The search to blame someone for the terrible and sad ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has begun. British Petroleum, which leased the drilling rig that sank and caused the spill; Transocean, which owned it; and Cameron, the maker of parts of the drilling system, were mentioned in a May 1 front-page article ["Pressure grows for action by BP"]. But really, anyone who uses oil shares some blame. I think we all knew that a serious oil spill was likely or at least possible.
What we don't know is how to prevent such a spill, how to stop using oil. We've been living on the hope that the accidents would be small and wouldn't affect us, so that we could go on without changing the way we live and work.
The only way to prevent the destruction of ecosystems is to make major changes in how we live and persuade others to do the same. Is there any chance we will do that? If not, we are all to blame for the destruction that results.
Rebecca Lafave, Washington
Letter to the Editor
Washington Post
May 7, 2010
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