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  • 23 July 2010. Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
A sales poster pitched primarily to oil clean up workers as seen on the wall at the Grand Isle marina advertising FEMA trailers at discount prices. These would be the same FEMA trailers that are known to be contaminated with formaldehyde and are the subject of extensive legal wrangling following their use after hurricane Katrina. The FEMA trailers are known to have made people very sick. How is it possible for these trailers, effectively contaminated government owned stock to now be available through private dealers to the general public? <br />
BP's catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico would appear to be encouraging additional contamination of clean up crews through private sales of contaminated FEMA trailers. How is this possible? <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil008.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Coastal erosion is rapidly eating away at multi million dollar sand berm projects at East Grande Terre Island near Grand Isle. Rapidly approved, the sand berms have not been sufficiently evaluated. They do appear to catch oil which can easily be cleaned up, however a relatively minor hurricane will likely wash the man made berm back into the Gulf of Mexico. Yet more examples of spending BP's vasty amounts of cash in the wake of BP's catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil044.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. East Grand Terre Island, south Louisiana. <br />
Digging for oil. Government scientists from NOAA, EPA and BP scour the newly created sand berms where the Gulf of Mexico meets Barataria Bay. The scientists are searching for oil and taking samples back for analysis where the joint findings are analysed. The controversial new 'islands' are part of a grander scheme to boost efforts to save the wetlands. To date the islands have done a good job taking on oil, preventing a great deal of it from entering the Bay beyond.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil041.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. <br />
Contractors for BP decontaminate and clean ocean oil booms before they are returned to service as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil008.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil001.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos065.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos016.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil soaked boom floats close to Grand Isle. The ecological and economic impact of BP's oil spill is devastating to the region. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe is evading booms laid out to stop it thanks in part to the dispersants which means the oil travels at every depth of the Gulf and washes ashore wherever the current carries it. The Louisiana wetlands produce over 30% of America's seafood and are the most fertile of their kind in the world.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    06june10-oil france-soir 033.JPG
  • 09 June 2010. Fort Jackson, Venice, Louisiana.<br />
What have we done? Sea Gulls coated in oil await cleaning at the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)in Fort Jackson. The animals have been collected from marshes throughout Louisiana where BP's catastrophic oil spill washes ashore.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    09june10-pelican-helo053.JPG
  • 26 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
A natural gas platform. The fragile grass lands perched at the mouth of mississippi delta is all that seperates land from the Gulf of Mexico. The region is strategically vital to the American oil and gas industry and a major player in America's seafood industry. BP's catastrophic oil spill continues to spew a black tide of death which continues to encroach upon everything in the region. The economic impact is devastating with shrimp boats tied up, vacation rentals and charter boat fishing trips are cancelled. The only real business is cleaning up big oil's disasterous screw up. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe is evading booms laid out to stop it thanks in part to the dispersants which means the oil travels at every depth of the Gulf and washes ashore wherever the current carries it. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley<br />
www.varleypix.com
    26may10-barataria bay028.JPG
  • 26 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Grand Isle.  Water world of the south, perched at the mouth of mississippi delta, all that separates land from the Gulf of Mexico. Strategically vital to the American oil and gas industry and a major player in America's seafood industry. BP's catastrophic oil spill continues to spew a black tide of death which continues to encroach upon everything in the region. The economic impact is devastating with shrimp boats tied up, vacation rentals and charter boat fishing trips are cancelled. The only real business is cleaning up big oil's disasterous screw up. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe is evading booms laid out to stop it thanks in part to the dispersants which means the oil travels at every depth of the Gulf and washes ashore wherever the current carries it. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley.
