Crossposted at Air America Radio.

March 24, 2009 marks the 20th memorial of North America’s worst ever oil spill. Approximately 11 to 38 million gallons of crude oil from the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spilled into the pristine waters of Prince William Sound destroying a wide range of wildlife habitat and sea life. What we never hear is how the oil spill impacted Alaskan communities within Prince William Sound.

Riki Ott, author of “Not One Drop: Betrayal and Courage in the Wake of the Exxon Valdez Oi Spill” tells the story of Cordova, Alaska, a fishing village trying to recover from one of America’s worst environmental catastrophes. Ott, a resident of Cordova, chronicles the trials experienced by Cordova residents as they cope with the oil spill and one of the longest-running legal battles in the nation’s history. Ott argues that unless we can reinvigorate our democracy and reform a legal system that currently holds corporations above citizens, then America will remain vulnerable to outside corporate influence.

Ott is currently on a nationwide speaking tour and I recently interviewed her about the 20th memorial of the oil spill, Cordova, AK, and how communities can empower themselves from environmental catastrophes.

More below the fold.

“Sound Truth & Corporate Myth$” was the first book you wrote on the Exxon Valdez oil spill and “Not One Drop” is the second to cover what happened. Why did you write a second one and what are some of the things you cover this time around that you didn’t in “Sound Truth & Corporate Myth$?”

Riki Ott: “Sound Truth & Corporate Myth$” is about hard science and how oil is more toxic to people and the planet and hard times. “Not One Drop” is about the soft spots and the paradigm shift that these man-made disasters cause a whole different psycho-trauma to community and what happens when a community falls apart [from an environmental disaster.] How do you mitigate that? There were no models to mitigate man made disaster trauma because up until Bhopal, Chernobyl, Exxon Valdez disasters, everybody was trying to use mitigation models that weren’t working. We became the first case study (Cordova) and we’re the longest ongoing case study on man-made disaster trauma. “Not One Drop” is about what broke, how you deal with it, and more fundamentally, how do we keep our society from breaking. It’s not just oil spills that can cause this.

Today marks the 20th memorial of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. What new information is out there in terms of how this oil spill impacted wildlife habitat, the fishing economy, and family life in fishing communities? What do you know now that we didn’t know 5, 10 or 15 years ago?

We didn’t know oil causes long-term loss. The science had emerged by 2004. But it’s one thing to have scientific papers published and it’s another thing to have public policy to acknowledge an act on the science. We’re still not there. Scientists are still in shock that we never expected the oil to still be liquid, to still be toxic, and to still be seeping into the ecosystem 20 years later.

The federal government and the state of Alaska did ask for the civil settlement for natural resources damage to be re-opened. This is the first time in the history of our country that we had a Clean Water Act settlement re-opened and it was done for technology, not for the oil on the beaches, which was still causing problems. $92 million was asked for and I thought if the government acts, then Exxon had to pay. That’s not true. Exxon had the option to pay and the only other choices were the state and federal governments can drop the issue or the state and federal government can take Exxon to court.

We’re arguing that ‘Yes, there is a problem’ and ‘Yes, it can be mitigated.’ That’s a critical thing because if you can’t prove you can do something about it, then there’s no point in paying $92 million. There’s a mushroom project that’s proven to be much more effective than chemical products, it’s called bio-mediation bacterial mitigation. So what we’re trying to say is ‘Look this is something that could work. So let’s get out there and let’s pay out this money and start figure out how we’re going to get rid of this oil.’

One of the things we learned is that oil companies can get away and not have to acknowledge the long-term harm to the ecosystem or the community. What we’ve had with Exxon is if $5 billion, the original settlement amount in 1994, had been sufficient to punish Exxon and deter future behavior, then Exxon should have been the first rather than the last company to double hull its tankers. What we have operating now in Prince William Sound are tankers without double hulls.

Is there any way to get ExxonMobil to switch them to double hulls?

No, they have them until 2015 and they’re running out the time clock on them. But if $5 billion was enough to get their attention, they would’ve done what Conoco-Phillips did. In 1994, Conoco-Phillips went to double-hull tankers. They made a company decision to go sooner rather than later. What is it going to take for Exxon? That’s a whole different question to hold them accountable because the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision in our Exxon Valdez case, not only came down against us, but set a precedent that there can be a cap on punitive damages as low as a one-to-one ratio with a compensatory. The problem with that is the jury does the best they can but they never get to see all the damages.

