Well, finally this blog can be good for something other than helping me (and if I'm lucky, a few others) cope. I hope to use this as a practical volunteer link hub, to help organisations find volunteers and vice versa. I will try to collect as much useful info here as possible, and if you have any questions, please email me at s.l.lovelace@gmail.com and I will see if I can help you find your answer.


Here's a link to the Deepwater Horizon pdf. form if you have ANY ideas on how they can stop the leak, clean up the spill more efficiently, or any ideas that might help the situation at all. Good luck! 
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/clients/2931/319487.pdf


Also, this VERY important note for locals in the Gulf Coast area:
The Louisiana Bucket Brigade, students at Tulane University and site host Radical Designs created this Oil Spill Crisis Map and Incident Report Center so that you, the citizens of the Gulf Coast have a voice to speak out in testimony of the how the Gulf oil spill is threatening your livelihoods and the ecosystems that you love and rely on.

What is the Oil Spill Crisis Map?

This map visualizes reports of the effects of the BP oil spill submitted via text message, email, twitter and the web. Reports of oil sightings, affected animals, odors, health effects and human factor impacts made by the eyewitnesses and the media populate points on a this public, interactive, web based map. The information will be used to provide data about the impacts of the spill in real time as well as document the story of those that witness it.

Who can use it?
Anyone that sees, smells or feels the impacts of the BP oil spill and has access to a cell phone or computer can make a report. We are asking residents, fishermen, volunteers and any one else in impacted areas to assist us in getting people to make reports of what they are experiencing. The more reports that get submitted the more powerful each individual report becomes.

How can I make a report?
Reports can be made in four ways:
1. Send a text message or call (504) 27 27 OIL (7645),
2. Send an email to bpoilspill@gmail.com
3. Via Twitter with the hashtag #BPspillmap
4. Filling out this form (http://oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/reports/submit/)

What happens to the information I report?
All reports are made public and available on the Oil Spill Crisis Map website. Reports will appear on the Oil Spill Crisis Map after they have been approved. Reporters can choose to remain anonymous or choose to share their contact information. Contact information from reports will not be made public or shared without consent.

How can I help?
Make a report! The more reports that are made the more useful the information on the map becomes. This system depends on participation from those that are directly impacted by the oil spill. With enough of these eyewitness accounts we will be able to provide immediate data on the impact of the spill, to facilitate transparency and accountability and to document this disaster from the eyes of those that witnessed it first hand.

Donate to the Louisiana Bucket Brigade so that we can continue to track eyewitness accounts of the spill!

Get the word out! Tell your friends, family members, neighbors and social networks about the Oil Spill Crisis Map. The more people that know about this tool the better!

If you would like to volunteer to assist in this project, please contact clayton@labucketbrigade.org.

Why does this map matter?

This map utilizes public testimony to visualize the impact of the BP oil spill over time and geography. By using information that comes from participants we will be able to track, document and make public the effects of the BP oil spill. By making all information public we will facilitate transparency, accountability and effectiveness in the oil spill response and clean up.

http://oilspill.labucketbrigade.org/