    26may10-barataria bay018.JPG
  • 16 May 2010. New Orleans, Louisiana. <br />
Gulf Aid - a benefit festival for Louisiana fishermen and our coast.<br />
Lenny Kravitz in fine form rocks the event as he closes the show on the Wetlands indoor stage. <br />
Local musicians have gathered together in response to BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the very fabric of an entire region. All proceeds from the event will be used to support local fishing communities and the region.<br />
Photo credit;Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    17may10-gulf aid034.JPG
  • 16 May 2010. New Orleans, Louisiana. <br />
Gulf Aid - a benefit festival for Louisiana fishermen and our coast.<br />
John Legend on the Wetlands indoor stage. <br />
Local musicians have gathered together in response to BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the very fabric of an entire region. All proceeds from the event will be used to support local fishing communities and the region.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    17may10-gulf aid048.JPG
  • 16 May 2010. New Orleans, Louisiana. <br />
Gulf Aid - a benefit festival for Louisiana fishermen and our coast.<br />
Ani DiFranco. Local musicians have gathered together in response to BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the very fabric of an entire region. All proceeds from the event will be used to support local fishing communities and the region.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    17may10-gulf aid117.JPG
  • 16 May 2010. New Orleans, Louisiana. <br />
Gulf Aid - a benefit festival for Louisiana fishermen and our coast.<br />
The Voice of the Wetlands Allstars. Tab Benoit. Local musicians have gathered together in response to BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the very fabric of an entire region. All proceeds from the event will be used to support local fishing communities and the region.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    17may10-gulf aid084.JPG
  • 13 May 2010. Grand Isle, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil containment booms lie uselessly washed up on an inland tidal beach in Grand Isle. Fierce tidal currents and changeable weather makes it virtually impossible to keep booms in place around the parish. The first sticky  spots of oil surfaced on the west of the Mississippi river and have been confirmed up and down the beaches of Jefferson and Lafourche parishes. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe is evading booms laid out to stop it thanks in part to the dispersants which means the oil travels at every depth of the Gulf. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    13may10-oil spill013.JPG
  • 13 May 2010. Grand Isle, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
A disaster for the local economy, holiday lets have plummeted and thousands have been cancelled as oil lands on the beaches of Jefferson and Lafourche parishes to the west of the Mississippi River outlet. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe is evading booms laid out to stop it thanks in part to the dispersants which means the oil travels at every depth of the Gulf. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    13may10-oil spill032.JPG
  • 13 May 2010. Elmer Island, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Sgt George Achee of the Louisiana National guard inspects sandbags deposited earlier and already disappearing fast with the tide. Like King Canute before them, Louisiana National Guardsmen of the 922nd Horizontal Engineer Company, 769th Engineer Battalion fight a losing battle against mother nature as they battle against the strong currents to close the inland waterways from the ocean now depositing oil from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe on the beaches. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    13may10-oil spill024.JPG
  • 07 May 2010. Westwego, Louisiana. <br />
Westwego Fish Market. All seafood prices have risen 25% in the past 7 days alone as stocks run low thanks to closed fishing grounds affected by oil pollution. Today was the opening day of the inshore shrimp season. The season was closed before it could open thanks to BP's disastrous environmental catastrophe out in the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 210,000 barrels of oil per day is leaking uncontrollably into the Gulf because of the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform 46 miles out to sea. The closure of fishing grounds both east and west of the Mississippi river outflow is crippling thousands of local fishermen and all affiliated businesses and families who rely on the seafood industry. None of the shrimp or other seafood offered at the market are fresh catch from today. Everything has been through the IQF (Instant Quick Freeze) process and is seafood caught earlier in the season and brought from storage freezers in Venice and Grand Isle. Stocks are running low. With no new catches, the market will be forced to rely on farmed shrimp shipped in from Texas and Georgia. Local traders refuse to stock Chinese import fish raised with growth hormones, pesticides, fungicides and other contaminants widely found in Chinese farm raised seafood. Many fear losing their jobs and everything they own as a result of BP's Gulf Coast environmental disaster.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    10may10-seafood104.JPG
