The Tragedy in the Gulf from an Eco-Justice Prospective
Psalm 24:1 - “The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”
An oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010 marked the beginning of one of the worst oil spills in US history. Eleven workers were killed and 17 were injured. In addition, at least 783 birds, 353 turtles and 41 mammals have died so far. This oil spill has already caused billions of dollars worth of damage and continues to wreak havoc on an area that has suffered more than its fair share of disasters. Even though British Petroleum (BP), the company responsible for the rig, put a containment cap to help capture some of the oil, it is estimated that anywhere between 42,000 and 10.5 million gallons still leak into the Gulf of Mexico every day.
The daily discoveries from the oil spill investigation can be discouraging and hard to believe. It seems that the more information that is released about the disaster, the more questions arise. How did this happen? What caused this to happen? What does this spill mean for our country’s energy and economic futures? How can we prevent a disaster like this from happening again? What does recovery look like for those who have been and will be affected? Many people are asking questions like these, searching for answers and wanting to know how they can help. While those in the Gulf Coast experience directly the impacts of this disaster, the effects are also being felt on a national and global level. In addition to all the physical damage that has occurred, the spirits and hopes of millions of people have been crushed, and the future consequences are uncertain and ominous.
While it might be difficult to process all of the details of the oil spill, it’s encouraging to know that the faith community is reaching out to help with the response. As people of faith, we are called to encourage our leaders to stay strong in the journey ahead. We can continue to pray for those in harm’s way and for those who are working tirelessly to stop the oil from spreading. We can also continue to pray for those who have the power to make important decisions and for those who have the chance to impact the future of our society. Additionally, we can take the time to learn as much information about the spill as possible. The more we learn, the better equipped we are to respond. By understanding what is happening in the Gulf Coast, we can learn from our mistakes and find out how God is calling us to live in ways that show our concern for Creation.
The Role of Eco-justice
Eco-justice is focused on creating a unity between humans and the environment by making sure that justice is provided for all of 
Creation. Eco-justice can be a challenging principle to uphold, but the tragedy in the Gulf Coast highlights the need for individuals and communities to be focused on an eco-justice way of life. Studying the oil spill from an eco-justice perspective means drawing ties between the impacts on Creation and how the situation is managed via governmental and administrative processes. While everyone is affected by the oil spill disaster, the impact is felt most by communities that don’t have the resources to adapt to the situation. Resources in this context can refer to more than just financial support and a strong economy. It can also refer to connections these communities need such as accessibility and information. For example, this disaster, as with others in the past, has had an unfair impact on immigrants (many of whom are not native English speakers), low-income families and communities of color. In order to be effective, disaster response must appropriately reflect the needs of various communities.
Of course, it’s not just communities that are having trouble receiving resources. Many scientists have been denied access to areas impacted by the spill and are unable to obtain the necessary samples to study the effects of this disaster on God’s Creation. Not having access to this information hinders their ability to help guide us on how to best respond to this crisis.
Over the years, disasters like this oil spill solemnly remind us that taking the time and resources to address challenges and risks before they turn into problems is a much better approach than waiting until disaster happens and paying the costs afterward (some call this the precautionary principle). A situation like this is particularly heartbreaking because of the challenges in measuring the full costs of the cleanup. How do you measure the cost of some of the exposed injustices? Is it even possible to put a price tag on or measure all of the costs of what that has happened and will happen? Even though BP has promised that it will compensate victims for all “legitimate claims,” many of the costs will never be completely repaid, simply because it is impossible to put a price tag on them.
Human/Environmental Health Impacts
It is important to understand how the oil spill harms human health and the health of all Creation. Currently, workers, communities, and the ecosystem are exposed to harmful chemicals in the oil and the oil dispersants. Crude oil, which is the unprocessed oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico, contains dangerous chemicals such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and naphthalene. Many of these chemicals can cause serious harm to God’s Creation. These chemicals can increase risks of cancer and can cause harm to the liver, kidney, nervous system, and reproductive systems. They also evaporate into the air that we breathe. Wind currents move these chemicals to other parts of the world without any barriers or forewarning. In addition, water currents are spreading the oil around the Gulf region. With the peak of hurricane season almost here, it’s scary to imagine where the oil and dispersants might spread in the upcoming months.
