"We've had the big one..."

I recently watched a documentary that social activist, fisherwoman and marine biologist brought to Durango about the ExxonValdez spill that has caused the longest running lawsuit in history, entitled Black Wave.

A 5 min teaser to the film--
Black Wave - The legacy of the Exxon Valdez (Teaser EN) from Macumba Docs on Vimeo.

In the wake of a film like this, it is so easy to become frusterated with American law, corporations (acting as individuals) and the regulatory processes that stifle us everyday. It just drives me crazy how we are shown CEOs and the big cheeses and what have you literally not giving second thought to consequences that don't pertain to their own lives. It is so clear to me that the people of Cordova and the surrounding area of Prince William Sound were directly harmed by the actions of ExxonMobil --financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually--and though Exxon hires people to issue impact statements and such, no one pays these detrimental impacts any attention. It is ludicrous how all that can just simply have the other cheek turned to it, let alone the seven-hundred-and-some repiratory issues reported by Exxon's workers in 1989 ALONE. It is CRAZY not to acknowledge that you, and I say you because corporations have so clearly defined themselves within limitations of the "individual," have been the direct cause of someone's death. How did we come to compromise these values.

If, in part (b) of Section 101 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), it says:


"(b) Continuing responsibility of Federal Government to use all practicable means to improve and coordinate Federal plans, functions, programs, and resources
In order to carry out the policy set forth in this chapter, it is the continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to use all practicable means, consistent with other essential considerations of national policy, to improve and coordinate Federal plans, functions, programs, and resources to the end that the Nation may -
(1) fulfill the responsibilities of each generation as trustee of the environment for succeeding generations;
(2) assure for all Americans safe, healthful, productive, and aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings;
(3) attain the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation, risk to health or safety, or other undesirable and unintended consequences;
(4) preserve important historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our national heritage, and maintain, wherever possible, an environment which supports diversity and variety of individual choice;
(5) achieve a balance between population and resource use which will permit high standards of living and a wide sharing of life's amenities; and
(6) enhance the quality of renewable resources and approach the maximum attainable recycling of depletable resources." (http://montereybay.noaa.gov/sac/2008/081508/nepa101.pdf)

...then who do we have to talk to to point out that many corporations, not just Exxon in this situation, are in total violation of a federal law?! The statements that corporations must now make up before proposing a project like oil drilling or logging are totally pointless...the plan should stop in its tracks when you consider that these actions aren't legally allowed to
"attain the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation, risk to health or safety, or other undesirable and unintended consequences."
By LAW, they are not allowed to pose risk to health or safety to we can assume humans, but also to animals and environment.

What is productivity without degredation? Whatever it is, it is seemingly impossible in this culture for productivity and progress are hinged upon linear growth and profit, while ignoring what we take from the land in this process. It's insane. It really is...