There is long term harm on herring. The industry collapsed and fishermen are still incurring harm from the oil spill. We were short changed on the compensation package. So to have the SCOTUS limit one-to-one for us. It didn’t really cut it. The bigger issue for everyone else is the decision took away the public threat of large unlimited liability. Half of the big corporations out there are voluntary accountable to consumer product laws, public safety laws, public health laws, environmental laws, and the reason I say they’re voluntarily is because these companies are too big for any country. If we can’t hold Exxon accountable to people and communities than how can any other countries going to do it if we can’t?

The problem is we have to start looking upstream and say ‘How did they get created and how did they get so big, is it right or do we have to do something about it?’ In “Not One Drop” I  say ‘Look, we started our country and framed it with the Bill of Rights.’ The word ‘corporation’ is not in any of those documents’ and people were property then. There were popular movements that sprang up and said ‘This isn’t right’ and drove in amendments to fix those shortcomings. Now we’ve swung completely in the different direction where property is people through judge-made law, not through people-made law.

We’ve only amended the Constitution 27 times. What I’m trying to do is start a movement of the separation of corporation and state. The language [I’ve developed] is only two sentences and it affirms the Constitution and Bill of Rights protections were intended for human people and corporations cannot have them.

Does it come as a shock to most people when you tell them about how this one corporation, its actions, and its efforts have destroyed the family life and other various social aspects of life in Cordova?

It’s new information to everyone. Everybody thought everything was paid off, cleaned up, and back to business as usual. Then I show the sociology data of what’s contributed to the Cordova community: untreated trauma, loss of trust, and litigation. I think Cordova is a mirror for the rest of our nation. Who trusts Wall Street right now? Who trusts the federal government that they’re going to fix this when they’re bailing out the wrong group of people?  

Here’s the problem. We need to come together as a people and speak out and identify what our shared values, our common vision, and our common steps [we need to go in]. If you can’t do those things as a community or as a nation, you are vulnerable to other groups who will come in and say ‘I have a plan for you.’ That’s how we got in trouble with the oil and gas companies and those are not things we necessarily wanted.

What are the most important issues that people need to know about the Exxon Valdez oil spill?

The biggies are that oil causes long term harm. The same oil on our beaches are still causing problems not only to wildlife is also making people sick when they go to do oil spill clean-up. People have respiratory and central nervous system problems and chromosome damage.

The other is the Supreme Court took away our tools to defend ourselves. What the SCOTUS did was make every community vulnerable to corporate greed. We have to go back to Congress and say ‘Sorry, this isn’t going to work.’ The SCOTUS overstepped this issue. They’re not supposed to legislating punitive and we need to have Congress take up the issue to hold corporations accountable.

The third is why do we have these big corporations? Why are we even playing this game? We need to change the rules of the game and strip corporations of human rights that were never intended for them to have. I’m not talking about rights from a group that’s bonafide and supposed to have rights. I’m talking about a group that has stolen our rights and we need to say ‘no!’

The fourth is that we changed when people in communities act (and work) together. I think was our biggest lesson. People can make a difference [and tend to when they are in a survivor mode.] We have to get into a survivor mode as a nation and start pulling ourselves together.  

To learn more visit the following links:

Dr. Riki Ott, Not One Drop

http://www.chelseagreen.com/tv…

Live Locally: Dr. Riki Ott Urges Us to be Green by Staying Local

http://www.chelseagreen.com/tv…

Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez Trailer

http://www.chelseagreen.com/tv…

Separation of Corporation and State: The 28th Amendment

http://www.chelseagreen.com/tv…

1989 Exxon Meeting in Cordova, AK

http://www.chelseagreen.com/tv…

The Oil Polluting Alaska Twenty Years after Exxon Valdez

http://www.chelseagreen.com/tv…

Crossposted at P U L S E.

On March 16, 2003, I was a graduate student at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT. That morning I recall hearing on Democracy Now! that an Evergreen State College student was run over by an Israeli bulldozer. The girl’s name was Rachel Corrie.

Corrie was defending property belonging to Samir Nasrallah, a local pharmacist. Eyewitness accounts say the bulldozer ran over Corrie twice. The driver claims he didn’t know Corrie was there… That’s pure rubbish. We all know it was deliberate.

I remember going to my Assessment & Evaluation class that day knowing the news. Yet what I remember most were the reactions of two friends and classmates of mine, both of whom went to Evergreen State College with Rachel. Neither of them came to class that day. One wrote an impassioned e-mail to all my classmates about Rachel and the wonderful life she lived. The other was in our on-campus coffee shop. I will never forget her not crying but “wailing” upon hearing the news that Corrie was killed. That memory will forever haunt me.

