A picture taken Wednesday on Pensacola Beach in Florida's westernmost county, where the sands are as white and as fine as granulated sugar:
The Pensacola News-Journal says the beach, which was closed but has now reopened, looks much better today now that clean-up crews have scooped most of the oil up with shovels. But folks . . . this is just the beginning. There's a shitload more where that came from.
The PNJ quotes a local resident aghast at the scene:
"This is not just a body of water," she says angrily. "This is sacred. This is where we play as children. Where we learn to swim. Where we meet loved ones. Where we enjoy our grandchildren. Collect seashells, memories. Where the soul is replenished. This is sacred!"FYI - according to InfoPlease, this is how many miles of coastline, general and tidal, are now imperiled:
Estimates of how much oil has leaked into the Gulf to date range as high as 6 million barrels, or a quarter of a billion gallons. And counting.
The Exxon Valdez spill is estimated at 10 to 30 million gallons - far, far less.
