Spring Break
Students help clean up oil spill
Truth Esguerra, Jovanni Colisao
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: News
More than 58,000 gallons of fuel oil leaked into the San Francisco Bay on Nov. 7 as the Cosco Busan container ship swiped one of the western anchorages of the Bay Bridge, said Karen Benzel, Public Affairs Director for the International Bird Rescue Research Center.
She said as of Nov. 16, 970 birds are in care, 1,113 birds have been found dead, 38 birds have been released and more than 30 beaches have been closed as a result of the spill.
Benzel said the oil spill is the most severe spill inside the San Francisco Bay since 1971, when more than 900,000 gallons of oil spilled after two oil tankers collided in the fog near the Golden Gate Bridge.
Professors from around the Bay Area got involved with the cleanup.
William Russell, an environmental studies professor and a resident of San Francisco, noticed the spill two days after it occurred.
Russell said as soon as he saw the oil on Ocean Beach, he went home, got some rubber gloves and started cleaning up as much oil as he could.
Russell, who lives right along Ocean Beach, said he felt a very close relationship with the Pacific Ocean.
"It's almost like a close friend or a family member," he said.
Fernando Marquez, a junior political science major and a San Francisco resident, said he loves his city and does not want it to be messed up.
"The overall view is tainted," Marquez said. "I think it's disgusting because it affects the beauty of the bay."
Another junior political science major felt the same way as Marquez.
Phi Nguyen, a junior, said he was disturbed and concerned because her family lives near the San Francisco Bay.
Nguyen said his brother went to beach and was able witness the dead birds and fishes.
"It was disturbing in my part because they had to see that," he said. "Nature is just being screwed up all over the place nowadays."
Russell could not believe the aftermath.
"When I was out there, that first day picking this stuff up, I looked out into the sea and I saw this little seal, bobbing its head up and down right there in the water," he said. "I got this stuff on my hands, and it's toxic for me, but how much more toxic is it for that guy who's living in the water?"
She said as of Nov. 16, 970 birds are in care, 1,113 birds have been found dead, 38 birds have been released and more than 30 beaches have been closed as a result of the spill.
Benzel said the oil spill is the most severe spill inside the San Francisco Bay since 1971, when more than 900,000 gallons of oil spilled after two oil tankers collided in the fog near the Golden Gate Bridge.
Professors from around the Bay Area got involved with the cleanup.
William Russell, an environmental studies professor and a resident of San Francisco, noticed the spill two days after it occurred.
Russell said as soon as he saw the oil on Ocean Beach, he went home, got some rubber gloves and started cleaning up as much oil as he could.
Russell, who lives right along Ocean Beach, said he felt a very close relationship with the Pacific Ocean.
"It's almost like a close friend or a family member," he said.
Fernando Marquez, a junior political science major and a San Francisco resident, said he loves his city and does not want it to be messed up.
"The overall view is tainted," Marquez said. "I think it's disgusting because it affects the beauty of the bay."
Another junior political science major felt the same way as Marquez.
Phi Nguyen, a junior, said he was disturbed and concerned because her family lives near the San Francisco Bay.
Nguyen said his brother went to beach and was able witness the dead birds and fishes.
"It was disturbing in my part because they had to see that," he said. "Nature is just being screwed up all over the place nowadays."
Russell could not believe the aftermath.
"When I was out there, that first day picking this stuff up, I looked out into the sea and I saw this little seal, bobbing its head up and down right there in the water," he said. "I got this stuff on my hands, and it's toxic for me, but how much more toxic is it for that guy who's living in the water?"
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Frigidaire Parts
posted 2/24/09 @ 10:02 AM PST
Do they? Frankly, this is the first time when I hear about this. The reality is that nowadays, students don't do anything, they just waste times.
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