  • 07 May 2010. Westwego, Louisiana. <br />
All seafood prices have risen 25% in the past 7 days alone as stocks run low thanks to closed fishing grounds affected by oil pollution. Today was the opening day of the inshore shrimp season. The season was closed before it could open thanks to BP's disastrous environmental catastrophe out in the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 210,000 barrels of oil per day is leaking uncontrollably into the Gulf because of the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform 46 miles out to sea. The closure of fishing grounds both east and west of the Mississippi river outflow is crippling thousands of local fishermen and all affiliated businesses and families who rely on the seafood industry. None of the shrimp or other seafood offered at the market are fresh catch from today. Everything has been through the IQF (Instant Quick Freeze) process and is seafood caught earlier in the season and brought from storage freezers in Venice and Grand Isle. Stocks are running low. With no new catches, the market will be forced to rely on farmed shrimp shipped in from Texas and Georgia. Local traders refuse to stock Chinese import fish raised with growth hormones, pesticides, fungicides and other contaminants widely found in Chinese farm raised seafood. Many fear losing their jobs and everything they own as a result of BP's Gulf Coast environmental disaster.<br />
Photo credit;Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    10may10-seafood171.JPG
  • 07 May 2010. Westwego, Louisiana. <br />
Perhaps the last of local fresh blue crabs to arrive at the Westwego Fish market just outside New Orleans. All seafood prices have risen 25% in the past 7 days alone as stocks run low thanks to closed fishing grounds affected by oil pollution. Today was the opening day of the inshore shrimp season. The season was closed before it could open thanks to BP's disastrous environmental catastrophe out in the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 210,000 barrels of oil per day is leaking uncontrollably into the Gulf because of the explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform 46 miles out to sea. The closure of fishing grounds both east and west of the Mississippi river outflow is crippling thousands of local fishermen and all affiliated businesses and families who rely on the seafood industry. None of the shrimp or other seafood offered at the market are fresh catch from today. Everything has been through the IQF (Instant Quick Freeze) process and is seafood caught earlier in the season and brought from storage freezers in Venice and Grand Isle. Stocks are running low. With no new catches, the market will be forced to rely on farmed shrimp shipped in from Texas and Georgia. Local traders refuse to stock Chinese import fish raised with growth hormones, pesticides, fungicides and other contaminants widely found in Chinese farm raised seafood. Many fear losing their jobs and everything they own as a result of BP's Gulf Coast environmental disaster.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    10may10-seafood165.JPG
  • 09 May 2010. Waveland, Mississippi USA. <br />
Two dead catfish make up a small fraction of carnage at the beach.  6 dead stingrays also littered a half mile stretch of beach. Whether it's early indications of oil pollution, or catch tossed from a local fishing pier, it is truly tragic to find so many once fine, now dead fish in such a short stretch of beach. Either way, it shows a callous disregard for the environment in which we live. Meanwhile all around locals, tourists and visitors relax and enjoy the beauty of South Beach,  an hour from New Orleans. Just a few miles off the coast, an impending disaster looms. With the continual flood of oil washing into the Gulf of Mexico and as winds turn and begin to push from the south, it is only and matter of when, not if the oil reaches the beaches. The barrier islands offshore are taking a battering soaking up the initial fronts of oil threatening everything in it's ever encroaching path. <br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    09may10-waveland miss012.JPG
  • 06 May 2010. Shell Beach, Louisiana. Deepwater Horizon, British Petroleum environmental oil spill disaster.<br />
Soldiers from the 2225th Multi-Role Bridge Company Louisiana National Guard commence work on a floating pontoon which will be used by local fishermen to load oil containment boom. With oil reaching ever closer to the St Bernard Parish wetlands, it is vitally important to get more oil containment booms in place.<br />
Photo credit;Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    06may10-oil-spill020.JPG
  • 21 May 2010. Grand Isle, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. .BP Macondo Well disaster. Oil washes ashore in greater concentrations than previously seen on the once pristine beaches of Grand Isle. The economic and environmental impact is devastating with shrimp boats tied up, vacation rentals and charter boat fishing trips cancelled as police chase tourists from the beaches just two hours drive from New Orleans..Oil from the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe is evading booms laid out to stop it thanks in part to the dispersants which means the oil travels at every depth of the Gulf and washes ashore wherever the current carries it. .Photo credit; Charlie Varley.
