Why The "Guardians of the Gulf" Deserve An

Independent Non-BP Affiliated Investigation

Recent news of bottlenose dolphin deaths, mostly young, mostly stillborn or

spontaneously aborted calves that have washed up onto the beaches of the Gulf, raise
many questions about whether or not these tragic findings are natural in nature, caused by
disease, perhaps cold, or the burning question that the scientists are treating like the 800
pound elephant in the room...were they caused because of the oil, chemicals and gasses
created by the BP Oil Disaster in the Gulf?

As each day passes, new dead are found along the 200 mile stretch of beaches that make
up the Gulf coast, and to date, there have been 133 dead dolphins reported. NOAA (The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has reported that in fact this death
count is "exceptionally high" and NOAA is now involved in the necropsy and
investigative research into these fatalities. Here are the breakdowns since January 1,
2011, according to NOAA:

Alabama

Total Bottlenose Dolphins = 21

Premature/Newborn Calves = 18
Florida

Total Bottlenose Dolphins = 7

Premature/Newborn Calves = 3

Mississippi

Total Bottlenose Dolphins = 27

Premature/Newborn Calves = 21

Louisiana

Total Bottlenose Dolphins = 32

Premature/Newborn Calves = 4

So much of BP's money has been spent on "research" and "long-term" investigations into
the impact of this, and the impact of that, all created by the impact of BP's negligence
causing the Gulf Disaster. Trying to track down all of the names of all of the people they
have paid funding to is like looking for multiple needles in a haystack the size of Kansas.
They're located in Universities across the US, in research labs dotted along the coastal
communities and most of the shoreline states in the US. BP seems to be of the mindset
that if they contribute billions of dollars to on-going research, that their image of "caring"
will be viewed by the American public as "corporate generosity" and will create the
illusion of goodwill and responsible stewardship on the part of BP in the eyes of the
uninformed.

Given those facts, it doesn't take much thinking to conclude that in this shallow attempt
to purchase good publicity, they've also purchased up most of science, and to that end,
who can you trust to undertake the important real research that needs to be done? And
who can you trust to give you the conclusions that you know are correct and accurate,
without regard to BP's accountability through the payoff of research dollars?

That brings us back to the dolphin deaths. Originally, it was reported that Moby Solangi,
Executive Director of the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Mississippi
was in charge of the investigation and testing. Upon the initial reports of these deaths,
some researchers were quick to absolve BP from any responsibility. Instead, a "measles"
epidemic in 2007 was tossed out for comparative analysis. The public wasn't buying it.
Greater creativity was going to have to be spun in order to find something - anything -
except the oil, chemicals, and corexit for the blame.

Moby Solangi
Moby Solangi

While researching Moby Solangi, we learned about a 2005 incident that sparked rage
amongst Richard O'Barry, Marine Mammal Specialist, One Voice-France's Miami
Office. In his online statements, O'Barry writes:

Solangi has captured more than a hundred dolphins in US waters, particularly in

Mississippi Sound. These victim dolphins have been sentenced to a miserable life in sea
circuses, amusement parks, the US navy and other captive dolphin facilities. Some of the
captured dolphins were rented to zoos in the United States, such as the Oklahoma City
Zoo. The Zoo's dolphin exhibit was finally closed when animal protection organizations
exposed the high death record. It is therefore ironic to see how the media is now
portraying Solangi as a heroic figure who actually cares about dolphins.

Pretty strong words from a fellow recognized Marine Mammal Specialist, who obviously
has researched his claims, and does not trust the proven track record of Solangi, based on
the historical record of his "accomplishments".

So let's look at NOAA. We've got the head of the organization, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, a
marine ecologist. Here she is trawling off the coast of Pascagoula, Mississippi obtaining
samples of fish and invertebrates for biological testing at the NOAA-FDA Seafood
Inspection Laboratory back in May of 2010. Yes, the same person who, along with the
FDA declared the seafood in the Gulf "safe to eat", even when independent testing
proved otherwise. She'll talk about weather stations, catch shares, how diligent her
comrades are down in the Gulf, but she's a product of the same bought and paid for BP
environment that has governed all the "yes men" that seem to be programmed to deliver
the "Mission Accomplished" message to the world, with little regard for the TRUTH. As
a result, our military and schools will soon be chomping down on seafood that has the
potential to harm consumers for years to come, even when the latest survey's indicate that
71% of Americans do not believe that the gulf seafood is safe for consumption. Trust
NOAA after all they have done to minimize the impact of this disaster? Not on your life.

