Things That Make You Go Hmmm....Dead Birds and Fish

There are some things in the news that really catch my attention. The following headline “Thousands of dead birds and fish in Arkansas leave many scratching their heads” , did just that.

On roads, on roofs, on lawns, up to 5,000 blackbirds fell within a one-mile area. Most of them were dead.

The report stated that approximately 5,000 red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky over a mile of land near Beebe, a small town in northwest Arkansas, and observers spotted the fish kill near the town of Ozark. The recent wildlife deaths in Arkansas that happened around New Year’s Day is definitely a mysterious incident.

No one seems to know what caused the deaths, but there are many theories and various conclusions from local authorities:

• "Test results usually were inconclusive, but the birds showed physical trauma and that the flock could have been hit by lightning or high-altitude hail."

• Because it happened New Year's Eve, some officials suggest that revelers shooting fireworks may have spooked the birds, to the point that they died en masse from stress-induced cardiac arrest.

• "It is unlikely they were poisoned but a necropsy is the only way to determine if the birds died from trauma or toxin." Tests were to begin Monday.

• A state veterinarian states that preliminary necropsy results show that the birds died of multiple blunt trauma to their vital organs.

This is not a rural gravel road. It's a Louisiana waterway, its surface completely covered with dead sea life -- a mishmash of species of fish, crabs, stingray and eel. This incident took place in a stretch of coastal Louisiana that was hit hard this summer by oil from BP's busted Gulf well.

This massive fish kill occurred 125 miles west of the site, wildlife officials say that the estimated 100,000 drum fish discovered by a tugboat captain over a 20-mile stretch of the Arkansas River appears to be a natural occurrence that isn't tied to the bird kill in any way.

According to news reports fish kills are fairly common along the Gulf Coast, particularly during the summer in the area near the mouth of the Mississippi, the site of this kill. The area is rife with dead zones -- stretches where sudden oxygen depletion can cause widespread death. But those kills tend to be limited to a single species of fish, rather than the broad sort of die-off involved in this kill.

• And therein lies the concern of Gulf residents, who suspect this may be yet another side effect of the catastrophic BP oil spill.

• Various species of single-celled plantlike organisms flourish in waters enriched with chemical nutrients -- organisms that go on to vastly deplete the oxygen in the water they inhabit.

• The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries investigated the fish kill and determined that it was the result of low oxygen levels caused by low tides and high temperatures.

So there you have it - more than 5,000 dead birds and more than 100,000 dead fish, crabs, stingray and eel. All died during New Year's Night without any immediate explanation.

(Information compiled from various news reports)

It certainly gives me plenty to ponder about.

What do you think? What is your theory?

Definitely comes under the heading of "Things that make you go hmmm!"

peacesojourner

If It is Thursday it's Going Green - Don't Let Big Oil Off the Hook

Don't Let Big Oil Off the Hook

Target: U.S. Senate

Sponsored by: Food and Water Watch

Fishing boats are docked, seafood prices are skyrocketing and oil is still washing up on the shores throughout the Gulf Mexico. We may not know the full impact of the BP oil rig explosion, yet one thing is clear: the oil spill is BP's fault and they should pay for the harm they're causing.

The current law puts a $75 million cap on how much an oil company has to pay in the event of a disaster. Unfortunately, the fishing communities, restaurant owners, tourism industry and other individuals affected by the oil spill have already lost more.

Urge the U.S. Senate to pass strong legislation that will lift this cap, and make BP and other multi-billion dollar polluters responsible for the damages their disasters have on our communities, environment and shared resources.

Sample letter:

Dear [Decision Maker],

Our communities in the Gulf of Mexico are suffering from the recent oil spill, and will be for decades. BP has demonstrated that capping a spill is not easy to accomplish. Removing the cap on BP's liability should be easier.

(add any additional comments here]

BP and other oil companies who make billions of dollars in profits off of our natural resources must be held responsible for all of the damages their disasters have on our communities, environment and our shared resources.

Please support legislation to end the current $75 million cap on oil company liability. The fishing communities, restaurant owners, tourism industry and other individuals affected by this disaster have lost more than this much already and will lose more in the days, months and years to come.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

[Your name here]

*****

The letter is suggested by Food and Water Watch. If you are concerned about this issue and feel that there is not much an individual can do about the oil spill - send out a letter - that is a start.

peacesojourner

The Unhappy Sixth Anniversary of the War in Iraq-4260 killed in action

4,260 military  from the United States have been

 killed in action during the War in Iraq

Also some allies from U.K., Spain, Poland, Australia and Denmark

*****

"Allow the president to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he (Bush) may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose—and you allow him to make war at pleasure."