The following interview was conducted on March 14, 2003… two days before Rachel Corrie was killed. As today marks the sixth memorial of Rachel’s death, I want to play back this YouTube so you can hear Rachel’s words and understand the oppression Palestinians experience on a day-to-day basis. It prides me that there are Americans out there who believe the Israeli occupation is an occupation of violence. We will never forget you Rachel!

I think that quote best sums up my idea of Nordic ski jumping. I’ll go on forever about the times I jumped in high school and my first year in college… but I’ll save it.

I can’t tell you how great it was to see ski jumping back in Brattleboro. It’s been four years since the last meeting and the town wasn’t sure it would make a comeback… it did!

I’ve got a lot of photos but I’ll highlight my favorites. In addition, I’ve also added a YouTube of today’s events starring me and my “three and eleven-twelveths year old” son, Forrester.

Hope you enjoy below the jump!

Today’s winner, Christian Reiter of Austria.

Thanks y’all!

Every once in a while, a good story slips through the cracks about our congressmen in Washington. This was one of them.

Amer Shurrab is a Palestinian from Khan Yunis living in Washington, DC. Shurrab is a recent graduate from Middlebury College.

Democracy Now! reported last Wednesday, that “Shurrab’s father and two brothers were fleeing their village when their vehicle came under Israeli fire. His twenty-eight-year-old, Kassab, died in a hail of bullets trying to flee the vehicle. His eighteen-year-old brother, Ibrahim, survived the initial attack, but Israeli troops refused to allow an ambulance to reach them until twenty hours later. By then, it was too late. Ibrahim had bled to death in front of his father.”

On Wednesday, Senator Pat Leahy made a moving speech on the Senate floor about Shurab, his family, and what he’s been through. Personally, I appreciate this because it’s not easy for any Congressman to speak out on behalf of Palestinians.

Below the fold is Leahy’s speech. I highly recommend everyone take a few seconds to read it. As many of you know, the plight of Palestinians is something I care very deeply about. It makes me proud we have a Senator who also recognizes their struggles. We need more like that.

– Christian  

“Mr. President, we have all seen the photographs of houses, schools and other civilian infrastructure destroyed in Gaza, and the reports of civilian deaths, including over 400 children, and many thousands more injured.  Behind each of these statistics is a story of a family tragedy.  I want to take this opportunity to talk about one that has touched the lives of Vermonters, and which should cause each of us deep concern.  

Amer Shurrab is a recent graduate of Middlebury College, which is located not very far from my home in Vermont.  Amer is also a Palestinian, whose family was living in Gaza during the recent Israeli invasion.  His father, Muhammed Kassab Shurrah, is a farmer who grows fruits and vegetables on a small plot of land.

On January 16th, Amer’s father and brothers were returning home with provisions from their farm during the 3 hour humanitarian cease-fire that was in effect that day.  Although there was apparently no indication that the route was unsafe for a civilian vehicle carrying civilian passengers, Israeli soldiers fired from a civilian house at their car as it passed for reasons that remain unknown.  In a panic, Amer’s brother, Kassab, already wounded, got out of the vehicle and was shot a total of 18 times and died a short distance away.  Israeli bullets also hit Amer’s father and younger brother Ibrahim, who were unable to leave the car to get medical attention because Israeli soldiers refused to allow movement in or out of the area.

Muhammed tried everything he could to save his son Ibrahim, who was bleeding to death before his eyes.  He phoned a hospital with his cell phone, but the hospital told him the Israeli Army was preventing an ambulance from reaching them.  He called relatives, who contacted the Red Cross on his behalf to ask for assistance, but the Red Cross had to wait for assurance from Israeli authorities that an ambulance would get through unscathed, assurance which was not forthcoming.  He spoke with several members of the press, including the BBC, who even broadcast his plea for help.  But an ambulance could not reach them until 22 hours after the incident, even though the hospital was located less than a mile away.  By this time, Ibrahim had died in his father’s arms.  Israeli troops reportedly looked on and ignored Muhammed’s pleas for help.  

This case cries out for an immediate, thorough, credible and transparent investigation by the Israeli Government.  Any individuals determined to have violated the laws of war should be prosecuted and appropriately punished.  In addition, it is important that the U.S. Embassy determine whether any Israeli soldiers who were equipped by the U.S. violated U.S. laws or agreements governing the use of U.S. equipment, both in relation to this incident and others involving civilian casualties.  This should include the use of white phosphorous in heavily populated areas, which is alleged to have caused serious injuries to civilians.

