Drill barge question

[PELLUCID]

I'm writing a brief satirical pseudo-news piece about the drill barge stuck off Man-O-War. Working title is Bahamas Fights Global Warming With Rusty Barge. It will be in the style of the "news" at www.onion.com (http://www.onion.com)

I figure if you can't cry... then try laughing. My hope is for it to be a successful piece of "viral" e-mail that people forward to their friends.

My question -- does anyone have a decent, recent close-up? If so, can you post it here? Or else PM me.

Thanks!
Bob

[Watercolours]

If you have camera I have a boat to go out and get current pictures if the weather is right. Call me VHF 09 Watercolours or e-mail info@cruiseabaco.com and we can set it up. Kermit Waters (Liberty Oil) the person responsible for this mess as reacent as three weeks ago has said he is sending a Tug here to remove the barge?????? Thomas Bethel has some underwater shots of the damage.
Mark
www.watercolourscottages.com (http://www.watercolourscottages.com)
www.cruiseabaco.com (http://www.cruiseabaco.com)

[PELLUCID]

Thanks to the people who PM'd me! Seems like all the pictures so far are either from a ways off, or really close up. I recall the Bloggy Boyz had a good one on their site a while back, but it has no search capability and they have gone into hiatus. Again :-(

It will be another 3 weeks or so before I'm back in the Abacos. Mark, if I don't find anything before then, I'll take you up on your offer.

In the meanwhile, I've committed to writing a serious article for the Nassau Institute about global warming as a potential revenue source for the Bahamas, and I have a paying gig to finish writing in the next few days. But the spoof will happen, and it will be well worth the trouble.

I'm thinking that a nice touch for the "press release" would be the announcement of a new $10 bill design from the Central Bank which features the drill barge as part of the view from Hopetown. Does anyone have a decent scan of the $10 bill? The photos on the Central Bank are too small, and I somehow managed to leave the islands with nothing larger than a $5 or I could scan it in myself.

[TurtleDreams]

In the meanwhile, I've committed to writing a serious article for the Nassau Institute about global warming as a potential revenue source for the Bahamas, and I have a paying gig to finish writing in the next few days. But the spoof will happen, and it will be well worth the trouble.


I'm curious PELLUCID, will the"potential revenue source for the Bahamas" be helpful for keeping some of the Islands of the Bahamas above the potential sea level caused by global warming...?

[PELLUCID]

TurtleDreams -- Absolutely! The Bahama Banks are a large, active carbon sink. The next round of carbon-limiting protocols (whatever succeeds Kyoto) should have some provision to encourage carbon sinks as part of the carbon-trading scheme. The potential carbon holding capacity of the Banks is stunning -- far more than the tree-planting programs which power companies (for instance) currently use to offset some of their carbon emissions.

Making this happen as a revenue source would require the Bahamas to actively protect and manage the barrier reefs, sand banks, and mangrove flats which are the most productive environments for incremental carbonate capture.

Or, to put it in "bottom line" terms, industrial nations would pay the Bahamas to enhance the reefs and flats that will protect the islands from rising sea levels.

I have to write the article, and The Nassau Institute has to approve it. I'll let you know when it's up.

[DrRalph]

Bob, congrats, and go for it!!!

[SamFamAustin]

Some people might not understand "carbon sinks," Pellucid. I'll let you put your spin on it put the idea is that mangroves, seaweed, and other aquatic plants can take in carbon dioxide (CO2) like a magnet. Such plants also release oxygen during daylight photosynthesis. The rate at which aquatic vegetation takes in CO2 is much higher than, say, pine forests or corn fields, measured on a biomass and acreage level. Wetlands can be twice as productive as farming dry land.

What I hope the serious version of the article addresses is the notion that if CO2 rises and pollution continues, rain will cause more carbonic acid deposition and more pollution transport. Both can be associated with "coral bleaching" which is endemic to many reef ecologies around the world. Coral might not be a big player in the CO2 balance of things, but once gone it takes decades to get it back, if it ever can come back.

As to oceans levels rising due to greenhouse gases and arctic melting, I have bought some property along the Texas coast and anticipate maybe a two to three inch rise before I'm passed away. It is the severe winds, current eddies, and hurricanes that do the damage, not the slightly rising sea levels. I look forward to Pellucid's article which I hope he would post a link here. Needless to say, a "carbon sink" is not a big cast iron pot to wash your hands!
Sam :)

[Jerry S]

Thanks to Pellucid and SamFam for their extremely informative posts to the Forum :)

[TurtleDreams]

Thanks Pellucid et al, I look forward to the article!
Susan

[patw]

A friend recently did a flyover around the area and took pictures including the barge. I have since sent Bob some of the pictures but here are a few so all can see that the rusty bucket is still sitting there!

[trubahamian]

A few of us local fellas is say we need tu paint that ting red and white wit HOPETOWN down the sides.lol Kinda like da AMBROSE or da NANTUCKET light ships,cuz it een gern nowhere!

[SamFamAustin]

Aye, I think you're right. Maybe the government should just fine the owner for littering the reefs and put it to a good use? How about a reverse bungie where you bounce up to the top of the tower? It would look cool with a cabana bar and grill on it. Or maybe a dive spot with an easy stroll into the ocean? A small themed park where you'd talk like a pirate for a day? Avast, two bells, it's time for the rum, ya scurvies!

[rgroseclose]

A Nippers anex