Thoughts on the San Francisco Bay Oil Spill plus Monarchs in Mexico

The Thanksgiving holidays are over, the original was a 3 day feast, and I try to make sure I take this time off because I can feel it later if I don't. This year was relaxing even if I did make most of the turkey dinner...all except the pumpkin pies. But I love to put together such feasts. My mind was running ahead off and on during the preparations to the Christmas feast as I mentally noted recipes to include in December's wonderful holidays.

I purposefully didn't post an entry during the horrific oil spill in the San Francisco Bay that killed hundreds of shorebirds. For one reason, I was too upset, my Internet business, Starbell Enterprises, is centered around the Monterey Bay Marine Life Sanctuary that includes the afflicted area. The second reason was the news kept happening so fast as the truth came out, or most of the truth, that I was too busy gathering the facts trying not to spin an enormous conspiracy out of the events (was it deliberate?). Sh-h-h!

One of the most important things that came out of the disaster is that San Francisco/Oakland is unprepared for a response to such events which seemed so unforgivable to take for granted the beauty that surrounds this sparkling area. Delay times and unorganized efforts on clean-up were just astonishing to learn about as I followed the news. However, one of the most moving experiences came from the private sector as people spilled onto the beaches to try to help clean-up efforts and care for oil-soaked birds...only to be scolded by Federal officials and turned away or worse, fined and shooed off the beaches. It was heart-wrenching!

Of course, the saddest part was seeing the poor birds blackened by the poisoned oil-contaminated waters. Half of the afflicted birds died but the efforts of rescue workers did save hundreds of birds, God bless them for their diligence and caring concern as it was a pain-staking job to clean each bird.

The Chinese company that owned the ship will surely pay for all expenses since it happened in Federally protected waters and the US government will handle all suits. Definitely, the captain who steered his ship into the Bay Bridge is responsible. Surely he knew better, you'd think!

Bright, wonderful news...the President of Mexico has established the forests where the Monarch butterflies winter to be off limits to logging. Victory!