The Oil Spill (with nods to post-apocalyptic novels)

Numerous sf novels start after a major disaster, as humanity reacts and rallies to devastation. Sheri S.Tepper's novels are deeply concerned with nature and ecology, as are the Wess'har War novels by Karen Traviss, and Sara Creasy's recent debut SONG OF SCARABAEUS, plus several of Kim Stanley Robinson's novels, Paolo Bacigalupi's incredible WIND-UP GIRL, and many others.

It's very interesting to read about in a speculative novel. It's less so in real life.

Everyone's heard about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. If you're like me, you read the headlines and turn or click away before the latest wildlife-in-oil picture makes you cry. It's human nature--we simply aren't meant to focus for long periods of time on tragedies (when was the last time you heard about what's happening in Haiti?). 

I very rarely conflate my professional and personal lives on this blog--the focus should be on the Eos authors and their works--but I'm doing so here today.

Because the oil spill is going to affect all life (human and animal) and the planet, and we're all going to be worse off because of it.  If you're not directly involved, you can't see how awful this is, and even then it's not going away. We're already seeing the side effects--oyster bars closing in New Orleans, oil being absorbed into the atmosphere and re-entering as rain, etc.--and we're going to pay for it (directly and indirectly), and the next generation as well, and probably the one after that.

I'm totally biased here: my family has always been in science--my mom's a pediatric hematologist, aunt's a chemist, uncle's a biologist, and so on--and nature/conservation have always been a basic part of my life (I was a nerd from early on, drawing platelets & sickle cells, with a pet toad I named Isis). My uncle, several cousins, and their families are fishermen, and make their living fishing, crabbing, and clamming in the Gulf.

My father, Frank Gill, is an ornithologist, and current president of the National Audubon Society.  Today, he and an amazing little girl (Olivia Bouler, who's raised more than $150K for recovery efforts in the gulf) will be ringing the closing bell at the NYSE to highlight Audubon's oil-spill recovery efforts. I'm proud of what they're doing, and what so many have done to help, and so quickly.

There are a lot of problems in the world and a lot of injustices, from war to famine, racism to homophobia, plus the huge challenge of a struggling global economy--there's a lot to fight for, and your personal beliefs and convictions dictate your actions, and that's how it should be. 

Whatever you believe in, fight for it, and the world will be a better place for your conviction and passion. And if you care about the disaster the oil spill was, is, is, and will be, speak out for that as well. Donate, write or call your representatives, talk to others--do something. Don't let this get washed away, because the oil--and the destruction it brings--isn't going to. I'd just as soon keep my post-apocalyptic fiction safely as fiction--wouldn't you?

-- Diana

Comments

[Elizabeth Moon]

As a near-lifelong resident of a Gulf state whose governor called it an Act of God, thank you for this. (And wow--your father's an ornithologist and Audubon's president? I had no idea!)

I have so far had zero effect on Texas politicians (for whom Big Oil is at least a major archangel) but will keep trying. Started posting on the mess awhile back and will continue to.

[Diana]

You're welcome. I wish it weren't necessary.

(Yep, that's my dad. )

Thank you for fighting the good fight--every voice counts!

[Chrys]

It's been so devastating. Whenever I talk about it to people (I'm constantly bringing it up) they always blow it off as something that's been overhyped and they say we will bounce back after a few years. Can't they see that it will affect us for generations? The ecosystem there will probably never revert back to its pre-spill state. It's heartbreaking.

[Helen Lowe]

I don't think the full impact of what's happening in the Gulf has really hit home to many peope who aren't directly affected yet--we watch it as clips of the "disaster show" (aka the news) but until you're directly personally affected it's at remote ...

And yet as the world's desire for petroleum and petroluem byproducts continues unabated, this disaster could so easily be coming to an ecosystem near you. Because as I understand it, the risk of like events recurring is real and present for all ocean floor drilling.

So unless we as indiviudals and societies are willing to make changes that reduce the demand that makes these kind of risks worthwhile for oil companies, this will occur again. Which is why I think you are right to put actions on the website, as well as just posting, because unless people act, nothing will change.

And by the way, even as we all write, this disaster is still going on. No one has actually stopped the oil flow, so this could get a lot worse yet, is my reading.