Seismic Testing, Bad Science and Dying Dolphins

Story at: http://noyonews.net/?p=6926

Seismic Testing, Bad Science and Dying Dolphins

by David Gurney

Last May, it was reported that at least 900 dolphins and porpoises had perished off Peru's coast during the Spring. Reports of dead animals first started coming in in early February, and continued through mid-April. On April 4th, on a single day, a massive die-off 615 animals was found along an 83-mile stretch coastline. (LINK)

Two independent environmentalists, Hardy Jones of Bluevoice, and Dr. Carlos Yaipen Llanos of ORCA Peru, made the grisly discovery: “If you can count 615 dead dolphins, you can be sure there are a great many more out at sea, and the total will reach into the thousands.”

MSNBC noted that the head of a local fisherman’s association estimated that over 3,000 dolphins had died, based on what he had seen on beaches and at sea.

Peru's official national oceanographic organization, the Sea Institute of Peru (IMARPE) did belated autopsies on two dolphins. Critics claimed that the animals were so badly decomposed, nothing legitimate could be discoverd. However, the official report ruled out: viral and bacterial infections, human intervention, pesticides or heavy metals, algae, biotoxins, or a suspected form of distemper. All were found not to be the cause of death. The agency's official report concluded: “natural causes” and “evolutionary forces” were to blame.

It just so happens that undersea oil exploration - that uses underwater air cannons to blast lethal explosions to penetrate the earth's crust - was taking place at exactly the same time and place where the thousands of sea mammals were killed. However, Peru's official oceanographic agency IMARPE ruled out the possibility that undersea seismic testing had anything to do with it.

Hardy Jones and Dr. Llanos disagree. Their hypothesis: "acoustical trauma followed by rapid ascent leading to catastrophic decompression is the most likely cause of death." (LINK)

Although Dr. Llanos was careful not to lay definitive blame of seismic testing by the powerful oil industry, the implications were clear. Seismic testing for oil exporation was being conducted in the area off Peru's coast by Houston-based BPZ Energy, between February 7th and April 8th, at the same time in the same area that the mass killings occurred.

Meanwhile, in California, the State Lands Commission, on August 14, 2012, approved an "Environmental Impact Report" by P.G.&E. to conduct extensive seismic testing off the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant on the Central California Coast. The testing uses the same technology that killed thousands of dolphins and porpoises off Peru last spring. Massive public outcry postponed the final decision by the Commision until Monday, August 20th - on whether or not to allow the survey.

P.G.&E. is concerned that their nuclear facility may be in jeopordy from a spider-web of earthquake faults, including the recently discovery Shoreline fault system, only a few hundreds yards offshore.

Ironically, the testing is proposed to take place in a recently designated "Marine Protected Area" - created by a corrupt, privately funded "Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative."

The meeting of the California State Lands Commission, which on Aug 14 decided to approve the EIR for ocean seismic testing, but postpone their final decision, will reconvene on Monday, August 20, at 9:00 A.M., in Sacramento - to decide whether or not to grant P.G.&E.'s request to conduct the 82-day seismic testing.

More info:

MEETING WILL RECONVENE ON
AUGUST 20, 2012 – 9:00 A.M.
TO CONSIDER AGENDA ITEM #104
AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT
SHERATON GRAND SACRAMENTO
GARDENIA ROOM
1230 “J” STREET
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95814


ATTENTION – ADDITIONAL SITE TO OBSERVE AND TESTIFY
CAYUCOS ROOM
INN AT MORRO BAY
60 STATE PARK ROAD
MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA 93442

Noyo News urges all who are able to attend, to demand the closure of the Diablo Canyon and San Onofre nuclear power plants, and STOP P.G.&E.'s proposal to murder thousands and marine mammals and millions of fish!