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Courtesy of 
Photo courtesy of the Darwin Foundation |
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| Courtesy of
Photo courtesy of the Darwin Foundation |
During the past century, the world demand for oil has grown enormously. We rely on it for energy and use many products that are made from oil. Unfortunately, each year there are numerous small spills as oil is transported from its site of origin to us.
When it comes to oil spills, there are no simple solutions. Many precautions are taken and many rules have been introduced to reduce the number and severity of oil spills. These efforts will continue. But the biggest step we can all take is to reduce our dependency on oil. If we start using less energy, and fewer products that take lots of fuel to make or run, there will be less need to transport oil from place to place.
There are many ways of making the most of oil. Take public transportation, or use your own energy to get around. Use fewer petrochemical products like plastic wrap and plastic bags. Reuse and recycle as much as you can.
Shoreline clean-up is a lot of work, so many trained volunteers are needed. It is a big commitment as you have to learn how the work is done and be ready to help at any time.
Rescuing an oiled bird is also a rewarding experience. Unfortunately, it is not an easy task - you need training, experience and endless patience. An oiled bird is a wild animal in severe shock, made worse by handling. A helper's health can also be at risk, from breathing in and handling petroleum products.
If you think you are up to the challenge, choose an area where you would like to help. Find out who is responsible for clean-up and let them know how to reach you when you are needed. Learn about the sensitivities of the environment in question. Then learn the cleaning and bird rescue techniques that will be used if oil is spilled.
Share your knowledge and enthusiasm with others, lobby for change when you see that it is needed and always report spills, no matter how small.
One way to become more involved is to pursue a career in science. Teams of people with a range of backgrounds work on oil spill issues. There are a number of disciplines which will prepare you to take part in oil spill research and other environmental research.
These include: marine biology; freshwater biology; botany; wildlife biology; hydrology; toxicology; physics; chemistry; geology; microbiology; oceanography; geography; archaeology; meteorology; computer science; and engineering.