    21may10-oil grand isle040.JPG
  • 09 February 2016. New Orleans, Louisiana.<br />
Mardi Gras Day. Street vendors with their rigs loaded down with Mardi Gras trinkets make their way along St Charles Avenue in the early morning.<br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    09feb16-Mardi Gras Day041.jpg
  • 09 February 2016. New Orleans, Louisiana.<br />
Mardi Gras Day. Street vendors with their rigs loaded down with Mardi Gras trinkets make their way along St Charles Avenue in the early morning.<br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    09feb16-Mardi Gras Day243.JPG
  • 09 February 2016. New Orleans, Louisiana.<br />
Mardi Gras Day. Street vendors with their rigs loaded down with Mardi Gras trinkets make their way along St Charles Avenue in the early morning.<br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    09feb16-Mardi Gras Day240.JPG
  • 09 February 2016. New Orleans, Louisiana.<br />
Mardi Gras Day. Street vendors with their rigs loaded down with Mardi Gras trinkets make their way along St Charles Avenue in the early morning.<br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    09feb16-Mardi Gras Day027.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. Barbies fall from a travel bag.<br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots022.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. Barbies fall from a travel bag.<br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots021.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. <br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots019.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. <br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots018.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. <br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots016.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. <br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots015.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. <br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots014.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. <br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots013.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. <br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots011.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. <br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots010.JPG
  • 03 Jan, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana.  Barbies return home. <br />
Items taken by a young girl during the mass evacuation of New Orleans finally return home. <br />
Photo©; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    03jan06-barbie and boots017.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Grand Isle, south Louisiana. <br />
Fishing grounds reopen yet the normally packed marina at Grand Isle remains deserted, ironically with the only catch of the day being a gas pump. BP has leased all the slips, the local motel and every available parking space making this the jump off point for crews assisting in the oil clean up operation. Recreational fishermen must travel 7 miles north to buy bait.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil060.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Barataria Bay, south Louisiana. <br />
Intrepid french news reporter Arnaud Muller of France 2 TV's version of 60 minutes reports on the BP oil spill.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil056.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Barataria Bay, south Louisiana. <br />
Sub contractors, working for contractors working for BP barge together awaiting orders to deploy absorbent oil boom as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana. Photo credit; Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil031.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Bay Jimmy, south Louisiana. <br />
Sub contractors, working for contractors working for BP check, replace, remove and deploy absorbent oil boom as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana. Bay Jimmy received another recent coating of oil despite government and BP efforts to persuade the public otherwise. The sub contractors were ordered over the radio 'Do not talk to journalists.' The culture of fear remains whereby any contractor speaking to the media fears he may lose his job.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil054.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Bay Jimmy, south Louisiana. <br />
Sub contractors, working for contractors working for BP check, replace, remove and deploy absorbent oil boom as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana. Bay Jimmy received another recent coating of oil despite government and BP efforts to persuade the public otherwise. The sub contractors were ordered over the radio 'Do not talk to journalists.' The culture of fear remains whereby any contractor speaking to the media fears he may lose his job.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil053.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Barataria Bay, south Louisiana. <br />
Fishing grounds reopen. A shrimp boat sits in the current deploying nets instead of oil boom in the water as recreational fishermen return to fish for speckled trout enjoying a day out in the bay.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil027.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Bay Jimmy, south Louisiana. <br />
Sub contractors, working for contractors working for BP check, replace, remove and deploy absorbent oil boom as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana. Bay Jimmy received another recent coating of oil despite government and BP efforts to persuade the public otherwise. The sub contractors were ordered over the radio 'Do not talk to journalists.' The culture of fear remains whereby any contractor speaking to the media fears he may lose his job.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil052.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Bay Jimmy, south Louisiana. <br />
Despite government and BP efforts to persuade the public otherwise, oil continues to wash up in the marshes of Bay Jimmy, flowing under absorbent oil boom as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana.  Despite concerted clean up efforts, filthy oil laden absorbent oil boom lies uselessly in the marshes the boom is suppose to protect.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil023.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Bay Jimmy, south Louisiana. <br />
Despite government and BP efforts to persuade the public otherwise, oil continues to wash up in the marshes of Bay Jimmy, flowing under absorbent oil boom as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana.  Despite concerted clean up efforts, filthy oil laden absorbent oil boom lies uselessly in the marshes the boom is suppose to protect.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley.
