Helping out with Gulf Coast rescue and remediation

If you watch the videos in the previous post on Gullah and their property, you can get a sense of how wonderful it  is to live near the sea.   Completely wonderful wetlands, along with their wildlife and the humans who fish and farm, are being greatly harmed by the BP oil spill. 

Here are  pictures of  some of what is being destroyed:

The music is from the cajun Bafra Brothers.

And here are some ideas about helping  that come from DailyKos:

>For those of you who have the romantic vision of scrubbing turtles and rinsing off pelicans with Kevin Costner or Sean Penn, I’m afraid to tell you  that it isn’t going to happen. The workers BP has hired as well as the volunteers with non-profits working on the response have all had hazmat or wildlife rescue training. If you have those skills, they definitely want you (call Tri-State Rescue: 866-557-1404)… otherwise there is a list of ways you can help below (which I will add to as more info becomes available)… it may be long, but come on man, I’ve done most of the research for ya… lol.
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>EASY TO DO
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>First the simplest thing you can do is text WILDLIFE to 20222 to donate $10 to the National Wildlife Federation. 97% of funds raised through this text drive will go directly to efforts rehabbing animals in the Gulf. (More info: http://www.nwf.org/… )
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>Second easiest thing to do is eat Louisiana seafood. There are still areas that are safe to fish in the Gulf and our fishing communities need the support. Whatever they’re catching, go buy ya some!
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>VOLUNTEER
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>I did speak with someone at the main response center today and volunteers are needed now. Tasks that untrained people can do include administrative work, taking inventory, pre-beach cleaning (no idea what that means), and translating. Sign up here: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse…. and call to follow up if you get antsy: 1-866-448-5816.
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>You can also sign up with one of the various groups working in the area. Efforts seem to be largely coordinated through the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Visit http://www.crcl.org/ and fill out a volunteer form or call 1-800-LACOAST (1-800-522-6278) or 225-767-4181. Alternately you can see the other groups they are working with and sign up through their websites here: http://lagulfresponse.org/… or here: http://action.sierraclub.org/…
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>Birdwatchers have a special job being asked of them through eBird: http://ebird.org/… They are looking for people to visit beaches and report findings on the state of the birds there… this does not include touching or disturbing the wildlife… watching and monitoring only. You can also have a nice meal at a restaurant in the beach community while you’re visiting and help support the locals.
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>Organize a food drive. I know I’ve been banging this drum for a year now, but because of state budgetary cuts made last year, our food banks have been depleted for quite some time and need more food than ever now. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana is leading this charge: http://no-hunger.org/ There is information on their website about how to conduct a drive or you can give them a call and they’ll be happy to set you up. If you live in Marrero, the West Jefferson Medical Center is collecting cans. Bins for food donations will be located in the hospital’s atrium, the Fitness Center, Cafe Jefferson and the Physician’s Center through May 31.
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>Here are some additional specific volunteer hotlines to call:
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>To report oiled shoreline : 866.448.5816
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>To report oiled wildlife: 866.557.1401
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>To submit alternative response technology, services or products: 281.366.5511
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>To submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system: 281.366.5511
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>Additionally, if you are in an effected area or have a boat and are going out in the Gulf, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade has created an “Oil Spill Crisis Map” that will allow Gulf Coast residents to report fishers out of work, endangered wildlife, oil on shore, oil sheens and other effects of the oil spill. The map can be viewed at http://oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/… Reports can be made at that site, or by texting 504.272.7645, e-mailing bpspillmap@gmail.com or tweeting with the hashtag #BPspillmap. Eyewitness reports for the map require a description, and location information such as an address or GPS coordinates.
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>And while there is debate as to whether or not these will ever be used (why the heck not, I ask???) The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans is working with Matter of Trust: http://www.matteroftrust.org/… an environmental nonprofit group, to collect donations of nylons, hair and fur, which can be used in making booms for containing oil. Drop off donations at the Ritz-Carlton, 921 Canal St. Call 504.670.2817 for more information.
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>Monitor other opportunities to volunteer by checking out this group on FB: http://www.facebook.com/…
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>DONATE
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>These are all fabulous groups working on the oil disaster at various levels. Please support them if you can.
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>Gulf Restoration Network: http://www.healthygulf.org/
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>Tri-state Bird Rescue: http://www.tristatebird.org/
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>Voice of the Wetlands: http://www.voiceofthewetlands.org/
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>Gulf Aid: http://www.gulfaid.org/
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>Second Harvest: http://no-hunger.org/
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>Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans: http://www.arch-no.org/
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>The Greater New Orleans Foundation: http://www.gnof.org/
>One effort that will be extremely valuable for fishers and others litigating against BP is the Louisiana Bucket Brigade’s Spill Crisis Map Program and their Grassroots Mapping Project. Both efforts need manpower and money. The Bucket Brigade can be reached at 504.324.0332, email:  info@labucketbrigade.org