~Abraham Lincoln

*****

U.S. Military Casualties in Iraq 

U.S.  Deaths 

Since war began (3/19/03): 4260 

Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03)  4120 

Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3798 

Since Handover (6/29/04): 3401 

Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 30 

American Wounded Official 

Total Wounded:

31,131 

Latest Fatality Mar. 17, 2009

U.S. Wounded

Daily DoD Casualty Release

320,000 Vets Have Brain Injuries

War Veterans’ Concussions Are Often Overlooked

How Many Servicemembers Were Wounded- official count 31,131

18 Vet Suicides Per Day.

Iraqi Casualties - 99,500 dead

*****

The following is written by Gary Jacobson (2002) A Retired VietNam Veteran and can be found on his website. He says it all, better than I could, with the following words:

"Regardless of your feelings about the war, it is important that each and every one of us support our troops in these most perilous times...our nation's sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. To those who have seen duty clear, and who while far and away from home have put themselves into harm's way...
this prayer is dedicated to you. Bless You...and come home soon!!!"

by Gary Jacobson © 2002 FROM VIETNAM PICTURE TOUR

Bless our vigilant warriors

Give strength to overcome to valiant saviors

Our sons and daughters, wherever they may be

On land, sky, or sailing the briny sea...

Safeguard those so lonely, so far from home

In times blackened dark, yet adventuresome

Watch over them, our brothers, sisters, where they go

Guide them wisely in times they do not know.

Glorify our warriors' calling

Whom we sent forth, righteous principles guarding

Calling them far from home to distant sod

To serve ever faithful, our country, our God

Whether crouched in wind-swept desert foxholes sandy

Or poised on high mountain’s steep cranny

Steel them, brave men and women, our nation’s pride select

The world depends on them, riding war’s bestial ogre to protect!

Bless our nation’s children, carried courageous into duty

Bearing above all things, compassion for humanity

Keep the light of hope glowing ever bright

Bless might of swords flashing shining right

Honoring always, father, mother, sister, brother

Watching always the backs of one another...

Their lives for a country they love more than life offering

Bastions of our grand liberty protecting

World peace ever seeking!

May hearts of men be truly won

When battle’s finally done.

Buoy up these soldiers, our children, sad and so alone

Feeling need in guilt for things seen and done to atone

Give thine balm of Gilead to ease their pain

Shield their sanity in combat that drives men insane

Bless them that they may look back with pride, and smile

Though multitudes of strifes and hatreds rile.

Fortify in our warriors' hearts, humanity's essence

Be gentle when war takes away their innocence

May intrinsic life values still be their choice elect

Defend them from traumatic stress defect

So as they return home, reaching, searching, to touch the sky

Give them answer to the question, "why?"

So a grateful nation may say to valiant sons and daughters

by noble duty sent

"Well done, my good and faithful servant!"

*****

 

I have been trying to write this piece all week long and I am filled with so many emotions that I am having difficulty in putting words in place. I cannot believe that six years have actually passed without a resolution to the war in Iraq. There has been a strong corps of people who are against the war who have been protesting by sending letters, making phone calls, picketing, marching, displaying Anti-War picket signs on their lawns, cars, windows, clothing, e-mails, blogs, books, magazines, etc..

 The figures quoted above come from official sources. Most of us feel that the numbers of dead and wounded are much higher. The number of Iraqi's killed is in the many thousands with more than 4.2 million Iraqi refugees displaced.

I have done everything that I can think of to protest this war and today I feel the size of an ant who is watching a bulldozers come right over where I stand and I do not have the resources to stop it.  I know that I have the stamina to stay in this for the long haul, but just for today, I lack

the physical, spiritual and emotional strength to do much more than let you know the number of persons who have been  reported dead during this involvement on the Iraqi soil.

The poem above was written by a War Veteran who is sharing his personal experience of taking part in a war. Does anyone else see the pain there? Does anyone else see the numbers killed in action? Does anyone else give a damn about this?

Tonight I'm taking the evening off  - tomorrow I will be demonstrating again. 

Won't you join me? Even if you have never taken part in any type of social action in your life - wont you join me and others in standing up for justice?

It takes courage to take a stand and I believe that if enough in this nation stood up then the 'powers that be'  just might listen.

As in the words of Margaret Meade " Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

If you have any comments let me know  at: peacesojourner@yahoo.com 

peacesojourner presente!

President Reviewing Coffin Photos Ban - 4245 Killed in Action

President Reviewing Coffin Photos Ban

February 10, 2009
Associated Press

President Barack Obama said Monday he is considering whether to overturn a Pentagon policy that bans the media from taking pictures of the flag-draped coffins of U.S. troops returning from the battlefield.

A leading military families group says the policy, enforced without exception during the administration of former President George W. Bush, should let survivors of the dead decide whether photographers can record their return.

