Thursday, June 3, 2010

Booms and Busts

From My Perspective - - -

Oil - - Black Gold - - Drill, Baby, Drill - - Oil Rig Malfunction… There are 3858 offshore oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico – but now we have a singular focus because on April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon platform, 52 miles off-shore of New Orleans, (property of Trans-Ocean and leased to BP) exploded killing 11 people, and sank two days later. The resulting spill is expected by many to be the worst oil spill in US history, eclipsing the Exxon Valdez oil spill. There are hundreds of Offshore Oil Rigs all over the world and there are occasional mishaps (although rare) and potential disasters with them. Some of the Risk Factors are evidenced by: “In July 1988, 167 people died when Occidental Petroleum's Piper Alpha offshore production platform, on the Piper field in the UK sector of the North Sea, exploded after a gas leak. In March 1980, the 'flotel' (floating hotel) platform Alexander Kjelland capsized in a storm in the North Sea with the loss of 123 lives. In 2001, Petrobras 36 in Brazil exploded and sank five days later, killing 11 people.”

A concern was raised in a Wikipedia article and summary because of the times in which we live and the possibility of a Terrorist act: “Given the number of grievances and conspiracy theories that involve the oil business, and the importance of gas/oil platforms to the economy, platforms in the United States are believed to be potential terrorist targets. Agencies and military units responsible for maritime counter-terrorism in the US (Coast Guard, Navy SEALS, Marine Recon) often train for platform raids.”

Our History as a nation has seen The Gold Rush days as people headed West in search of their fortune; there was also the Uranium Rush and Search in Utah as we entered the Nuclear Age; and for more than 100 years, there has been a growing addiction for Oil. As the automobile became more popular, fuel was needed – and the search for Oil was on. Now – there is a problem. Fingers always can be pointed, but who really is to blame. The Government representatives can pontificate: “we will hold BP responsible…we will keep our boot on their neck…we will increase the tax on all oil companies…” – but – no one planned for this disaster and no one has an immediate solution for it. This is one Boom that will cause many to go Bust. Congressional Committee Hearings won’t solve it; Presidential Rhetoric can’t stop the flow of oil; Taxes being increased won’t prevent the oil from gushing into the Gulf waters…

Commentary by Pundits can be very harsh, as the Dick Morris Column in The Hill on June 1st, 2010 suggests: “Conservatives are so enraged at Obama’s socialism and radicalism that they are increasingly surprised to learn that he is incompetent as well. The sight of his blithering and blustering while the most massive oil spill in history moves closer to America’s beaches…calls to mind Jimmy Carter’s incompetence in the face of the hostage crisis. America is watching the president alternate between wringing his hands in helplessness and pointing his finger in blame when he should be solving the most pressing environmental problem America has faced in the past 50 years. We are watching generations of environmental protection swept away as marshes, fisheries, vacation spots, recreational beaches, wetlands, hatcheries and sanctuaries fall prey to the oil spill invasion. And, all the while, the president acts like a spectator, interrupting his basketball games only to excoriate BP for its failure to contain the spill.”

Question: Is there a possible application of Revelation 8:8-9 in this current disaster? The verses state: “The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.” Increasing numbers of sea birds, fish, whales and marine life have already perished and become extinct….In the area of the Gulf of Mexico, due to the Deepwater Horizon spill, it looks very likely that many species such as the Atlantic Blue-fin Tuna will die out. The only other place where they breed is in the Mediterranean Sea. Is Biblical Prophecy beginning to be fulfilled before us – and – many are missing the signs of the times? How many more Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions, Hurricanes will it take to convince you to seek the Lord while He can be found? Consider these things with me!

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