    21aug10-BP oil022.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Barataria Bay, south Louisiana. <br />
The view from the command center situated on a jack up barge at the mouth of the Barataria Bay. The structure serves as command and control for the deployment of boom and other efforts in the area  in the ongoing battle to clean up BP's disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil049.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Bay Jimmy, south Louisiana. <br />
Despite government and BP efforts to persuade the public otherwise, oil continues to wash up in the marshes of Bay Jimmy, flowing under absorbent oil boom as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana.  Despite concerted clean up efforts, filthy oil laden absorbent oil boom lies uselessly in the marshes the boom is suppose to protect.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil019.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Bay Jimmy, south Louisiana. <br />
Sub contractors, working for contractors working for BP check, replace, remove and deploy absorbent oil boom as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana. Bay Jimmy received another recent coating of oil despite government and BP efforts to persuade the public otherwise. The sub contractors were ordered over the radio 'Do not talk to journalists.' The culture of fear remains whereby any contractor speaking to the media fears he may lose his job.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil017.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Bay Jimmy, south Louisiana. <br />
Sub contractors, working for contractors working for BP check, replace, remove and deploy absorbent oil boom as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana. Bay Jimmy received another recent coating of oil despite government and BP efforts to persuade the public otherwise. The sub contractors were ordered over the radio 'Do not talk to journalists.' The culture of fear remains whereby any contractor speaking to the media fears he may lose his job.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil014.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. <br />
One of just a handful of shrimp boats, laden with nets instead of oil boom returns to fishing as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana. Many shrimpers have not returned to work thanks in part to regular pay from contractors working the BP clean up operation. The disaster has taken a heavy toll on fishing. Processing plants remain closed and BP has leased many boat slips and fish landing sites that have been converted into BP oil response staging areas.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil011.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. <br />
Contractors for BP decontaminate and clean ocean oil booms before they are returned to service as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil004.JPG
  • 21 August 2010. Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. <br />
Contractors for BP decontaminate and clean ocean oil booms before they are returned to service as the worst environmental disaster in US history continues to unfold in south Louisiana.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    21aug10-BP oil007.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
A 'floatel' passes by heading inland away from the coast as tropical storm 'Bonnie' threatens the Gulf of Mexico. BP contractors prefer to house clean up crew workers in these floating container motels to save a few lousy dollars rather than station workers on land where they would benefit the local economy. Already reeling from poor decisions and an economic and environmental disaster thanks to BP's catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the corporation continues to oversee economic devastation wreaked on local communities. Private contractors continue to get rich taking BP's cash as local economies flounder. 'Floatels' do not benefit local communities in any way. BP contractors bring all food and supplies to the 'floatels.' In an area both economically and ecologically devastated by BP, this would appear to be yet another slap in the face to struggling local economies - and all to save a few bucks to make a few contractors even wealthier than they already are! This should be a national disgrace. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil011.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Oil containment hard boom on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the boom is mostly clean and free from oil. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil010.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Queen Bess Island near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on boom at Queen Bess island near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are relatively clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil060.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Queen Bess Island near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Oil containment hard boom appears to collect foaming sea water, a likely result of chemical dispersants in the waters at Queen Bess Island near Grand Isle. Minor storms and swell easily remove the boom from flimsy moorings creating yet another problem in the region. Stakes tethering boom to the bay floor are unlikely to be removed, causing yet more obstacles for shrimp fishermen to tear their nets on when shrimping is permitted to resume. The entire area appears to be relatively clean of oil. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil053.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Queen Bess Island near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on boom at Queen Bess island near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are relatively clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil052.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
On what should be the busiest weekend of the year at the Grand Isle marina, there are just a few boats. More seagulls than people visited the marina on what is traditionally the weekend of the Tarpon Rodeo, Grand Isle's fishing 'Mardi Gras,' and greatest cash earner of the year. Ordinarily the marina would be overflowing with people and boats but with fishing still restricted and a potential tropical storm in the gulf, the marina is mostly deserted. The local economy has taken a massive hit. It will be years before the town and the area is able to recover from BP's catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil004.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil050.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil003.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Oil containment hard boom washed ashore in the middle of bird nesting areas on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. The boom appears to be mostly clean and free from oil, but the boom itself has now become the problem as it interferes with nesting brown pelicans and other birds. Minor storms and swell easily remove the boom from flimsy moorings creating yet another problem in the region. Stakes tethering boom to the bay floor are unlikely to be removed, causing yet more obstacles for shrimp fishermen to tear their nets on when shrimping is permitted to resume. The entire area appears to be relatively clean of oil. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil034.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Oil containment hard boom washed ashore in the middle of bird nesting areas on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. The boom appears to be mostly clean and free from oil, but the boom itself has now become the problem as it interferes with nesting brown pelicans and other birds. Minor storms and swell easily remove the boom from flimsy moorings creating yet another problem in the region. Stakes tethering boom to the bay floor are unlikely to be removed, causing yet more obstacles for shrimp fishermen to tear their nets on when shrimping is permitted to resume. The entire area appears to be relatively clean of oil. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil031.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil030.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil027.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil021.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil019.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil015.JPG
