More like clean peoples consciences...
Drive your Prius to the Bird wash?
On today’s NPR "Talk of the Nation" Michael Ziccardi, director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, debates Biologist Brian Sharp on efficacy of cleaning oiled birds.
http://www.vpr.net/...
Just who is Michael Ziccardi, and what is the " Oiled Wildlife Care Network"
From the http://www.owcn.org/
Their only stated scientific journal article on the efficacy of cleaning oiled birds:
"Efficacy of Rehabilitating Oiled Birds -- Vain Attempt or Positive Action?," that's undergoing peer review
(thus UNPUBLISHED = scientifically worthless!)
Members of the OWCN Scientific Advisory Board:
William Gala, PhD
Chevron
Anita George-Ares, PhD
ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences Inc.
Oliver Pelz, PhD
BP America Inc.
Judy St. Leger, DVM
SeaWorld San Diego
Pamela Yochem
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute
Thus 45% of the OWCN Scientific Advisory Board are from the Petroleum or Animal Entertainment Industry.
OWCN Network Advisory Board Members:
Mike Ammann
Chevron Energy Technology Company
Steven A. McCall
OSG Ship Management, Inc.
Matt Rezvani
BP America Inc.
Steve Shehorn
AERA Energy LLC
Below article mentions positive data from both UNPUBLISHED studies and a study with 7 total birds!!!
http://www.scrippsnews.com/...
Earlier German Scientist Silvia Gaus states euthanasia is more humane alternative:
http://www.spiegel.de/...
The WWF supports her grim view:
http://theweek.com/...
(excerpt)
Even dyed-in-the-wool preservationists from the WWF agree with Gaus. At the time of the 2002 Prestige oil spill off the coast of Spain, a spokesman from the organization said: "Birds, those that have been covered in oil and can still be caught, can no longer be helped. ... Therefore, the World Wildlife Fund is very reluctant to recommend cleaning."
The Prestige spill killed 250,000 birds. Of the thousands that were cleaned, most died within a few days, and only 600 lived and were able to be released into the wild. According to a British study of the spill, the median lifespan of a bird that was cleaned and released was only seven days.
(end excerpt)
That’s not scientific, that’s religious belief!
The debate only lingers because it suits both the environmentalist industry and the oil industry.
Biologist Sharp, who IS published:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/...
mentioned that Exxon received a $1B credit toward cleanup costs that had a single cleaned bird being worth $50k-$500k each! It’s all theater for people who want the illusion of empowerment.
The most gung ho advocates merely state that they "care more" than past (failed) efforts and play nice music for the birds and it would be immoral to NOT do it.