A Japanese cargo ship crashed into a reef off the coast of Mauritius spilling approximately 1, 000 tons of oil into the sea. Now, dolphins have begun to wash up on the shore, dying as a result of the oil spilled into their habitat. Now, the people of Mauritius have taken to the streets in protest of the Government's inaction in regards to the spill and holding the Japanese ship accountable. The protests are demanding the Government investigate why the Japanese ship had veered so far off course and secondly, why the Government has not done more to investigate the spill. They are calling on the Government to be more transparent in their handling of this crisis and to take appropriate action in dealing with this crisis that requires immediate and swift attention. Now that 39 dolphins have since washed up on the shore, it couldn't be more imperative that investigations into the accident take place. The citizens of Mauritius recognize the importance of the ocean and its health and have an ominous feeling that these poor dolphins are only the first round of casualties as a result of this horrendous oil spill.
Another thing that I can't help but take away from this story is that the recent go ahead from the Trump administration to drill in the arctic is so potentially dangerous and irresponsible. This oil spill is the perfect example of what damage can be done to an ecosystem if something like this happens. The arctic is pristine and untouched and the species there have not yet had to deal with constant human presence. This will undoubtedly disrupt their livelihoods and cause serious implications to their survival. Secondly, an oil spill in the arctic would have catastrophic effects on the wildlife of this habitat. Polar bears would see their food sources decimated as they die off from the spill. Endangered species like whales and cetaceans would die as they were displaced because of such a spill.
Our continued search for resources is destroying our planet. Our carelessness is destroying our planet. Animals are dying off because of our selfishness. At a time when our planet is already facing such uncertainty because of climate change, we need to be doing more to protect it. We needn't be looking for new ways to destroy it in order to benefit ourselves. If we cannot recognize the damage we are capable of causing and what we have already done, I fear it's too late to save our planet. We are on track to witness the extinction of so many recognized and revered species'. Learn more about the oil spill in Mauritius by clicking on the link at the top of this post. HAPPY VEG
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