It’s now been more than a month since this oil rig exploded, killing 11 people and in my mind demonstrating clearly that even the best minds in energy science do not have the equipment or plan in place for responding to the worst-case scenarios in deep-water drilling.

We’re still having a hard time keeping coal mining safe, and that’s been going on for decades. I’m personally shocked that the government would provide permits for drilling in an area where even the government doesn’t have adequate underwater vehicles. It’s apparently just too darn deep.

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On Hardball with Chris Matthews, I saw Sylvia Earle of National Geographic say,

We (the USA) haven‘t made the investment to have a garage filled with submarines, a garage filled with remotely-operated systems, (nor in) the talent to be able to go down independently of industry and respond. (video above)

In other words, the oil industry HAS to fix it because they are the only ones that HAVE THE TOOLS.

That is petrifying.

I am furious because I feel so helpless. I have worked hard to live an environmentally friendly life. But a worse case scenario in the Gulf could potentially ruin my visit to a North Carolina beach. Do you see how huge this thing is? This is right in our backyard, DC. Not cool.

The truth is that together we could have prevented this, and we can prevent another incident like this if we all do our part to get out of the oil slick. Go green. Ask for alternative energies. A wind farm will never cause problems like this. Solar panels don’t even have to change the landscape of your neighborhood. Recycle. Buy from farmers’ markets. Use public transportation. Every little bit helps.

Above all, write your Representative and Senator in Congress and let them know that offshore drilling needs to stop now.

This was my first luncheon at the Mayflower, and it was nice. Lovely old hotel. No scandals today.

Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s “Hardball” was kind enough to answer a slew of questions from our conference co-chairs; NBC’s Michael Jack on stage with Matthews, and Cary Hatch of MDB Communications reading some questions from the audience.

Of course the election was the focus of the conversation. Matthews seemed very adamant that race remains an issue, whether people talk about it or not. He postured that if only people under 40 were allowed to vote, that Obama would probably win. He suggested that people should vote like their grandkids, not like their grandparents, since the world we’re working on and the decisions we make will effect our grandkids more than they will effect us.

And in answer to a question about what he would ask the next President to do, he said, “Rebuild America – reinvest in the public sector.” He went on to explain he meant transportation, energy, education, and regulation, and talked about the land grant colleges that gave him an affordable education.

Of course there was a LOT more to what he said – Matthews talks fast and has plenty of opinions, and it was really energizing to see him live. As an avid watcher of his program, I have to say he is nothing if not consistent. It was a pleasure as always.