Oil spill at seas

Doms Pagliawan

Imagine these images that showcase an environmental situation across the seas, and out of which we can draw certain conclusions.

In one typical portion of our seas, a cargo ship, after encountering some yet unexplained problems, is sinking. From this ship, black oil spreads on the surface of the sea, putting the fishes and other marine life in jeopardy. Up close, two fishes emerge to scan the damage on their habitat. They are shocked at the sight of the skeletal remains of a sea goddess, the mythical mermaid, who died on an islet apparently as a result of this spreading pollutant that impairs their habitat.

Needless to say, the death of the mermaid signifies how damaged that particular portion of the sea is due to the toxic chemical spilled into it. The shock that the two fishes show on their faces at seeing the death of a supposed immortal sea creature contributes to the seriousness of the situation. This oil spill must indeed be a tremendous threat to an unpredictable amount of marine life as it causes death to various sea creatures.

Risk is explicitly represented by a sinking ship from which oil spreads far and wide. The only indirect, non-literal expression of meaning is the death of the mermaid, which a viewer can only infer as the result of contaminated seawater habitat of the creature. Death on the part of the mermaid is an appropriate choice of the oil spill’s consequence, and choosing a legendary sea creature that could be the last one to die is even more fitting to suggest the gravity of this life hazard spilled at sea.

Mind you, even an outsider, or an animal living outside the confines of seawater could be affected and eventually die given that sea status. Take for instance the birds that swarm above the sea. The moment they see a fish gliding close to the surface, they would dive into the water as quick as a lightning to snatch that fish. But this would be doom to them, because once their wings are soaked wet by the oil on the water surface, they would not be able to fly anymore as their feathers would turn sticky.

This is an environmental degradation caused by human neglect, carelessness, and abuse. It is to caution the concerned sectors that oil spill could sicken marine creatures; to stress the fact that it kills, as exemplified by the dead mermaid. Moreover, this is not just to advocate for environmental preservation but also to recommend legal actions against those who irresponsibly destroy nature.

People must be aware that such injury to the sea as oil spill could greatly paralyze not just the sea creatures but also the people who depend upon sea harvests for livelihood and food supply. They, too, must despise anything destructive that some people do to the sea. As we invite attention to this form of abuse, readers may likewise rally for the protection of the mermaid albeit the same is mythically embodying marine ecosystem.

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Posted by lsde on Mar 5 2013. Filed under Opinion, Things To Mind. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.