Jean-Michel Cousteau re BP Disaster: "I hope that this is the kick in the butt"

[kpete]

Disaster must be catalyst for change, says Jean-Michel Cousteau

by Jacqui Goddard

Jean-Michel Cousteau, one of the world's leading ocean explorers, has spoken of his "frustration at the human species" over the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster and called for it to become a catalyst for political, industrial and environmental change.

Describing the slick as "the worst oil accident anywhere on the planet", the 72-year-old son of Jacques Cousteau, the pioneering underwater ecologist, said that the consequences for Man and nature would be monumental. "The sad side of the human species is that we talk a lot and take very little action until we have a catastrophe on our hands," he told The Times.

"I don't want to call this doomsday. I want to believe we can sit down with decision-makers and industry and government and convince them that there's a better way to manage our life support system. We can do the good thing or we can keep destroying it."

He added: "I hope that this is the kick in the butt that's going to make our decision-makers change the way they operate.

more:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7135421.ece

[saltpoint]

1. J-M C is a good man.

Recommended.

[Dappleganger]

2. I met his father long ago

when they pulled into port in Norfolk. Very tiny man with a BIG heart--made a lasting impression on me.

So good to see his son stepping up the pressure to be better stewards of our precious resources.

[bullwinkle428]

3. COUSTEAU NEVER REALLY LOVED THE OCEAN ANYWAY!!1!1!

:evilgrin: :popcorn:

[Octafish]

4. Mrs. O said this disaster may be what eventually brings about a sustainable system.

She said the enormity of the environmental disaster may force us, humanity, to confront and solve climate change and the other problems we face. The tragedy may lead us to take charge of our future (from the greedhead warmongers -- my words,those).

May it be so, as she and Cousteau said.

[rurallib]

5. like the draft, not a kick in the ass til everyone is affected

That is why no one really seems to care much about Iraq and Afghanistan. If there was a draft and every 18 - 25 yo was draft bait, there would be rits in the street.
Same thing here. If the price of gas actually reflected all the true costs, then people would be marching in front of BP, demanding it be halted immediately.
And the financial problem won't be solved until we are all out in the street because we lost our homes.

[Dappleganger]

7. Sad, but true.

The US Coast Guard turned Cousteau away but I hope that doesn't deter him from finishing his documentary and showing it to the world.

We need to be inundated with the images of the toilet we have made in this world every single day until real changes are made.

[Warpy]

8. That didn't work during Vietnam

Some people who were draft age were out in the streets but their parents thought them terribly disloyal.

Support for the war only faded among the exempt and comfortable when that war had simply dragged on too long with no end in sight.

It will be the same thing for Stupid's wars.

No draft, not ever. Consider how many other wars we'd be fighting if Cheney and Stupid had access to every male in this country between 18-44.

[Toots]

6. How Naive...

Greed will always win out.....

[City Lights]

9. Don't hold your breath, Jean-Michel. nt

[ensho]

10. the gulf disaster hasn't made our "decision-makers " to change yet

might take another month