The dispersants being used to break up the oil also contain toxic chemicals that can harm many of the same organs as crude oil. Due to a weak federal chemical policy-the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976-it has been difficult to learn just what chemicals are in the dispersants, what the health impacts are, and how we can require BP to use healthier alternatives. The public has not had access to important information such as dispersant ingredients or concentrations. Under the TSCA, companies are not required to prove that chemicals are safe before using them and they can claim trade secrets on chemicals to avoid having to release any information about whats in various products. Congress is currently working to reform TSCA so that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has greater authority to remove dangerous chemicals from the market and it can ensure more accountability on behalf of chemical companies to provide health and safety data to the public and ensure chemicals are safe. This will ensure that vulnerable human populations and God’s Creation are safe. Congress has also begun to give scientists greater access to the oil spill area, while also requiring scientific and federal agencies to make more information viewable to the public. The National Council of Churches (NCC) has been working to educate people of faith and engage them in repairing U.S. chemical policy.
Impacts on Biodiversity
Hundreds of animals have been found dead or injured as a result of exposure to oil and oil dispersants. For those creatures that have survived, it’s still unknown how they will be affected in the future as a result of this exposure. What is known right now is that ecosystems are being destroyed and biodiversity is being decreased. Biodiversity, which is the variation of life forms across different ecosystems, is one of God’s greatest gifts. Biodiversity provides many economical, social, environmental, spiritual and aesthetic benefits. Some of these benefits include medicine, food, fuel, and a better quality of life. Biodiversity helps ecosystems provide services such as clean air, a stable climate, and water purification so that Creation can function in a healthy, sustainable way. To see God’s gift of biodiversity in decline is particularly worrisome, and it provides strong incentive to respond appropriately and quickly to this crisis.
Eliminating Oil Dependency
A community of faith living out eco-justice principles can create positive change in society by reducing our oil dependency and incorporating clean, renewable energy sources into society. Oil dependency and renewable energy are topics that have been discussed in this country for years, but this disaster has rightfully placed them as the number one concern right now. Scientists and experts have warned for years about the future oil crisis our country would face and the dangers oil dependence could impose on society. Since the 1950s, we have known that oil is a finite resource and oil production has been shrinking ever since.
Our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels is directly related to climate change. Which is a big concern from an eco-justice perspective. Oil is a fossil fuel, which means it comes from the remains of past living organisms that get buried in the ground over millions of years. Burning fossil fuels such as oil (most commonly in the form of gasoline) releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This causes the Earth’s climate to change, leading to warmer weather, stronger storms and more sporadic weather patterns. As our country has burned more fossil fuels, we have released more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
While it is challenging to completely eliminate our use of fossil fuels, it’s clear that reducing our dependence on oil must be a priority. Policies that transition the US away from fossil fuels to to renewable energy are an important way to reduce our dependence on oil and prevent a spill of this nature from happening again. However, changing policy is not the only action that can and should be taken. As people of faith, and as individuals who are concerned for each other and for society, the everyday choices and behaviors we exhibit can send a powerful message.Researching products before we buy them, driving less, encouraging appropriate policies, building connections and support within the community, and being resourceful are just some of the practical steps that Christians can take to reduce their consumption and fossil fuel use.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has been a terrible tragedy, and it’s hard to imagine our society needing a more devastating event to motivate us to work together and respond appropriately. If there is any message that we can take from this disaster, it is that we are all going feel the effects of it sooner or later, and strong leadership is needed if we want to see a better, brighter future. Fortunately, of all the groups of people who can lead the world toward this better future, the Christian community has great potential to unify people around this common need. All that’s left now is for us to ask God for the courage to use this strength and unity to help us take care of Creation.
By Kenny Theodos, Eco-Justice Intern
Click here to download Prayers for the Gulf a bulletin insert and resouce for congregations to facilitate a prayerful response to the Gulf oil disaster.
Download a hymn for the gulf by clicking here.
Click here to download a Litany for the Sea and All It's Creatures