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  • 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. 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
  • 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 spill011.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 spill008.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 spill033.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. 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 spill009.JPG
  • 08 Sept 2005. New Orleans, Louisiana. Hurricane Katrina aftermath.<br />
The port of New Orleans sustained major damage due to the storm with potentially massive repercussions for the USA and the rest of the world.<br />
Photo; ©Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    08sept05-postkatrina065.JPG
  • 08 Sept 2005. New Orleans, Louisiana. Hurricane Katrina aftermath. <br />
The port of New Orleans sustained major damage due to the storm with potentially massive repercussions for the USA and the rest of the world.The rail yards suffered flooding and have been crippled.<br />
Photo; ©Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    08sept05-postkatrina063.JPG
  • 8th Sept, 2005. Hurricane Katrina aftermath. New Orleans. The port of New Orleans sustained major damage due to the storm with potentially massive repercussions for the USA and the rest of the world.
    085-08sept05-085.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. 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. 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 />
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 oil020.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 oil008.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. 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. 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. 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. 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 />
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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. The precious wetlands south of Pointe Aux Chenes. Through years of erosion, much of this was once solid ground. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens the tribe's very existance, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 009.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. <br />
A long list of paperwork required by BP to apply for work or compensation on the wall at BP's community outreach center housed in the Jean Lafitte town hall. Ironically there was nobody from BP to speak with at the center. Much of the local fishing business, especially for smaller boats is a cash industry. Providing the necessary paperwork is often impossible for many boat owners and deckhands. 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 071.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. <br />
A giant BP logo on the wall at BP's community outreach center housed in the Jean Lafitte town hall. Ironically there was nobody from BP to speak with at the center. 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 070.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. <br />
Ironic signs on the walls of BP's community outreach center housed in the Jean Lafitte town hall. Ironically there was nobody from BP to speak with at the center. 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 067.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
A storm builds over eerily deserted Barataria Bay.  Ordinarily the bay would be filled with fishermen and shrimp boats. 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 065.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Reporter Alexandra Gonzalez of the French newspaper France-Soir covers BP's disasterous oil spill with guides frank 'Peanut' Lensmeyer and justin Workmon (rt).  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 064.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil soaked brown pelicans on Belle Pass island near Grand Isle, home to thousands of nesting birds. The Louisiana brown pelican, a bird only recently removed from the endangered species list try in vain to clean oil from their feathers. The birds are attempting to rear their young with the threat of oil pouring into their habitat.  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 039.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
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil soaked brown pelicans on Belle Pass island near Grand Isle, home to thousands of nesting birds. The Louisiana brown pelican, a bird only recently removed from the endangered species list try in vain to clean oil from their feathers. The birds are attempting to rear their young with the threat of oil pouring into their habitat.  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 032.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil clean up workers in full hazmat suits clear away oil soaked boom that has been delivered to the staging area on 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 029.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
An oyster boat converted to collect oil using booms is hard at work as oil seeps into Barataria Bay, the fragile eco system that separates the Gulf of Mexico from Louisiana wetlands. 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 051.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil seeps into Barataria Bay, the fragile eco system that separates the Gulf of Mexico from Louisiana wetlands. 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 049.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Utterly useless oil soaked boom washed up on the beaches of 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 025.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil collects against and seeps under the booms protecting brown pelicans on the Cat Island chain in Barataria Bay, home to thousands of nesting birds including the Louisiana brown pelican, a bird only recently removed from the endangered species list. The birds are attempting to rear their young with the threat of oil pouring into their habitat.  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 047.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Shrimpers surrounded by oil boom on their boat in Barataria Bay. The shrimp boaters should be sweeping the waters for up to $5,000 worth of beautiful Gulf shrimp a day but the fishing grounds are all closed. Instead they are making around $1,000 a day for  BP contractors instead, a fraction of what they would ordinarily be making. The fishermen do not have  fixed contracts with BP and does not know when BP will stop hiring them. The debt collectors have been calling asking for their money. The shrimpers advise them to call BP. They know their lives will never be the same again. 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 044.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Jimmy Terrebonne Snr sits surrounded by oil boom on his boat in Barataria Bay. The shrimp boater should be sweeping the waters for up to $5,000 worth of beautiful Gulf shrimp a day but the fishing grounds are all closed. Instead he is making around $1,000 a day for oil for BP contractors instead, a fraction of what he would ordinarily be making with bills mounting at home. The fisherman does not have a fixed contract within BP and does not know when BP will stop hiring him. He does however know that his life will never be the same again. 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 042.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Local authorities have pressed ahead, cutting through red tape that usually takes years to get anything done as enormous sand dredging operations build new barrier islands off Grande Terre island where the Gulf of Mexico meets Louisiana. It is hoped the new islands will help protect the inland fragile wetlands from the curse of British Petroleum. <br />
