MORE ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS

SIDOARJO MUD FLOW

Sidoarjo (the largest mud volcano in the world) also known as the

Lapindo mud, exists today because of gas blowout wells drilled by

PT Lapindo Branta.  Branta denies this however and claims that the

mud flows were created by an earthquake. 180,000 m©ø of mud per day

is spewed at its peak and has been in eruption since May, 2006.

LIBBY, MONTANA ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION

Vermiculite mines in Libby, Montana gave the local residents jobs and

helped the local economy.  However, due to the mine¡¯s high use of

Asbestos the residents suffered related disorders such as mesothelioma.

Because of mine activities that started back in 1919, residents

continue to suffer until today.

DEEP WATER HORIZON (BP) OIL SPILL

The deep water horizon oil spill (also referred to as the BP oil Spill) in

the Gulf of Mexico is considered the largest accidental marine oil spill in the

history of the petroleum industry.  The oil spill was a direct result of the

explosion and sinking of the deep water horizon oil rig which claimed 11 lives.  

Total oil wasted is estimated at 4.9 million barrels.

AMOCO CADIZ

A huge crude carrier bearing the flag of Liberia split into three parts and

sank, releasing 1,604,500 barrels (219,797 tons) of light crude oil and

4,000 tons of fuel oil making it the largest oil spill of its kind at that time and

resulted in the largest loss of marine life ever recorded from an oil spill.

ECCOCIDE IN VIETNAM

During the Vietnam War, destruction of the farmland and rice paddies

that fed the enemy was promulgated by the American military strategists.

Other than these areas which were the source of food and livelihood of

the Vietnamese folk, the jungle along with its flora and fauna was also

devastated.

THE AL-MISHRAQ FIRE

Al-Mishraq is a state run sulphur plant near Mosul, Iraq which in June 2003

was the site of the largest human-made release of sulphur dioxide ever

recorded.  A fire thought to have been deliberately started burned for

almost a month spewing 21,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide a day into

the atmosphere.

THE LOVE CANAL

In the 1940¡Çs 21,000 tons of toxic industrial waste, containing highly toxic

dioxin, was buried by Hooker Chemical (now Occidental Petroleum Corporation)

which led to an adverse effect on nearby residents of Love Canal.

The Love Canal neighbourhood started gaining international attention as

the health impact of such pollution became evident with miscarriages,

cancers, and birth defects and has been described as a ¡°national symbol

of a failure to exercise a sense of concern for future generations¡±.

GULF OF MEXICO DEAD ZONE

The most infamous hypoxic zone in the United States, the gulf of Mexico¡¯s

¡®dead zone¡¯ is the dumping area for nitrogen and phosphorus, just two

of the many high nutrient run offs. These substances come from the

Mississippi River, which is the drainage area for almost half of

continental America.