UNCC300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Hydrophiinae, Montara Oil Spill, Katherine Paterson
28 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Katherine Paterson
UNCC300 Justice & Change
Week 9-12
-Everything is Connected
-Pope Francis’ revolutionary new encyclical calls for a “broad cultural revolution” to
confront the environmental crisis. The main messages are:
•The spiritual perspective is now part of the discussion on the environment
•The poor are disproportionately affected by climate change
•Less is more
•Catholic social teaching now included teaching on the environment
•Discussions about ecology can be grounded in the bible and church tradition
•Everything is connected, including the economy
•Scientific research on the environment is to be praised and used
•Widespread indifference and selfishness worsen environmental problems
•Global dialogue and solidarity are needed
•A change of heart is required
-Disaster Impact 2000-2012 statistics from UNISDR > $1.7 trillion / 2.9 billion affected 1.2
million killed
-A local example: Montana Oil Spill
•An explosion at the Montana oil rig occurred on 21 August 2009 > court case
Montara oil eld in the Timor Sea, o the northern coast of Western Australia.
The rst four attempts to plug the oil leak by PTTEPAA failed, but the fth attempt
succeeded on 3 November 2009, when PTTEPAA pumped approximately 3,400
barrels (540 m3) of mud into a relief well to stop the leak.
Biologists said that the eects of the Montara oil spill could be catastrophic for
marine ecosystems, with claims that although it is a lightweight crude oil spilling
from the platform, it can still have toxic eects on birds, marine invertebrates,
coral and marine algae.
The Wilderness Society described the area as a "marine superhighway", and whales
and endangered atback turtles observed in the area are at risk from the spill.
By 3 September 2009, shers observed sick and dying marine life, and an absence
of birds in the spill area.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) observed spinner dolphins, sooty terns, spotted sea
snake and threatened hawksbill and atback turtles swimming in the oil slick, and
expressed concern about long-term eects.
The West Timor Care Foundation received reports on the death of eight people and
30 poisonous cases after the consumption of sh in the waters around areas
allegedly contaminated by oil and chemical dispersant. As of October 2010,
the foundation was the only Indonesian NGO to le a legal action with the
Australian independent investigation commission into the Montara spill.
