Risks & Choices On The Gulf Coast

(This is the second installment of Small Closet Radio.)

Taking risks in the Gulf. When the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sank in April, it began the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history -- and it took the livelihoods of fisherfolks and others in the Gulf Coast's seafood industry. Many of these people have taken jobs cleaning up and containing the spill with BP's "Vessels of Opportunity" program, but they've been forbidden to use respirators while cleaning up the toxic crude oil. In this hour, a look at the "choice" to do this work. We examine the risks that led to this situation, who's been making the choices, and what choice we've got left. (Photo credit: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com)

The voices:
Merle Savage, general foreman on the Exxon Valdez clean-up and author of Silence In The Sound.
Monique Harden, New Orleans-based lawyer and co-director of Advocates for Environmental Human Rights.
Dahr Jamail, independent journalist reporting from Louisiana.

Listen. Use the player below to hear the show, or click "divShare" to download the mp3.