Walking the beach on Longboat Key, Florida, this morning, all seemed well. Puffy white clouds drifted across the hazy, blue sky and a west wind raised white caps on the clear, turquoise waters of the Gulf. Ibis and willet picked their way along the waterline while mixed flocks of gulls and terns rested on the broad, sandy beach; the latter, molded by the restless sea, was broken only by lines of seaweed and the occasional beach chair. Brown pelicans cruised above the choppy surf and a trio of frigatebirds soared overhead, dancing in the morning breeze.
Oblivious to the tragedy that envelops the northern Gulf of Mexico, the wildlife of Florida's southwest coast will, eventually, be impacted by the oil as well. Though it may never have a visual effect on this barrier island, the deadly crude has already altered the fragile food chain that sustains this vast ecosystem and will likely have secondary consequences throughout the Caribbean and beyond.
Greed and arrogance have unleashed a wave of pollution and death that, while concentrated in the marshlands of the Louisiana coast, will spread to all regions of the Gulf and will threaten the the welfare of wildlife and humans alike. Knowing what lurks beyond this idyllic scene, one wonders when the first signs of the disaster will reach these pristine shores.
