Many of you know, since my last post this that I've become one of the sellers to donate an item in the Help the Gulf Coast Etsy Shop, and I've been keeping an eye on the sales made and how much has been donated. I know it's a disaster right now, and a lot of people are boycotting BP because of this- or urging people to do so.
I'd like to take a minute to point out that if we start boycotting BP, well.... We cost more Americans jobs. How does this figure? Almost all of the BP stations are independently owned and franchised- which means if you're not buying gas from them, these small business owners fail. They'll be forced into bankruptcy, close shop, fire all employees, and be out of a job themselves. What results is the unemployment rate will start creeping up again- and I'm sorry, I for one wouldn't like to see this happen. We don't need more Americans out of a job, in my opinion. They're hard enough to come by right now- this would be an even bigger hit.
This entire mess was an accident. A terrible, awful accident- which I agree due to negligence could have been avoided if proper procedure and safety measures were followed- but it wasn't. BP has already said they take responsibility for this. They've also taken the initiative to also offer ALL people and businesses that are affected by the oil spill that they will also be reimbursed. BP didn't have to do this- I think in a way, because of all the publicity they needed to... But they didn't have to. $20B is being set aside in a fund to help in all aspects of this disaster- for clean up, families, and more.
The images below, well, they're some of the animals that are affected. There were much worse ones- casualties of being choked off of oxygen and feeding because of the oil leaking out of this pipeline. I didn't want to share those, I think they're too shocking. And besides- just these ones break my heart as it is.
I feel it's getting lost in all the publicity and press that BP is receiving- we're not hearing anything about the 11 people who were killed in the explosion- or the 27 people that were injured. Nothing. Isn't this strange? How about what happened with Chevron's 21,000 Gallon Oil Leak that happened June 14 from a pipe bursting in Utah. Luckily, the leak didn't reach the Great Salt Lake- but they, as BP has done, have pledged to clean up all the oil and won't stop until it's done. I think it's definitely the right thing to do.
It's amazing to me that people are spending so much time bickering about this, instead of being proactive and getting down to business- get the mess cleaned up. Etsians aren't bickering... We're doing what we can to help.
On the positive side now, since opening up on June 4th, the Help the Gulf Coast Etsy Shop has already donated $2,000 to Oxfam! It's amazing- and I encourage anyone that can help by donating an item, or purchasing one, to do so! There are currently 327 items listed in the shop for sale, and 349 sales made.... Amazing!
It really touches my heart in a special way that so many of the Etsian Community are helping- without them, we wouldn't be making a difference. Now I know that 2k doesn't seem like it would go very far in helping to do this cleanup job- but, I believe every little bit helps. And with more artists donating items every day, and others that are making the purchases which helps to support this fundraising event- it makes me happy. I think Etsians, including the other artists and just people that purchase our wares, are some of the best people ever.
I think it's going to take a long time to get this mess cleaned up, but it will happen.... And everyone coming together as a group to get this handled is what's going to be the best way to get this mess cleaned up. If I could volunteer and be down there right now, I would. Unfortunately- due to my continuing back problems, I cannot. That's a story for another day.I'd like to take a minute to point out that if we start boycotting BP, well.... We cost more Americans jobs. How does this figure? Almost all of the BP stations are independently owned and franchised- which means if you're not buying gas from them, these small business owners fail. They'll be forced into bankruptcy, close shop, fire all employees, and be out of a job themselves. What results is the unemployment rate will start creeping up again- and I'm sorry, I for one wouldn't like to see this happen. We don't need more Americans out of a job, in my opinion. They're hard enough to come by right now- this would be an even bigger hit.
This entire mess was an accident. A terrible, awful accident- which I agree due to negligence could have been avoided if proper procedure and safety measures were followed- but it wasn't. BP has already said they take responsibility for this. They've also taken the initiative to also offer ALL people and businesses that are affected by the oil spill that they will also be reimbursed. BP didn't have to do this- I think in a way, because of all the publicity they needed to... But they didn't have to. $20B is being set aside in a fund to help in all aspects of this disaster- for clean up, families, and more.
The images below, well, they're some of the animals that are affected. There were much worse ones- casualties of being choked off of oxygen and feeding because of the oil leaking out of this pipeline. I didn't want to share those, I think they're too shocking. And besides- just these ones break my heart as it is.
I feel it's getting lost in all the publicity and press that BP is receiving- we're not hearing anything about the 11 people who were killed in the explosion- or the 27 people that were injured. Nothing. Isn't this strange? How about what happened with Chevron's 21,000 Gallon Oil Leak that happened June 14 from a pipe bursting in Utah. Luckily, the leak didn't reach the Great Salt Lake- but they, as BP has done, have pledged to clean up all the oil and won't stop until it's done. I think it's definitely the right thing to do.
It's amazing to me that people are spending so much time bickering about this, instead of being proactive and getting down to business- get the mess cleaned up. Etsians aren't bickering... We're doing what we can to help.
On the positive side now, since opening up on June 4th, the Help the Gulf Coast Etsy Shop has already donated $2,000 to Oxfam! It's amazing- and I encourage anyone that can help by donating an item, or purchasing one, to do so! There are currently 327 items listed in the shop for sale, and 349 sales made.... Amazing!
It really touches my heart in a special way that so many of the Etsian Community are helping- without them, we wouldn't be making a difference. Now I know that 2k doesn't seem like it would go very far in helping to do this cleanup job- but, I believe every little bit helps. And with more artists donating items every day, and others that are making the purchases which helps to support this fundraising event- it makes me happy. I think Etsians, including the other artists and just people that purchase our wares, are some of the best people ever.
Come together- succeed together. Save together.
We can do it.
What a great article and reminder that we all need to be aware that all life on earth is inter-connected; what affects even one life form affects us all.
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