How much can oil exploration affect nature?

José Manuel Simões
 - Senior Lecturer, Coordinator of Communication Studies, USJ.

I’m very concerned about an article that I just read in Thailand’s Sunday Bangkok Post,  named “Show of hands against oil projects – Dramatic island protest against exploration court battle threatened”. It seems that thousands of protesters formed a human link around Koh Samui, to show their opposition to some oil exploration projects planned for this beautiful region, heralding it that could lead to an extended legal battle. The protesters joined hands as if they were building a wall to protect the island, which is only 42 kilometres away from one of the proposed oil exploration spots, claiming that the energy projects – which promised millions of baht in investment and hundreds of potential jobs – sooner or later will destroy this place. The students, tourists, villagers and fishermen pretending to block the exploration works if the projects go ahead are probably unaware that four exploration licenses have already been approved, apparently in breech of the Section 67 of the Thai Constitution which requires an independent body to screen industrial projects classified as potentially harmful to the environment and public health. The decision will allow the companies to explore for oil on the resort islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
In the minds of everyone is the disaster caused by an explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20. Like the protesters, I’m worried about the adverse impact of these exploration projects, especially because some years ago I worked on an American offshore oil site situated in the middle of the Atlantic Sea, some kilometres from Bacia de Campos, Brazil. At the time I was the translator between the Americans and the Brazilians, and everyday I saw the incredible harmful impact of these industries with millions of litres of crude running away from the pipes, tankers drilling rigs, offshore platforms and wells. I watched with sadness in my eyes as the oil penetrated the birds’ plumage, reducing its insulating ability; fish ingesting crude altering liver function and creating digestive tract conditions; kilometres of oil floating on top of the water limiting the photosynthesis of marine plants; the affect on the ecosystem food chain. Submarine robots failed to operate the rams; systems were destroyed in the blowout; rough seas mixed the oil with water; winds dispersed the oil, and burning oil left a persistent residue resistant to natural breakdown. There were many other harmful events.
I can guarantee that when the Surat Thani energy official Rorya Jantarattana said that oil drilling in the Gulf of Thailand has been carried out for 32 years without problems he is not considering the fact that nature is affected by the oil spill – the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment – which may take months or even years to clean up. Whether the strong show of hands will have an impact upon perhaps stronger economic arguments is yet to be determined in this case. It promises to be a long legal, economic and civil battle.

©MDTimes/University of Saint Joseph