Arbitration & Mediation

Live Together, Die Alone: Things to Do in Response to the Oil Spill

By Victoria Pynchon

Thanks to Yahoo Green's "how to help wildlife threatened by the oil spill."

I'm walking to my appointments today.  Because I can and because I can't get down to the Gulf to help out there.  Let's each do one small thing today.  And tomorrow.  Start a daily blog of "heal the Gulf" activities.  Tweet or post "things to do."  Call a friend or relative in the area and ask what you can do to help.  Observe a moment of silence for the BP workers killed in this disaster.  Say a prayer in honor of the wildlife most religions tell us to be responsible for.  Remember that the planet does not need us to survive.  It did quite well before us and will do quite well after us.  We need it. 

At its best, the negotiated resolution of conflict generates accountability among all of the stakeholders.  When we're accountable - when we take our part in it - the way in which we can transform our impotent outrage into productive action becomes instantaneously apparent. 

I live in Southern California.  We're among the worst individual petroleum offenders.  Even if our cars are semi-"green," we're still responsible - I'm responsible - for the oil spill every time I jump in the car to drive less than a half a mile.  I know it's a tiny act of contrition, but for the next thirty days, I will walk to any destination that is less than half a mile.  And I will drive to the nearest subway station (L.A. has a subway?????? yes it does!) instead of driving all the way to my destination.  Who knows, thirty days may turn into the rest of my perambulating-without-a-walker life.  I just want the promise I make to be one I know I can keep.  And right now, 30 days seems like a very, very long time.

I ask others, in addition to clicking on the links below for more information about helping out, to leave comments here about their personal stake in the oil spill and their resolutions to make a difference this time.

Click on the Yahoo link above to see what these organizations are doing to help and how you can join them in the effort. 

Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Register to volunteer with Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.

Defenders of WildlifeDonate to Defenders of Wildlife. Find volunteer opportunities with Defenders of Wildlife.

Emerald CoastKeeperDonate to Emerald CoastKeeper. Find volunteer opportunities with Emerald CoastKeeper.

Greenpeace USADonate to Greenpeace USA. Find volunteer opportunities with Greenpeace USA.

Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators AssociationDonate to Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.

Oxfam International  Donate to Oxfam International. 

Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. Donate to Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. Find volunteer opportunities with Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.

What we don't need is name-calling or politicizing what is a disaster for all of us everywhere on the planet.  We do need to make certain directly accountable parties keep their commitments to fix that which they damaged and destroyed.  Beyond that - anyone using this disaster to feather their own political nests or to engage in partisan political name-calling, should be ashamed of themselves.

(Shame - a contentious negotiation tactic)

Full post as published by Settle It Now Negotiation Blog on June 04, 2010 (boomark / email).