Mexican Embassy December 2019 News

​Ambassador: (Benny) Sungbin Hwang
Representing: Embassy of Mexico in Korea
Month:  December 2019 
Division: Politics 


Update: NOAA supports restoring the Gulf of Mexico's ecological system

“We are one, after all, you and I, together we suffer, together exist and forever will recreate one another,” this quote stated by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin emphasizing the unity of the world, well suited to the recent situation between the United States and Mexico. The United States government decided to support 300,000,000,000₩ towards Mexico with the purpose of restoring the environmental issues that occurred from the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Incident. This news was applied to the quote because when it comes to an international environmental problem, regardless of political, business, and other issues that are happening between countries, countries are sorted to help the world, since we all live in a single world, Earth. To learn more about this event, it is significant to see what happened in 2010. 

---

April 20th, 2010 the BP (the British Oil Industry Company)’s Macondo (oil field) blew out in mile-deep water in the Gulf of Mexico. Due to this sinking, the Deepwater Horizon drill rig exploded, it killed 11 workers, 17 injuries, and it was recorded as the worst environmental disaster in North, Central, and South America’s history.  The oil continued to leak at the Gulf of Mexico until July 15th, 2010. NRDC reported an estimated 171 million gallons of oils have been leaked, and 1.8 gallons of toxic chemical dispersants were used in response efforts. Although, the gas leak was critical to the sea environment. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) reported that 600 turtles, 150 whales, and dolphins were dead due to the oil spill. Significantly, the ocean might be still toxic resisting the ocean species to live in those areas. Hence, the NOAA decided to spend 300 billion won in order to restore the condition in the ocean environment. 

    With the United State’s government approval of NOAA spending the 300 billion won, they announced, directly quoting, “the plan funds 18 projects at an approximate cost of $226 million to help restore fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and deep-sea coral habitat injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico,” during the press conference. Specifically, the project will include organizations working to find and implement innovative ways to reduce the bycatch of fish and marine animals. Here are some goals of the projects: 

1. More efforts on reducing the bycatch of juvenile sea turtles. 
2. Making nets that they can escape from Shrimping Nets. 
3. Work with local organizations to protect sea turtle nesting habitats. 
4. Develop and implement tools and techniques to reduce injuries to,
   1. Marine vessel collisions,
   2. Ocean Noise,
   3. Disasters; both human and natural caused. 

​
    Overall, the NOAA is worried even right until this moment, the ocean environment is harming the ocean species, and in 2019 NOAA reported they believe more than 600 turtle,s 150 whales, and a dolphin was found dead due to a response to the oil spill. It is significant to consider the environment first, more than anything since we live in this world. Some projects will be short-termed, and some projects will be longer than expected. Although, it is reliving that countries are paying attention to these incidents and it is hoped that the ocean environment in the Gulf of Mexico will be resolved in an urgent matter.

Work Cited:
Adams, Alexandra. “Summary of Information Concerning the Ecological and Economic
Impacts of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Disaster.” NRDC, 15 Dec. 2016,
www.nrdc.org/resources/summary-information-concerning-ecological-and-economic-impacts-bp-deepwater-horizon-oil.
Amy, Beeman. “NOAA Announces Plan to Replenish Gulf Marine Life Harmed by the
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.” 10NEWS, WTSP, 10 Dec. 2019,
www.wtsp.com/article/tech/science/environment/noaa-announces-plan-to-restore-marine-life-harmed-by-deepwater-horizon-spill/67-0ab10458-ce80-4595-adeb-dae6f40a0b54.
Carrington, Damian. “Deepwater Oil Disaster Explained.” The Guardian, Guardian News and
Media, 29 Apr. 2010,
www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/apr/29/deepwater-oil-disaster.
Lee, Youngseob. “美정부, '2010년 기름유출' 멕시코만 생태 복원에 3천억원 투입.” Naver News, 12
Dec. 2019,
news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&oid=001&aid=0011271276&sid1=001.