Dr. Jane Lubchenco

Dr. Jane Lubchenco

In addition to declaring seafood safe, NOAA also reported that in September of 2010 that
there were "No Dead Zones Observed or Expected as Part of BP Deepwater Horizon Oil
Spill"...only for us to learn later that most of the Gulf has become a dead zone, and thanks
to Scientist Samantha Joye, we learn that death is what represents most of the bottom of
the Gulf of Mexico, beneath what now is estimated to be 80% of the oil that released into
the Gulf from the runaway well, blanketed for more than 2500 miles in either direction of
the Macondo well site.
As well, NOAA under Lubchenco's direction was heavily credited in late May of 2010 by
the entire scientific community quoted in a New York Times story as saying "The
scientists point out that in the month since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, the
government has failed to make public a single test result on water from the deep ocean.
And the scientists say the administration has been too reluctant to demand an accurate
analysis of how many gallons of oil are flowing into the sea from the gushing oil well."

Lubchenco's track record from the start has been dismal and full of inadequate response,
incorrect or false statements, lack of credibility and accuracy, and ridiculous theatrics.

Even while making their seafood safety declaration, NOAA is quoted as saying that:

Oil-contaminated fish are “safe to eat” within a few weeks

...only to be topped by the FDA's declaration that:

"Oil-contaminated fish are clear within a matter of days"

All this while BP's henchman, the so-called, self-appointed "independent" pay master
Ken Feinberg, was having Gulf fisherman sign forms stating that the fisherman would be
responsible for selling their catch...not BP. The laughable images of attempting to make
the public believe that the FDA, NOAA and BP could determine the safety of seafood by
simply "sniffing" it. That one will go down in the history books, of that I am certain.

Ed Overton

Ed Overton

What about Ed Overton, the LSU professor and oil spill expert who is the lead consultant
to NOAA? The same Ed Overton, who from the beginning has downplayed the severity
of the disaster, and extinguished pubic cries of responsibility towards BP for their
actions. His opinions have always followed in lockstep with those of BP, NOAA, and
other federal officials who seek to downplay the tragedy of what is and has occurred. An
interview done with "Raw Story" which sought opinions from his fellow LSU professors
quotes:
A fellow senior sciences professor at Overton’s own LSU, also noted that Overton “does
not appear to be an unbiased source of information” and found it laughable that the
head of NOAA’s chemical hazard assessment team is purporting to provide public
comments as an “independent scientist.”

Raw Story further reports this same senior sciences professor as saying:

“I think that Dr. Overton comes across as being an industry shill,” the professor offered
bluntly. “He has never said anything that was not in favor of what the industry was
saying and continued to minimize the effects from day one about how bad this spill and
its effects would be.”

Dr. Overton further admits that he is retired from LSU, and currently lives off of
"research grants" and "consulting work" he receives, the majority from NOAA. So much
for Mr. Overton's unbiased opinions.

On July 16, 2010, the Alabama Press-Register reported that "BP buys up Gulf scientists
for legal defense, roiling academic community" and further:

BP PLC attempted to hire the entire marine sciences department at one Alabama
university, according to scientists involved in discussions with the company's lawyers.
The university declined because of confidentiality restrictions that the company sought
on any research.

The Press-Register obtained copies of the standard agreement BP was having scientists,
researchers, and university experts and staff sign as their "contract", which includes the
following verbage:

It prohibits the scientists from publishing their research, sharing it with other scientists
or speaking about the data that they collect for at least the next three years.

Bob Shipp, head of marine sciences at the University of South Alabama, stated, "We told
them there was no way we would agree to any kind of restrictions on the data we collect.
It was pretty clear we wouldn't be hearing from them again after that." "We didn't like
the perception of the university representing BP in any fashion."

Amen Mr. Shipp. Amen.

