As the cleanup continues in the Gulf of Mexico, reports of underwater “mushroom clouds… [that] portend more dangerous long-term fallout for the Gulf of Mexico’s wildlife and economy". Experts say that a deep water spill will destroy the ecosystem of the gulf because oil “dispersants themselves are toxic” with over 2.1 million litres of chemicals used.
President Obama has expressed his “anger and frustration” both at the cleanup and the way BP, Haliburton and other companies have shifted blame for the spill. The US ABC news saw the sacking of Chris Oynes, an Obama government official in charge of overseeing offshore oil as a political casualty of Obama’s anger.
Closer to our own shores, Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has announced 31 new offshore petroleum exploration zones despite a recent spill near the Barrier Reef.