Cath Turner

The relentless oil spill

Parts of the Gulf of Mexico are like a holiday postcard. 

The water colour changes from deep blue to green, the birdlife is all around and the marine life is magnificent. No wonder the region is such a popular tourist destination and hot spot for leisure fishing.

But for thousands of people who live here, the water is their lifeline. Their hauls of fish, crab and shrimp are their pay cheque.  All of this is now under threat from a huge oil slick.

We spent six hours on a boat in the Gulf, and seeing everything that’s at risk was heartbreaking.

The two boat skippers who gave us a tour knew the Gulf intimately, pointing out the best fishing spots, explaining how the brown pelican population had returned after being on the brink of extinction and taking us to the beautiful Chandeleur Islands.

Dotted along the ocean’s surface every couple of kilometres are constant reminders of the giant oil industry.

Tech-shy Tea Party

The Tea Party movement does not have one, single leader. And that's just the way the Tea Partiers like it.
 
Many observers describe them as "disorganised". They prefer to use the word "decentralised".
 
This movement believes it has several hundred leaders across the country within each county, each district, each state. The Tea Partiers believe one person taking the lead and heading to Washington to represent them would be the death of their cause. 
 
The first ever Tea Party Convention is designed to bring dozens of groups together, to share ideas, connect like-minded people and work out where to take the movement from here.