Massive Mississippi Oil Spill Affects The River for 100 Miles

There’s more to the oil problem than just high gasoline prices. Time after time there are oil spills that are destroying the quality of our water, as well as marine, plant and other life. The Mississippi, it may come as a surprise, is one of the most polluted waterways. Much has been written about this aquatic avenue of toxic sludge, and this week one more nail has been added to the coffin as a collision on the river has resulted in an oil spill so vast that more than 100 miles of the waterway has been closed for an attempted clean-up.

The oil spill occurred early Wednesday when a 600-foot Liberian tanker collided with a barge carrying 400,000 gallons of thick, marine oil. The barge was split in half, sending nearly all of its contents into the river.

The New York Times reports:

The barge held more than 419,000 gallons of oil in three tanks. Investigators do not know whether all three tanks broke but “are assuming the worst-case discharge of all 9,980 barrels,” said Capt. Lincoln Stroh, Coast Guard captain of the Port of New Orleans.

Louisiana is home to some of the most toxic-producing industries on the planet:

With or without this latest oil spill disaster, the Mississippi is a toxic dump. One of the biggest contributors is Louisiana. Greenpeace reports: Louisiana is home to some of the most toxic-producing industries on the planet: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) production facilities. The toxics released into the environment by these facilities have turned Louisiana into a “polluter’s paradise” — a region so contaminated that the state’s citizens are subjected to profound health and environmental damage. The industrial corridor stretching from Baton Rouge south to New Orleans along the Mississippi River, commonly known as “Cancer Alley,” is home to more than 140 petrochemical producers and users. This is one of the highest concentration of manufacturers, users and polluters of toxic chemicals in the United States.

To read more about the toxic footprint of the Mississippi River, read Evil Genius in the Garden of Eden by Vic Shayne. What is this book about? Our planet was once the Garden of Eden. Now it has been spoiled by Evil Geniuses who are getting rich while our loved ones are getting cancer. Evil Genius in the Garden of Eden will open your eyes to corporate madness sacrificing our families and future generations for profit.

The world’s most noted scientists have warned us about the destructive consequences of corporate irresponsibility, global pollution and unsustainable business practices. We did not heed their call, and are suffering the consequences.