An underground pipeline in Santa Barbara, California ruptured this week causing an estimated 105,000 gallons of crude oil (aka unrefined petroleum) to be released into the Pacific Ocean. 

Yikes!! Santa Barbara County is now in a State of Emergency, with memorial day plans halted and MOST importantly - west coast wildlife at critical risk. The extent of the damage is not yet known, but I can tell you this.. this is NOT good. The Santa Barbara County Supervisor was quoted on NBC Los Angeles saying “It’s important to remember this stretch of California coastline is unique to the world. It’s beautiful and pristine. This is more than an inconvenience. This is just a disaster. We are taking it very seriously.” 

As they should! I’m a little biased, being a west coast native, but if you’ve ever driven up or down the Pacific Coast Highway, the California coastline is honestly one of the most gorgeous sights I have ever seen in my life. And home to several endangered birds as well as seals, sea lions and whales. 

In my opinion, the balance needs to be adjusted between our development processes and our efforts to protect our environment. And if you’ve read any of my previous articles you know I definitely lean towards environmental sustainability and finding other solutions that are safe and more conducive to preserving our planet. If we can’t get this right in the United States, how are we going to get this right as development progresses around the world? 

My big question here is, why does this keep happening? And what needs to be done to make sure this kind of problem doesn’t ever happen again?! 

This spill in Santa Barbara is the biggest oil spill in California in decades. But doesn’t even begin to compare to the devastating oil spill of 1969, that oddly enough took place at the same site. In that spill, an estimated 4.2 million gallons of oil were leaked into the Pacific ocean. The ecological damage that was caused in ‘69 served as a pivotal moment for environmentalists, sparking the modern day environmental movement and creating inspiration for the first ever Earth Day which took place the following year. The laundry list of oil spills in the United States and around the world indicates to me that we clearly have a problem here that needs to be addressed.  

This is a sad but good reminder that we need to look into new technologies, alternative energy, and safer processes that won’t destroy our one and only mother earth.  

If my words don't move you, maybe these photos will: 

Cover photo provided by Shutterstock

TopicsEnvironmentCaliforniaUSarticleNorth America

Editorial

Defend the Planet

Santa Barbara oil spill: We must change our ways

By Natalie Prolman