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 019.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil soaked boom lies uselessly on oil soaked beaches on a small island in the Cat Island chain in Barataria Bay. Just one week ago the island was crowded with sea birds. Today it is abandoned by them as oil drenches their habitat. 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 015.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Brown pelicans on the Cat Island chain in Barataria Bay, home to thousands of nesting birds including the Louisiana brown pelican, a bird only recently removed from the endangered species list. The birds are attempting to rear their young with the threat of oil pouring into their habitat.  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 013.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Brown pelicans on the Cat Island chain in Barataria Bay, home to thousands of nesting birds including the Louisiana brown pelican, a bird only recently removed from the endangered species list. The birds are attempting to rear their young with the threat of oil pouring into their habitat.  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 011.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil soaked boom is all that protects the Cat Island chain in Barataria Bay, home to thousands of nesting birds including the Louisiana brown pelican, a bird only recently removed from the endangered species list. The birds are attempting to rear their young with the threat of oil pouring into their habitat.  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 009.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil soaked boom is all that protects the Cat Island chain in Barataria Bay, home to thousands of nesting birds including the Louisiana brown pelican, a bird only recently removed from the endangered species list. The birds are attempting to rear their young with the threat of oil pouring into their habitat.  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 007.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil soaked boom is all that protects the Cat Island chain in Barataria Bay, home to thousands of nesting birds including the Louisiana brown pelican, a bird only recently removed from the endangered species list. The birds are attempting to rear their young with the threat of oil pouring into their habitat.  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 006.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Oil soaked boom is all that protects the Cat Island chain in Barataria Bay, home to thousands of nesting birds including the Louisiana brown pelican, a bird only recently removed from the endangered species list. The birds are attempting to rear their young with the threat of oil pouring into their habitat.  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 003.JPG
  • 06 June 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
A police boat patrols Barataria Bay which has been closed to all fishermen, commercial and recreational for the past two weeks. 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 002.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Fisherman and local Pointe Aux Chenes Indians take a 40 hour Hazardous waste operation class in order to get certification to work for BP as sub contractors cleaning up oil. The isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe Aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 048.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Fisherman and local Pointe aux Chenes Indians take a 40 hour Hazardous waste operation class in order to get certification to work for BP as sub contractors cleaning up oil. The isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 047.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Fisherman and local Pointe aux Chenes Indians take a 40 hour Hazardous waste operation class in order to get certification to work for BP as sub contractors cleaning up oil. The isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 046.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Fisherman Walter Guidry listens and learns as local Pointe aux Chenes Indians take a 40 hour Hazardous waste operation class in order to get certification to work for BP as sub contractors cleaning up oil. The isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 100.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Fisherman John Verdin (l) and Kerry Trosclair listen and learn as local Pointe aux Chenes Indians take a 40 hour Hazardous waste operation class in order to get certification to work for BP as sub contractors cleaning up oil. The isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 097.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away The isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 042.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away The isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 036.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away The isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 035.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Russel Darden, a shrimper, crabber, oysterman, fisherman. Russel holds over $1,000 worth of various fishing permits issued by the state. At present, all his fishing grounds are closed. He can not make use of any of the permits and he can not earn the money to make up the money. Russel is a member of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens the tribe's very existence, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 025.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Russel Darden, a shrimper, crabber, oysterman, fisherman. Russel puts on his respirator whenever he smells oil thick in the air. Russel holds over $1,000 worth of various fishing permits issued by the state. At present, all his fishing grounds are closed. He can not make use of any of the permits and he can not earn the money to make up the money. Russel is a member of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens the tribe's very existence, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 019.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. The precious wetlands south of Pointe Aux Chenes. Through years of erosion, much of this was once solid ground. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens the tribe's very existence, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 014.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. The precious wetlands south of Pointe Aux Chenes. Through years of erosion, much of this was once solid ground. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens the tribe's very existance, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 007.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Booms fail to protect precious wetlands south of Pointe Aux Chenes where oil washes up on the  marsh grasses. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 085.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Booms fail to protect precious wetlands south of Pointe Aux Chenes where oil washes up on the  marsh grasses. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 081.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Booms fail to protect precious wetlands south of Pointe Aux Chenes where oil washes up on the  marsh grasses. