do-gooder" bureaucracy getting in the way of itself. We need to drop all the rules and regulations and just fix the spill with all of the resources we have available, regardless of what flag they fly or how effective they might be. This is an all hands on deck situation, yet those hands are being tied with red tape. The United States became a superpower by being a diligent, practical country that used common sense. What happened?

And now for the most nauseating reason of all. The media has explained that even if the Jones Act was waived, and the ship was approved by the EPA to do its duty, the "A Whale" would still not be able to begin operations without a formal contract from the BP Company. That's right, if you want to know why this spill wasn't cleaned up two months ago, just follow the money. How about, "get in there NOW, clean up the spill, do what you have to do, and worry about the money later." BP has already agreed to foot the bill for the cleanup, so what's the problem? Do they really need to sit down with their lawyers and negotiate on a few million dollars?

I don't think this bird cares whether the price of BP's stock goes up or down.

This blog is not meant to be preachy, or to use graphic pictures as a tactic to make you feel angry or guilty. Rather, the point of it all is to create a medium for people to reflect on, and think critically. This is so people can understand the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico as it really is, rather than how politicians and the media portray it. Of course, no article on this topic is going to be able to remain objective, and I am not above this. I just ask that you take from it what you will, and do not let my opinion or anyone else's blur the facts for you in this matter.