politics

Kill Switch on Hold for Gulf Oil Well

Environmentalists will be disappointed with the news today regarding the destructive Gulf of Mexico oil well. The final “kill” plan that was supposed to completely seal of the well has been put on hold due to certain concerns that have arisen.

Since its explosion in April, the well has cause massive economic and environmental issues for the U.S. and Gulf coast residents. BP, the owner of the rig, has been battling to shut down the well and provide relief to the residents at the same time. Last month a temporary sealing cap was installed and since then no oil has leaked through. The final phase of permanently sealing the well by using the cap was to have begun by this time.

The plan for the “kill” switch was to drill an intercept well; this would then be used to pump “mud” (a heavy drilling fluid) and cement in-between the layers of the temporary cap. The result was expected to be a permanent fix to the leaking well. However, suspicions have arisen as to whether oil coul have leaked into the space where the mud and cement were supposed to go. If this is so, then pumping the mix in with the oil could not only fail to set a permanent cap, it could also cause a high pressure zone which would then break the cap and bring everything back to square one.

A study is now underway to determine if there is any oil trapped within the cap and also to determine what course of action should be taken if it is found to be so.

Obama to Mosque Builders – “Yes you can”

There seems to be nothing President Barack Obama can do to stop controversy following him. The latest issue seems to be his support for a mosque to be built. This sounds rather innocent and innocuous enough doesn’t it? Now add the fact that the location is in New York and two blocks away from Ground Zero and the picture becomes clearer.

Obama is acting from the viewpoint of the First Amendment which protects freedom of religion. But almost everyone else seems to be acting from an emotional point of view with very little rationality. Although the bombing of the WTC was conducted by Islamist extremists, the religion in itself cannot be blamed for the actions and interpretations of some men. As a result, penalizing peaceful followers of the faith is unfair.

However, the Republicans and some Democrats don’t seem to see it that way. The GOP claims that Obama is out of touch with Americans and the dissident Democrats say that the President is causing confusion at a crucial time. Both parties seem to overlook the fact that two mosques have been located in the vicinity of Ground Zero for decades. On mosque is 12 blocks away and the other is only 4 blocks away.

But there are voices of reason, like New York congressman Jerrold Nadler. The congressman stated that it was absurd to ask the government to rule on whether or not there should be a mosque near Ground Zero because it was none of their business.

How to Start a Petition

Everyone feels passionate about something or other in their life at some point. Taking action sometimes requires petitioning. Here are some simple tips on how to go about the process of starting a petition.

• First of all put the issue into words. This will be your opening statement in the petition. Don’t worry if it sounds bad the first time, it will require some rewriting and editing before it is actually printed out.

Describe the problem that is being faced, why it is a problem and why people should do something about it.
• Present your ideas for a solution clearly and concisely. They can be radical but they need to have some logic in them if you want to win people over.

• Be careful of your tone in the whole petition; be passionate but not angry. Remember, you are trying to win people over and /or trying to galvanize them into action. If you come across as an angry person throughout the entire spiel, you may not be taken seriously.

• Present you evidence. Photographs, documents, audio recordings, video recordings etc., whatever it is try and present the most damning evidence possible. In the case of audio and video this might be a little difficult, if you are out and about, but not impossible by any means.

• Depending on what kind of issue it is, you will have to change your method of collecting signatures. For example if it is an extremely localized problem, a door-to-door signature collection campaign is more than enough. You can also set up signing tables in malls, send out teams to collect signatures or even use mobile (vehicle based) broadcasting and signature collecting if your cause demands it; however, all of this depends on the size of the problem and the area it is affecting.

Will Utah Follow Arizona?

Lawmakers in Utah are heatedly arguing the necessity of an immigration law similar to the one implemented in Arizona. The law known as SB 1070 was implemented in Arizona recently to deal with the problem of illegal immigration. From the time it was announced, the law has caused controversy and some lawmakers in Utah want none of that in their State.

The core premise of SB 1070 is basically that a person upon questioning must prove that he or she is a citizen of the country. This means that they have to carry papers proving their legality in the country. Although it sounds straightforward enough, it is the practical implementation of the law that has everyone worried. Like it or not, any dark skinned person is likely to be racially profiled and questioned. This amounts to harassment at the very least.

Lawmakers in Utah who are against the same law being implemented there say that it will cause a massive negative economic effect within the State. They say that detaining illegal immigrants, deporting them, dealing with separated families, verifying the immigration status of people are just some of the massive costs that taxpayers will have to bear. They say that at a time when the State is struggling to keep the education system afloat, costs such as these are absolutely unnecessary.

However, proponents of the law say that something needs to be done proactively to deal with the existing illegal immigrant population as well as the expected influx of illegal immigrants as they flee Arizona.

How to Organize a Protest

f you care about something deeply enough you will feel compelled to do something about it. But sometimes your cause will require action that is a little more aggressive than usual. This does not mean that you have to resort to violence; instead, it means that you should find a more visible way of making your concerns known, like through a protest march.

The first step is to figure out whether you are going to be vocal about it (shout it out) or be silent and let other measures do the talking (e.g. sit in’s, placards, etc.)

The next step is to set the stage for the march. This involves educating the people about the issue. The more they know about it, the more they will take note of the march when it actually happens. This will also ensure that the message gets spread exponentially, because the education process will get people talking. Talk to all media channels (e.g. TV, Radio, Newspaper etc.) that are available in you city and try to get them to participate in spreading the message.

visibility is key. A park, busy city center etc. are great places to stage the protest. However, if a specific location is connected to your protest then use that because it will be more effective (e.g. the beach – if combating sea pollution is your cause).

Let figureheads do the main talking. Celebrities who support your cause or city councilors should be the key speakers at the protest. They are likely to be given more attention by the public at large as well as the media. The leaders of the protest should focus more on pepping up the protesters.

Stay legal. Ensure that all aspects of the protest are cleared with local law enforcement authorities. You should also assign key figures to control the protesters on the day of the protest to avoid incidents. Decide with your key co-protesters on how any disruptive behavior from your fellow protesters will be handled and communicate this to them on the day of the march.