The Press-Register further indicates that their research discovered "Scientists from
Louisiana State University, University of Southern Mississippi and Texas A&M have
reportedly accepted, according to academic officials. Scientists who study marine
invertebrates, plankton, marsh environments, oceanography, sharks and other topics have
been solicited."
So who's left? Who can truly give an unbiased, unpaid professional opinion on exactly
what is happening to the dolphins? What is happening to the ocean? What is happening
to the people?

Let's look at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The same organization that publicly stated that
"The message we have is that a very large fraction of the oil had to have been consumed
by microbes, which in turn are food for larger organisms," said William "Monty"
Graham, senior marine scientist at the lab and lead author for the paper. "For the most
part, it looks like the microbes came to the rescue as the oil came towards shore, and
turned it into food."

Well, we all know now that that was proven false. And yet this same William "Monty"
Graham, now appears in statements regarding dolphin deaths, and his opinions on how
the impact of the "cold weather" was probably the culprit in their deaths. Mr. Graham
doesn't waste anytime trying to blur the line of guilt that points to the oil disaster as the
leading culprit in the dolphin deaths, and states:

"Everyone wants to blame toxicity due to the oil spill, said Monty Graham, a senior
scientist at the Dauphin Island lab. "The oil spill ... very well could have been the cause
of the dolphin deaths. But the cold weather could have been the last straw for these
animals."

Spoken like he thinks he's an attorney, representing his client in a malpractice suit. Show
the chain of command, and prove conclusively that the last factor or circumstance was
the "fatal" blow, thereby diminishing guilt on all other participants above in the chain of
command. Brilliant Mr. Graham, but BP's not on "trial"...yet.

Well at least this time he didn't try to say the microbes ate the babies. Mr. Graham
shouldn't really try to distance himself from his statements at this juncture either, since
they were nicely published in the IOP Publishing's Environmental Research Letters,
which forever will brand him with such ridiculous findings.

Blair Mase

Blair Mase
Now that NOAA has taken over the lead in this investigation, their point person appears
to be Blair Mase, NOAA's marine mammal stranding coordinator for the Southeast
region. On a March 5, 2011 press conference, when asked directly if BP's oil could be
responsible for the dolphin deaths, Ms. Mase is quoted as saying:

"With the oil spill, it is difficult (to determine the cause of death)," said Mase to
reporters. "It could be infectious related. Or it could be non-infection."

Natural News reported that NOAA's recently-released Coastal Georgia Dolphin Health
Assessment, a yearly report on the health of dolphins, found that levels of
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in dolphins off the Georgia coast are the highest they
have ever been in reported marine wildlife history, with a maximum concentration of
2,900 parts per million (ppm). A review of that report by Natural News concludes with
the following assessment:

"It is unclear whether or not the oil plumes from the BP disaster, or the Corexit
chemicals used to disperse them, are at all implicated in the high PCB levels of Georgia
dolphins or the recent Gulf dolphin deaths."

So here we go again. The double-speak masters have taught her well, but they've taught
us too. We've learn to see through their thinly veiled attempts to protect their bosses -
political, corporate, and financial. One damning word, and the top could blow off the
control they hold so tightly to their vests that it may just resemble the Deepwater Horizon
well gusher, with presumably as much damage.

There are experts, world-wide, who are free of any conflicts of interest, free of any BP
alliance or contract, free of BP's research grants and influence, not pressured by the
political spin machine, or inept organizational influence from NOAA, the FDA, the
Administration, and the local political influence and lobbyists. A truly independent,
professionally recognized organization MUST be brought in to coordinate the
investigation and testing done on the dolphin necropsy process, and tissue and chemical
testing.
Why is this so important? First, we owe it to the dolphins. The gentle guardians of the
Gulf deserve this from us. Their home was destroyed, and now their lives are being taken
because of it. Secondly, they are mammals, just like man. If there is some insidious
infection, disease, contaminant, invasive microbial element - natural, man-made, or
biologically created, we as humans must know the truth, and can no longer allow BP and
their paid pawns to control this situation so that the outcome continues to paint a picture
predicated on lies, and media black-outs that only benefit BP and big oil.

Enough is enough. Appoint an independent body NOW. They're counting on us, and
we're counting on YOU.