WHAT’S BEEN DID AND WHAT’S BEEN HID

Yeah, I know it’s the title of Donovan’s first album, (back in 1965 when he was trying to be Britain’s Bob) but it seemed appropriate as an increased volume of information seems to be leaking out (definitely not a pun) that the BP oil gusher is far more of a widening and frightening mass health hazard -- to both humans and wildlife -- than either the company or the government will admit.

"PENSACOLA BEACH, Florida -- When Ryan Heffernan, a volunteer with Emerald Coastkeeper, noticed a bag of oily debris floating off in Santa Rosa Sound, she ran up to BP's HazMat-trained workers to ask if they would retrieve it. "No, ma'am," one replied politely. "We can't go in the ocean. It's contaminated." Ryan waded in and retrieved the bag. That was Wednesday, June 23, the first day visible oil hit Pensacola Beach. Ryan had been swimming off the beach the day before, as she said, "to get in my last swim before the oil hit." The trouble is that not all of the oil coming ashore is visible. Dispersed oil - tiny bubbles of oil encased in chemical dispersants - are in the water column. On Thursday Ryan was treated at a local doctor's office for skin rash on her legs. Three days later on Pensacola Beach, I watched BP's HazMat-trained workers shovel surface oiled sand and oily debris into bags early in the morning. The workers followed the waterline like shorebirds, scurrying up the beach in front of breaking waves and moving back down with receding waters. The late morning sun retired the workers to the shade of their tents and the job of "observing," while it brought out throngs of beach-goers -- children, parents, grandparents -- who happily plunged into the "contaminated" ocean without a second thought. I was astounded. Why did people think the ocean was safe for swimming?” (Click here for more)

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The secret word is Mess