As a kid, my family lived in Baton Rouge and we spent many lazy evening sitting on the driveway, shucking Gulf oysters out of 50 lb bags. They remain the sweetest oysters I’ve ever had and to this day, I have fond memories of those easy days. Each summer, we rented a house for a week in Destin, FL, which back in the 80s was a quiet beach town and played to our heart’s content in the Gulf’s warm waters.
In the 80s, the Gulf was teeming with wildlife t
hat provided a bountiful variety of seafood for our table and an eyeful of beautiful and fleeting creatures whenever we drove down to the coast. As new immigrants, and having previously lived in an island nation with little wildlife conservancy efforts, we took the Gulf for granted — and yet another sign that America was the land of plenty.
It’s been 15 years since I’ve been back to Louisiana, and as I subscribe to the eat local and sustainable philosophy, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a gulf shrimp, or a gulf oyster. Over the years, varying news stories have warned that the Gulf seafood was no longer safe for consumption, and each time I read news pertaining to that subject, I’m get a bit nolstagic and sad, since I had the chance to know a better time for the Gulf. Hurricane Katrina affected many old friends and places, but the natural catastrophe is nowhere near as devastating as man-made destruction, and my heart grieves for the coast of my childhood years.
The BP Oil Spill that happened in late April, aside from being the largest oil spill in US History (well larger than Exxon-Valdez), will leave devastating effects both on the environment and on the local economy that are impossible to measure precisely.
Grand Isle, LA - June 14, 2010 (Photo by Spencer Platt / Getty Images)
The National Wildlife Federation has reported that over 150 threatened or endangered sea turtles have been found dead along the Gulf Coast as a result of the spill. Gulf sperm whales, and dolphins are also among the wildlife harmed by the not only the oil but by the toxic chemical dispersants used to break up the oil.
I’ve read that this oil spill has put a huge damper on the Gulf states’ fishing community and these economies that rely heavily on commercial fishing. For many of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and even 6th generation shrimpers and fishermen and boat captains, their way of life has been irreparably damaged.
While we can’t do too much to personally help in the clean up efforts, we can make a monetary contribution towards the efforts. After doing alot of research, Alexis and I have picked the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Gulf Oil Spill Fund. 100% of all of GNOF’s donations will be granted to organizations working in affected areas and the focus will be helping fishermen and their families in various parishes in Louisiana.
Queen Bess Island, LA (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
There are a lot of charitable organizations that donate to the oil spill clean up and recovery. Rather than donating blindly to any charity that someone suggests, spend a few minutes of your time doing research on the organization and make sure that your donation will get to the end recipients without being eaten up by administrative fees/uses or employee salaries. A good place to research the organization that you wish to donate to is Charity Navigator
For the entire month of July, we will be offering a 20% discount+FREE SHIPPING on ALL purchases (enter code: JULY4) made on our website, and we will be donating a portion of BLUEBLOOD’s proceeds to the Gulf Oil Spill Fund.
If you are able to give, even a few dollars will help. Donate directly to the Fund here
xoxo,
Tina
sources: National Wildlife Federation, The Daily Green, The Associated Press, The New York Times