At his first prime-time news conference as president, Obama said his administration is reviewing the policy with Defense Department officials. He noted that he was informed Monday that four U.S. Soldiers were killed in Iraq, making the question timely.

Should the DoD change its coffin photo policy?

"Obviously, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families," Obama said.

"You know, people have asked me, 'When did it hit you that you are now president?'" he said. "And what I told them was the most sobering moment is signing letters to the families of our fallen heroes. It reminds you of the responsibilities that you carry in this office and the consequences of the decisions that you make."

However, Obama said no decision has yet been made.

"I don't want to give you an answer now before I've evaluated that review and understand all the implications involved," he said.

The Pentagon ban on allowing news photographers into Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and other military facilities where military remains are returned to the United States has been in place since the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. However, some exceptions to the policy were made, allowing the media to photograph coffins in some limited cases, until the administration of President George W. Bush and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last month, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Les' Melnyk said the ban would remain in place until the White House ordered otherwise.

"We don't want families to feel pressure that they have to be at Dover because the media is covering it," Melnyk said in a January interview. "That's just adding stress on families."

John Ellsworth, president of Military Families United who lost a son in Iraq in 2004, said the survivors should be able to decide whether the coffins should be photographed.

"We don't necessarily think it should be banned. I think they could modify it to give a little latitude to the families," Ellsworth said several weeks ago. "Some people want to celebrate the lives of their fallen, and share their fallen hero with the American people, while others want to hold them a little closer to the vest and keep it private. We should respect that.

"It shouldn't be up to the government to hide these images to the public," he said. "But at the same time, I don't know that we can allow the press to overstep the bounds of good taste in some of these instances."

A University of Delaware professor who unsuccessfully sued to force the government to release pictures of flag-draped coffins returning home said taxpayers should see the cost of war.

"Of course we respect the families, but none of these caskets is identified in any way and there's no invasion of privacy in the first place," said Ralph Begleiter, a professor at the University of Delaware and a former world affairs correspondent for CNN.

The fallen troops "died for all of us - they died for the nation, they died for the cause," Begleiter said in a January interview. "It's a right for all Americans to pay their respects for those who made the sacrifice. It is not a right held exclusively for the families themselves."

This article was published in the Military Times.

Meanwhile 4,245 US Military personnel have returned home to be hidden from view since 5/1/03.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS ISSUE? 

LET YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.

Call the White House 202-456-1414

Exxon Mobil Shatters US Record for Annual Profit

Exxon Breaks Own Profit Record with $14.8 Billion 3rd Quarter

In January Exxon Mobil posted another record-breaking quarterly profit. The oil giant earned $14.8 billion in the third quarter, the most ever by a US corporation. That’s nearly 15 percent higher than the previous record Exxon set in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Europe’s biggest oil company, Royal Dutch Shell, also reported high third quarter earnings, rising 74 percent to $10.9 billion.

Exxon founded by John D. Rockefeller is based in Irving Texas, USA. The area the company serves is worldwide. Their industry is oil and gas and their productions are fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals.

Their market cap on January 29, 2009 was $391.672 billion US dollars. They employ over 100,000 employees. 

Transportation is the second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas pollution in the United States. Americans use more gasoline per capita than residents of any other country, due largely to the fact that American automakers are producing vehicles that are less fuel-efficient than the cars that were on the road 30 years ago. RAN is pushing for dramatically increased fuel-efficiency standards and the elimination of vehicle greenhouse gases.

Their History: Exxon Mobil has a history of being sued for what have been perceived as crimes against the environment and human rights violations. It has been harshly criticized by major environmental advocacy groups among which are Greenpeace. In 2003, Greenpeace listed Exxon as #1 Climate Criminal. Exxon's crimes include the sabotage of efforts to deal with climate change, the fraudulent manipulation of peer reviewed scientific studies and organizations, misleading and outright lying to the population of the USA, its government officials and the global community in general. It has also been accused of fomenting so called junk science in order to deny climate change and support the views of climate skeptics, among other actions.

Human Rights:   ExxonMobil has been the target of human rights activists for actions taken by the corporation in the Indonesian territory of Aceh. In June 2001 a lawsuit against ExxonMobil was filed in the Federal District Court of the District of Columbia under the Alien Tort Claims Act. The suit alleges that the ExxonMobil knowingly assisted human rights violations, including torture, murder and rape, by employing and providing material support to Indonesian military forces, who committed the alleged offenses during civil unrest in Aceh. Human rights complaints involving ExxonMobil's relationship with the Indonesian military first arose in 1992; the company denies these accusations and has filed a motion to dismiss the suit.

During the past year gas prices increased to over $4 per gallon. While it is true that there has been a minor reduction in fuel prices it does not seem equitable to the profits that are being made by this and other companies.

Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture? In the words of Arsenio Hall "Things that make you go hmmm.!"