Mr. President, this is a heartbreaking story.  My thoughts and prayers go out to Amer Shurrab and his family and friends, and to the families of other civilians, Palestinian and Israeli, who died or suffered other grievous losses in this latest escalation of violence.”

Crossposted at Air America Radio.

Too much to say, too little time. Making YouTubes is hard and TIME CONSUMING! Lesson learned.

I won’t repost the article but I highly recommend people check it out on Air America’s Web site. I heard some of it was shown on Rachel Maddow’s show tonight but I don’t have cable. Let me know if you saw it.

More to come folks. My experience at “The Purple Ball” was much more positive. I got a chance to interview musician Herbie Hancock and actor Ed Harris. Stay tuned.

H/t to Beau Freidlander at Air America Radio for this observation/post. Get a load of this stuff.

Earlier today during Eric Holder’s AG confirmation hearing, Democratic Senator Herb Kohl (WI) asked an old white man question of the African American nominee: Would Holder commit to defeating Obama “as badly as he can” if the two meet up for a little one-on-one on the basketball court.

Eric Holder: “Senator Kohl, Senator Kohl. Um, he’s 10 years younger than me. He plays a lot more frequently than I do. Um, having said that, I got a New York City game. I come from the city that produced Connie Hawkins, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Nate “Tiny” Archibald; I learned how to play ball at PS 127 in Queens. If you give me a little time, a little space to get back in shape, I think I could hang with him. I don’t think I’m ever going to be in a position to beat him nor do I think that would be a wise thing to do.”

Senator Leahy responds:

I’ve been here 34 years in these hearings and that’s the first time that question’s been asked.”

Perhaps another response to Kohl would be “You got Tom Naylor?”

R.I.P. Harold and thank you for this amazing Nobel Laureate address…. among many other amazing works.  

Pardon me for putting up another “Daily Show” clip, but this one merits special attention.

Jon Stewart’s guest last night was none other than Mike Huckabee. You know, the former governor of Arkansas who ran for president? Anyway… the social conservative was touting his new book, “Do the Right Thing.” Much of the book focuses on social issues and Stewart wanted to discuss gay marriage. Stewart did an amazing job, just amazing. He discussed it in a way no mainstream journalist would ever have the courage to do… and Jon Stewart isn’t even a journalist!

To make a long story short, this is one of the best episodes I’ve ever seen. When you watch, you’ll know why.

Spread this video… this needs to go viral!

As president-elect Barack Obama is introducing new members of his cabinet, bloggers are wondering if they’ll see anyone progressive enough to like. I heard Mary Beth Maxwell is being considered for Secretary of Labor. She’s a union activist and former field director for Jobs With Justice. If chosen, Maxwell will also be the first openly-gay cabinet member. I sincerely hope she gets it.

But now, many environmentalists are giddy over the fact that another progressive is being considered for Secretary of Interior. Roberto Lovato writes today, for Alternet and Huffington Post, that Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) is under consideration for Secretary of Interior. If chosen, environmentalists and environmental organizations have reason to celebrate.

Lovato writes “of all the candidates being vetted by the Obama transition team for this complex and challenging responsibility, none can match the unique qualifications of Raul Grijalva.” Let’s take a look:

Read below the fold.

* Grijalva is the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

* He led the way in denouncing this week’s most recent giveaway to mining companies by the Bush Administration.

* He spearheaded efforts to stop the planned re-mining of the Black Mesa, located in northern Arizona.

* He is a leading political supporter of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, an ambitious and highly regarded county program for planned land-use and biodiversity conservation.

* He leads the way on Native/Indigenous Amerocan issues and a strong supporter of sovereignty and government-to-government relationship.

* He serves on the Committee on Education and Labor Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities; the Committee on Natural Resources and chairs the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands; the Committee on Small Business and the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, co-Chair of the Congressional National Landscape Conservation System, and 1st Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

* Check out his report on “The Bush Administration’s Assault on Protections of Public Lands.

* He supported H. Res 635 calling for the censure of George W. Bush.

There’s more, but those are the highlights. California Blue-Dog Dem Mike Thompson is also being considered, but Grijalva brings some much needed balance to Obama’s cabinet. To read Lovato’s article click here.

Let’s hope this happens folks.