Shell Causes Environmental Catastrophe in Gulf of Mexico

Multinational oil giant Shell spilled nearly 90,000 gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, off the coast of New Orleans, Louisiana.

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Officials believe it was a leak from an underwater pipe system connecting four wells. The accident happened approximately 90 miles offshore, but the leak has been secured and has left no injuries, according to the United States Coast Guard. The environmental damage has not been measured yet.

"What we usually see in oil industry accidents like this is a gross understatement of the amount release and an immediate assurance that everything is under control, even if it's not," said Anne Rolfes, Director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. "This spill shows why there is a new and vibrant movement in the Gulf of Mexico for no new drilling."

The leak comes just days before residents of the Gulf region travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in an event at the White House against fossil fuels. They are calling on U.S. President Barack Obama to protect the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico from offshore drilling, and organizing a march from the White House to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

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The oil industry has thousands of accidents in the Gulf of Mexico each year, according to the federal National Response Center.

“We are working with the United States Coast Guard and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association to define the best approach to contain and clean up the sheen,” said Kimberly Windon, Shell spokeswoman.

The spill happened near Terrebonne Parish, is home to one of the largest communities of Houma Native Americans, who will be the first impacted by the pollution of marine life.

“You see this happening right now, and then you read the federal government’s five-year plan to do more drilling, more exploration, and lease off more land,” said Colette Pichon Battle, director of the Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy. “If you live in south Louisiana, you know that’s going to mean more spills.”