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Vinh, eighth grader at South Plaquemines High School
 This horrific incident affected my family and friends dramatically. Because of this, my family has to cut back on spending for a while. My dad’s job as a fisherman has been postponed, my mom is trying to find a job, and I’ll be out of work during the summer, too. Even though people say that the government and BP are doing all the work, the people actually doing all the work tell another story.
In my view, BP is just making people sign contracts that give up their right to claim damages against the company in return for work cleaning up the spill. The contract they tried to get my dad to sign stated that the fishermen will not be given any rights, and that the company is not held responsible.
The future of Louisiana is decided on the outcome of the clean up in the Gulf. Many people think that everything is going to end happily, but it’s not because there are many things that can happen out there. People on land are also finding new ways to help the spill, famous actor Kevin Costner being one of those people. He helped develop a machine that separates oil from water 50 gallons faster than what that pipe is leaking out each day. This machine was transported and set up at the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Shooting Range on May 12. He is one of the few people who would use millions of their own money to help the people of Louisiana.
The town of Buras, La., revolves around the Gulf of Mexico for its seafood, jobs, and money. If this wretched spill were to spread, crabs, shrimp, sharks, etc. will die out eventually and people will be out of work. The Louisiana economy will plummet dramatically. People will be homeless or maybe worse.
Jaynea, seventh grader at South Plaquemines High School
 My life has been affected by the oil spill because the oil is taking over the air, causing my allergies to act up very bad. No matter if it’s a beautiful day, I’m always sneezing. That’s how I’ve been affected so far. In the future, it will be even worse because the oil will damage the water I drink, and it will harm the animals we eat in the Gulf of Mexico, such as fish, crawfish, and crabs.
It will affect my community because it will pollute the air, causing no one really to come outside – killing trees, animals, and plants that make up a community. To me, I think offshore drilling is a bad thing because it damages the homes of animals and causes a lot of damages. Oil drilling might be a good thing to our country, but it can also put people out of work.
So far, my family has not been affected by the oil spill because we do not work in the seafood industry. All I know is that this is taking over Boothville. And I do know a couple of people working to help clean up the oil spill. They say it’s a hard job because the oil keeps on spilling as they pick it up. But they say it’s an honor and a privilege to save animals everyday, and they feel good trying to stop the oil from damaging the wetlands.
I think they’re doing a good job cleaning up the oil spill. It’s just that it’s going to take time to clean up. It’s not just the government and BP cleaning up, but volunteers working very hard.
That is what I think about the oil spill, and I hope to learn more about it. One day, I want to work cleaning up the spill and be a hero and save lives.
Sarah, seventh grader at South Plaquemines High School
The oil spill has already started to affect our lives more and more each day. Our whole recreation and food and living are based on the water that surrounds us and now it is damaged by the oil that surrounds it. It will only get worse in the future. More oil means more damage and more wildlife having to suffer because of a man-made disaster. The Gulf of Mexico has some of the most graceful, wonderful, and beautiful creatures that are all affected by something they can’t even control. After about 5 ½ years of recovery after Hurricane Katrina hit, we were just getting back to normal, and now all we see is black oil in our home.
I think they should have never started drilling for oil offshore. I believe this cause the risks of offshore drilling outweigh the benefits. Everyday we smell the oil. Headaches are being caused by this, and it’s hurting our health. This oil spill is affecting lower Plaquemines life as we know it. But I’m not so concerned about me; I’m more worried and concerned about our wildlife that can’t evacuate or get away from the oil.
There could have been many things they could’ve done to prevent this oil spill, and they did nothing. They don’t care about the health of our parish or our wildlife. I hope they know they are killing dolphins, fish, porpoises, sharks, alligators, and other animals. Our future is, therefore, filled with nothing but blackness.
Buddy, eighth grader at South Plaquemines High School
The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has caused much damage to the people in my community. This includes the shrimpers, sharkers, and oyster fisherman. My family has also been affected by the oil spill. My uncle is a shrimper and sharker and is making way less money due to the oil spill. If they do not stop the oil it will stop most, if not all, commercial fishing for years to come. My grandfather is a part-time commercial fisherman, and he is very mad about the oil spill.
If the oil spill destroys the wetlands, the hurricanes (not a reference to the South Plaquemines High School Football Team) from this or any upcoming summer would annihilate the Louisiana Gulf Coastal Region. Much of this region is still facing problems recovering from Hurricane Katrina, such as rebuilding and cleaning up debris.
I think that oil drilling is wrong. If another oil spill like this happens, we can kiss the wetlands goodbye. Once oil gets into the Gulf coastal wetlands, it will kill many birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Most of our community depends on commercial fishing. If it were up to me, I would end it altogether in the U.S. Forget all of the presumptions of lower gas prices and lower diesel prices because it will still affect our environment. I believe the oil spill could have been stopped if they had taken proper safety precautions.
My feelings about the oil spill are very important to me and I have many family members in the commercial fishing business. If they cannot work in commercial fishing for the time the oil spill is being cleaned up and the time it takes to reproduce enough animals to be caught and sold for a profit, they will not know what to do. It is a very serious matter to my family, and hopefully it will be over soon.
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Joplin was able to rise from the ashes because of help from everyone. And I am eternally grateful to anyone who made that possible.
