This "spill", I like volcano like gushing better

may have a good side effect to it...

HOW? You may ask.

Well this is not just going to affect the US. This is of the scope of Chernobyl, if not worst... ok so we don't have radiation. What do you think this will do to fisheries?

This may be a point where we finally decide that our OIL BASED civilization is not sustainable.

This may lead to changes... and good changes.

:shrug:

they tend to change societies in significant ways.

Read a little history... you might be shocked as to the effect of disasters on societies across history. Some of them good, some of them really bad.

still occurring you look like a bit of an {well I better not say it} for reveling in it.

I am talking of a HISTORIC pattern, going way back, like 10K years at least.

Now if you wish to project more by claiming I am celebrating this gusher, you are wrong. I am just pointing a FACT. IT might lead to wholesale change in attitudes, and even moving away from our petroleum civilization. As they say, history will tell. But this disaster, yes I am willing to put money on it, will have an effect down range on general attitudes.

that disasters are not good.

but having worked EMS for ten years I know they are part of life.

Some are highly preventable... some are human made, and some are natural.

You plan for them. You prepare for them. You train for them. And you know that when all is said and done everybody involved learns a lesson... depends on the nature of the disaster what that lesson is.

For example the Mexico City quake led to something that did not exist before. A National Civil Defense infrastructure and confined space rescue teams.

The other option was to keep going as ever and do nothing.

But perhaps having worked a few of them, I realize they happen. And you know what at least the natural kind I can mitigate them, I cannot prevent them. But the man made kind tend to be far worst in the modern era, and lead to changes, massive changes, in the nations affected.

:shrug:

a few in the media have compared it to a volcano... erupting

steam of consciousness posting and all that.

:hi:

environmental epiphany, I'm hoping it isn't too late.

The problem is for this to have the maximum sociological impact, too much damage and destruction would be required and I'm not sure at this point that modern society is resilient enough to withstand so harsh of a lesson.

The opposite could occur if this gusher of oil can't be stopped or stopped soon enough, collapse may happen, environmental, economic and eventually societal.

A lesson learned too late and at too much cost, just as some people on death row have learned.

Thanks for the thread, nadinbrzezinski.

worst possible case scenario... the oceans become barren

Well that is an extinction level event... good night gracie for the species... no oceans with any significant life, there goes the life support system of the planet.

Of course it is not just humanity that will go the way of the dinosaurs. ironic I know, from dino products after all... but so would every other high level life form.

Happy thoughts, and no that would not be a lesson that would be a learning experience.