(NaturalNews) It's a war zone out there! ... if you're an oil platform worker, anyway. Another oil rig, the
Vermilion Oil Rig 380, has exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, just a few miles from the infamous
Deepwater Horizon that started the massive volcano of oil that poisoned the Gulf this summer.
U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were immediately dispatched to the scene, where 13 workers were found floating (alive) in the water around the rig. The rig is reportedly on fire, but it is being reported by ABC News that the rig wasn't drilling for
oil at the time of the
explosion. No information explaining the cause of the explosion has yet surfaced.
One workers was apparently injured in the explosion. While it may be too early to know for sure, there are so far no reports of oil being spilled into the Gulf from the rig.
This second explosion naturally brings to mind the
safety and reliability of offshore drilling platforms. In many ways the
Deepwater Horizon incident was described as a fluke, a rare event that would likely not be repeated any time soon. To see another oil rig exploding just weeks later does not inspire confidence in the minds of Gulf Coast residents who have already been hit hard by the previous oil spill as well as the Corexit chemicals widely used as oil dispersants.
It raises the question that's now on everybody's mind: Could
Deepwater Horizon happen again? If so, how can we improve the safety of offshore oil drilling? Or better yet, how can we replace that dangerous, dirty industry with clean, renewable energy sources that don't burst into flame when something goes wrong?
When wind turbines fail, they don't explode into great balls of fire that kill workers and destroy the environment.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles. Adams is a trusted, independent journalist who receives no money or promotional fees whatsoever to write about other companies' products. In mid 2010, Adams produced NaturalNews.TV, a natural health video sharing website offering user-generated videos on nutrition, green living, fitness and more. He's also a successful software entrepreneur, having founded a well known email marketing software company whose technology currently powers the NaturalNews email newsletters. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and pursues hobbies such as martial arts, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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