Since
 the April 20 bursting of an offshore drilling rig near Louisiana, USA, 
tens of thousands of gallons of toxic crude oil per day have been 
gushing unabated into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. 
Unlike the 
major oil spill in Alaska in 1989 that came from a tanker, the current 
underground source is non-finite, with contamination that if left 
unchecked could inflict untold harm on marine wildlife.
Dr. Moby Solangi - President and Executive Director, Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (M): By
 now we have at least 2 or 3 million gallons that’s floating out there, 
and if they don’t cap it, this could be the worst manmade disaster in US
 history.
VOICE: Dr. Moby Solangi, President and Executive 
Director of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Louisiana, has 
been preparing urgently to assist some of the marine animals that might 
be affected. 
Dr. Moby Solangi (M): We
 specialize with dolphins, turtles and manatees. These are animals that 
are most vulnerable. They are air breathing animals. When they breathe 
the fumes, their lungs would be affected and they could get pneumonias 
and other toxins. And so that is really a big concern.
VOICE: Dr.
 Solangi is especially concerned that the oil could eventually impact 
all species associated with the coastal waters and marshes. 
Apart
 from whales and sea turtles that would become coated with oil as they 
rise to the ocean surface, native birds such as the reddish egret and 
the mottled duck would have nowhere else to go once their habitats are 
affected. 
Still other species, including the dolphin and bluefin tuna, recently gave birth to their young who may be particularly at risk.
Dr. Moby Solangi (M):
 There are a lot of baby dolphins that are going to be close to the 
shoreline, then they could be affected. Just like other young animals, 
they’re very inquisitive and they like to go into things, touch things. 
An animal does not know that oil spill is dangerous, so they get caught 
up into the oil spill and all these other issues cascade into a really 
serious injury. 
They are depending upon us for their security, 
for their life, and it is the responsibility of human beings to take 
care of their surroundings and the animals that inhabit it, because 
ultimately their survival is our survival. 
VOICE: We thank Dr. 
Solangi for your concerned efforts to protect our marine co-inhabitants 
who have become more fragile at this time. May further spillage be 
swiftly stopped as we pray meanwhile for the safety of human and animal 
residents alike. During a July 2008 videoconference in Formosa (Taiwan),
 Supreme Master Ching Hai urged greater conscientiousness in our 
lifestyles and actions toward the environment.
Supreme Master Ching Hai :
 Wild species suffer similar fates because we also drain our chemical 
substances, insecticides, pesticides into the rivers, into the lakes, 
into the oceans. 
So we lost many of these precious species, we lost 
many of us, because they are us. And we also lose ourselves, many of us 
humans, because of these poisonous substances –  and we still did not 
wake up yet.
We should have more rules, more guidelines, to 
protect natural habitats. Above all, enlightenment is really what’s 
needed to govern. 
That’s number one. And vegan diet with right 
motive, number two, will offer more compassion and insight, also will 
help preserve precious natural habitats for the wild and protect the 
resources for humans.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/28/us/20100428-spill-map.html?ref=us http://www.vancouverite.com/2010/05/10/serious-environmental-impact-feared-in-gulf-of-mexico/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1124632920100511?type=marketsNews http://www.anneofcarversville.com/fp/moby-solangi-mobilizes-gulf-institute-for-dolphin-relief.html