BP has today pledged 16 billion dollars in an attempt to clean up what will inevitably turn out to be the worst oil spill and ecological disaster ever known. An Oil slick 160 miles long is now covering a massive part of the Gulf of Mexico and is threatening the lives of over 8 million nesting seabirds and shorebirds, as well as endangered alligators, dolphins and large turtles. With the oil now washing ashore in Louisiana, 14 turtles have already been picked up either dead or starving and President Obama has warned the American public that this is likely to be the worst environmental disaster in the region and of unprecedented proportions.
BP say it could take up to 90 days to build another well to take off the pressure on the leaking valve, caused after an explosion sank the working well just over a week ago. Oil will continue to seep into the ocean until the three massive holes are repaired.