{"id":14557,"date":"2020-09-13T15:48:03","date_gmt":"2020-09-13T03:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/new-zealand\/?p=14557"},"modified":"2024-07-12T11:51:47","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T23:51:47","slug":"oil-is-leaking-all-over-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/oil-is-leaking-all-over-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Oil is leaking all over the world"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s not a question of if oil will spill, it is a question of when. In just the past few months we have seen oil washing up on shores \u2013 putting wildlife and nearby communities at risk. We have also been seeing oil tankers \u2013 sitting ducks in the ocean \u2013 with potential to leak any moment. But the sad part is, none of this is new. Oil spills have always been an inevitable effect of this dangerous fossil fuel \u2014 and the data on oil spills is often incomplete. Available data does not include oil spills of less than seven tonnes, which the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) states \u201caccount for more than 80% of all oil spills at sea\u201d<\/a>. Not to mention the CO2 emissions from oil, which we were warned about back in 1965<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

We are in the midst of a climate emergency \u2013 melting ice caps, dying coral reefs, wildfires, more and more extreme weather events \u2013 yet companies continue to drill for oil. These recent incidents, among several others this year, are just another reminder about the dangers of fossil fuels and why it is more urgent than ever to switch to renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n

Mauritius<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Around 1000 tonnes of oil leaked into the waters of the Indian Ocean after the MV Wakashio ran aground, striking a beautiful and irreplaceable coral reef on Mauritius\u2019 southeast coast and causing an environmental disaster<\/a>. Thousands of species are at risk of drowning in a sea of pollution and there have been dire consequences for Mauritius\u2019 economy, food security and health.<\/p>\n\n

\"Mauritius
The scene of the oil spill in the waters around Mauritius after Japanese bulk carrier, MV Wakashio, ran aground on 25 July 2020.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
\"Porpoise
A dead porpoise was found by volunteers near the shore in Mauritius. \u00a9 Shav<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Venezuela<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Oil began washing up<\/a> along the coasts of Venezuela\u2019s Falc\u00f3n state in early August, appearing to have also affected some beaches in Morrocoy National Park. The origin of the oil is still unclear, but it has already had dire impacts<\/a> on the local biodiversity and coastal communities. Even more recently, there was concern about reports of an oil storage tanker at risk of sinking in the Gulf of Paria.<\/p>\n\n

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Venezuela's National Assembly investigates oil spill https:\/\/t.co\/ovL3lMe7la<\/a><\/p>— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 13, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>