  • 23 July 2010. Cat Islands. Barataria Bay near Grand Isle, Louisiana. <br />
Has mother nature naturally cleaned up the oil spill with human help? Young immature pelicans rest on one of the Cat islands near Grand Isle. In what would appear to be good news for the area, the pelicans and boom are clean. A sweep through Barataria bay uncovered only two oiled pelicans. No tar balls or oil were seen in the water. Many of the marsh grasses appeared to be growing back. Perhaps the area is witnessing the beginning of the end of the disaster from BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? It will be many years before the long term effects of the spill are known and a tropical storm or hurricane could still bring large slicks of oil ashore. For now though, the situation looks relatively good.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    23july10-BP oil013.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos007.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos006.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos003.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos002.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos001.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos066.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
An army blackhawk on a sandbagging mission. Sand bags attempt to join the dots and connect what little remains of fragile barrier islands. It is unlikely the bags will survive a hurricane. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. A hurricane will likely roll over and blast through any sandbag 'barrier island,' blowing thousands of large white plastic bags far and wide across the landscape. That will really help the environment! <br />
Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos062.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
An army helicopter on a sandbagging mission. Sand bags attempt to join the dots and connect what little remains of fragile barrier islands. It is unlikely the bags will survive a hurricane. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. A hurricane will likely roll over and blast through any sandbag 'barrier island,' blowing thousands of large white plastic bags far and wide across the landscape. That will really help the environment! <br />
Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos060.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
An army chinook CH-47 twin rotor helicopter on a sandbagging mission. Sand bags attempt to join the dots and connect what little remains of fragile barrier islands. It is unlikely the bags will survive a hurricane. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. A hurricane will likely roll over and blast through any sandbag 'barrier island,' blowing thousands of large white plastic bags far and wide across the landscape. That will really help the environment! <br />
Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos056.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
An army chinook CH-47 twin rotor helicopter on a sandbagging mission. Sand bags attempt to join the dots and connect what little remains of fragile barrier islands. It is unlikely the bags will survive a hurricane. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. A hurricane will likely roll over and blast through any sandbag 'barrier island,' blowing thousands of large white plastic bags far and wide across the landscape. That will really help the environment! <br />
Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos055.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
An army chinook CH-47 twin rotor helicopter on a sandbagging mission. Sand bags attempt to join the dots and connect what little remains of fragile barrier islands. It is unlikely the bags will survive a hurricane. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and inpending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valient as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. A hurricane will likely roll over and blast through any sandbag 'barrier island,' blowing thousands of large white plastic bags far and wide across the landscape. That will really help the environment! <br />
Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disasterous effects of man's inteference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley.
    12june10-helos054.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
An army blackhawk on a sandbagging mission. Sand bags attempt to join the dots and connect what little remains of fragile barrier islands. It is unlikely the bags will survive a hurricane. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. A hurricane will likely roll over and blast through any sandbag 'barrier island,' blowing thousands of large white plastic bags far and wide across the landscape. That will really help the environment! <br />
Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disterous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos053.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos050.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos048.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos046.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's inteference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos045.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos044.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos039.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos038.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos037.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos035.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos032.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos031.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos030.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos026.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos024.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos023.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos022.JPG
  • 12 june 2010. Wetlands of Plaquemines Parish, South Louisiana. <br />
Vanishing wetlands. Where once there was land, there is only the mere outline of old canals and channels, many dug by oil companies to pump their product ashore with little regard to the effects the chopping up of the wetlands would have. Chronic erosion of the land, a football pitch every 50 minutes, greatly reduced protection from hurricanes and impending BP oil slicks is the direct result of mismanagement and utter disregard for the environment. The army corps of engineers and the oil companies, together with inept government have a great deal to answer for. <br />
View from a blackhawk helicopter flown by airmen of the Nebraska Air National Guard over southern Louisiana as they assist in the dumping of sand bags onto barrier islands in a vain attempt to prevent BP oil from getting into the inner  wetlands. As valiant as their efforts are, the dumping of sand bags may well prove to be a complete waste of manpower, resources and money. Meanwhile, the mighty Mississippi river runs straight out to sea nearby, her valuable land building sediment carried far out into deep ocean as the region struggles to find a way to reverse the disastrous effects of man's interference with her flow. <br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    12june10-helos021.JPG
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