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 078.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Booms fail to protect precious wetlands south of Pointe Aux Chenes where oil washes up on the  marsh grasses. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 071.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Hermits crabs along the shoreline of precious wetlands south of Pointe Aux Chenes where oil washes up on the  marsh grasses. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 070.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Booms fail to protect precious wetlands south of Pointe Aux Chenes where oil washes up on the  marsh grasses. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 066.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Oil and gas pipelines criss cross the wetlands just south of the isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes. The town clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 063.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. A simple marker placed in the marsh is all the denotes the old indian cemetery that has sunk into the wetlands just south of the isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes. The town clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 062.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away. Oil contractors prepare boom for loading into local boats as Jesus looks over them in the isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes in Southe Louisiana. The town clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 059.JPG
  • 07 June 2010. Pointe aux Chenes, Louisiana.<br />
Fading away The isolated town of Pointe Aux Chenes clings to the little land that remains along the bayous and waterways of southern Louisiana. Oil washes up on the  marsh grasses just south of tribal homes. If the grass dies, there is nothing left to hold the land. All of this was solid ground just 100 years ago. Diversion of the mighty Mississippi River diverted sediment from the wetlands and deposited precious land building material deep out at sea.  At present, all these fishing grounds are closed. Members of the Pointe aux Chenes Indians, settlers that can trace their roots beyond 5 generations back to France face extinction of their very way of life, their very existence. French cajun is the language of the elders, but is dying out in the children of today. BP's catastrophic oil spill threatens everything, their way of life and the land on which they live. Not recognised by the federal government, the 680 member tribe struggles for funds in a small community that survives only because of fishing and oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
Photo; Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
    07june10-point aux chenes 054.JPG
  • 28 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Brown Pelicans, protected by freshly laid oil boom cram every inch of a small outcrop of Cat Island in Barataria Bay. The ecological and economic impact are devastating to south louisiana. 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 credit; Charlie Varley<br />
www.varleypix.com
    28may10-BP-oil038.JPG
  • 28 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Shrimper's park air boats and take a break from laying oil boom at the entrance to Barataria Bay. The ecological and economic impact are devastating to south louisiana. 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 fetile of their kind in the world.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley<br />
www.varleypix.com
    28may10-BP-oil037.JPG
  • 28 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
A Louisiana  Blue heron fishes in a  'closed fishing area' just outside Barataria Bay in South Louisiana. The ecological and economic impact are devastating to south louisiana. 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 fetile of their kind in the world.<br />
Photo credit; Charlie Varley<br />
www.varleypix.com
    28may10-BP-oil045.JPG
  • 28 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Philip Sherwell of the Sunday Telegraph with Louisiana born and raised Justin Workmon (blue shirt) and Frank 'Peanut' Lensmeyer on the the eerily empty ocean where water that would ordinarily be crystal clear is now gravy coloured thanks to dispersed oil just off Grand Terre Island where Barataria Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. Ordinarily the ocean would be filled with shrimp boats, sport fishermen, and sea birds, especially in the run up to memorial day weekend. The ecological and economic impact are 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 credit; Charlie Varley<br />
www.varleypix.com
    28may10-BP-oil034.JPG
  • 28 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Streaks and blobs of disgusting brown oil resembling faeces floats in the eerily empty ocean where water that would ordinarily be crystal clear is now gravy coloured thanks to dispersed oil just off Grand Terre Island where Barataria Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. Ordinarily the ocean would be filled with shrimp boats, sport fishermen and sea birds, especially in the run up to memorial day weekend. With tens of thousands of square miles of fishing grounds closed the ecological and economic impact are 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 credit; Charlie Varley<br />
www.varleypix.com
    28may10-BP-oil031.JPG
  • 28 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Louisiana born and raised Justin Workmon (blue shirt) and Frank 'Peanut' Lensmeyer scan the eerily empty ocean where water that would ordinarily be crystal clear is now gravy coloured thanks to dispersed oil just off Grand Terre Island where Barataria Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. Ordinarily the ocean would be filled with shrimp boats, sport fishermen, and sea birds, especially in the run up to memorial day weekend. The ecological and economic impact are 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 credit; Charlie Varley<br />
www.varleypix.com
    28may10-BP-oil022.JPG
  • 28 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Blobs of disgusting brown oil resembling feces floats in the eerily empty ocean where water that would ordinarily be crystal clear is now gravy coloured thanks to dispersed oil just off Grand Terre Island where Barataria Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. Ordinarily the ocean would be filled with shrimp boats, sport fishermen and sea birds, especially in the run up to memorial day weekend. With tens of thousands of square miles of fishing grounds closed the ecological and economic impact are 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 credit; Charlie Varley<br />
www.varleypix.com
    28may10-BP-oil018.JPG
  • 28 May 2010. Barataria Bay to Grand Isle, Jefferson/Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. <br />
Blobs of disgusting brown oil resembling feces floats in the eerily empty ocean where water that would ordinarily be crystal clear is now gravy coloured thanks to dispersed oil just off Grand Terre Island where Barataria Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. Ordinarily the ocean would be filled with shrimp boats, sport fishermen and sea birds, especially in the run up to memorial day weekend. With tens of thousands of square miles of fishing grounds closed the ecological and economic impact are 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 credit; Charlie Varley<br />
www.varleypix.com
    28may10-BP-oil016.JPG
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