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Ian Somerhalder: 'The Gulf of Mexico is gone'
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Ian Somerhalder's activism in efforts to help his home state of Louisiana recover from the Gulf oil disaster have been well-documented in this space. But the "Vampire Diaries" star says he's still "beyond angry and beyond sad" at the state of the Gulf."I grew up on those estuaries," he tells Zap2it. "I literally grew up on a marsh, freshwater bayous that run into a saltwater lake. The connection is like no other. The nutrients, the fruit of the waters, literally fed me and grew me into the guy I am. That's a connection similar to what you have with your parents. It goes very, very deep."
Nearly three months after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded, causing the massive spill, Somerhalder questions the government's response.
"The Gulf of Mexico could have been saved," he says, making it
clear he's speaking only for himself. "It was destroyed by lack of
leadership.
"In five or 10 years we will
understand what truly happened -- why President Obama didn't federalize
it, and why he has been a talking head for BP -- when the smoke clears
and the oil literally settles," he says.
"It is a sad and strange coincidence of how much money BP gave to President Obama. There is no change or hope. This should have been federalized as a national disaster, and we will find out eventually what happened and why it happened this way. It doesn't matter -- the Gulf of Mexico is gone."
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Photo credit: Getty Images
"It is a sad and strange coincidence of how much money BP gave to President Obama. There is no change or hope. This should have been federalized as a national disaster, and we will find out eventually what happened and why it happened this way. It doesn't matter -- the Gulf of Mexico is gone."
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Photo credit: Getty Images
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Ian is absolutely right! This should have been federalized. The Gulf of Mexico should have been declared a "disaster area" and the EPA should have stepped in and controlled the clean up. The barges and ships with the ability to siffen the oil should have been brought in immediately to contain the spill before it reached the coastline. The offered help from our foreign allies to bring their "state of the art" ships to the Gulf should have been accepted but was not. The Obama administration totally dropped the ball on this disaster. There has been no leadership. My heart goes out to all affected by this disaster. The Gulf of Mexico is gone and may never recover. Ian speaks from his heart. He is truly a person to admire.
He attacked Obama! Now he'll be crossed off the Hollwood A-list!
I wonder if Mr. Somerholder is also pointing blame at the governors of the Gulf states who are largely beholden to the oil companies and their off-shore drilling. Also, no mention of the US', and the world at large, dependency on fossil fuels.
Georgia Peach, the Repub's get WAAAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAYYYY more $$$ from big oil than the Dem's do. that's why the Repub's are apologizing to BP and still saying we gotta keep drilling!!!! c'mon, the REPUB's are well-known to be completely tied in and beholden to big oil (moreso than the mediocre ties to the Dem's).
Obama federalizing this mess could've done nothing more to stop it. there is NO TECHNOLOGY to have stopped this disaster. BP (and the rest of big oil) invests the bulk of its $$ in DRILLING tech, not in CLEANUP tech. just another thing wrong with big oil. duh.
@ get the facts; You're lying, Barry and the Dems got mega bucks from BP. It's a good thing for Barry and the Dems that you and the media hold them to such "low" standards. Do you have a show at MSNBC?
@ get the facts; There is plenty of "tech" for clean up, Barry waitted to long. All those partys and golf outtings kept him bizzy.
no lies there, Alex. and no, i don't have my own show at MSNBC. AND, UNLIKE YOU, I DON'T GET MY NEWS EXCLUSIVELY FROM FOX NEWS!!
REPUBLICANS = BIG OIL. plain & simple.
This is just sad, why didn't they do something when it wasn't so bad. Animals are dying, people are losing everthing that is special and beautiful to them. So stop fighting and start being the solution!
@get the facts;
Washington (CNN) -- "As petroleum giant BP comes under congressional scrutiny as its ruptured oil rig pumps thousands of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, its political contributions are being scrutinized, too. The top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 presidential election was Barack Obama, who collected $71,000, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics".
The truth is both parties are guilty of being in bed with the oil companies and turning a blind eye to the regulations that are in place. We need better regulations and stronger enforcement. Gov. Bobby Jindall is fighting for his state. Every turn he takes to protect the coastline/marshes/wetlands have been blocked by the Obama administration. Politics are definitely in play here, "Never let a crisis go to waste". BP is responsible for stopping the leak a mile down in the ocean (not an easy task) The Federal Government is responsible for protecting the United States waters and coast. There absolutely is and was technology out there to contain this leak. The Obama administation failed to act. WHY? It is highly unlikely the 20 million dollars BP gave to the federal government will actually find its way to the Gulf Coast. Obama has already said if a restaurant in Maine feels effects from the oil spill, the money will go to them too. BP is paying claims (slow, but paying). This "oil spill" is a complete disaster, however we are all dependent on fossil fuel. When we drive to work, fly to our destinations, go on vacations, transportation of goods, for jobs, etc.. Are we ready to give those things up? NO. How about more nuclear plants? Solar would be nice, but way too expensive for common folks. Windmills all over the countryside and in your backyard? Don't think most people want to look at that. Sorry, right now it is fossil fuel. Drilling on land would be nice. Alaska comes to mind, maybe closer to shore so it would be easier to manage in the case of an emergency. As far as Ian Somerhalder speaking out, he is a true advocate for the Gulf Coast. He speaks from his heart. More should follow his lead.