november 13, 2002: the oil tanker prestige, carrying 77,000 tons of heavy fuel oil, springs a leak in its hull off the coast of spain. for two weeks, the spanish government denied that there was any environmental repercussion from the leak. in fact, they were opposed to allowing the leaking tanker to dock in a spanish port, and instead demanded that the tanker be towed out to open sea. in the process, thousands of tons of oil have been spread along the spanish coastline. check out some of the devastation from the prestige oil spill in this photo essay. for a while, the fishermen who depend on the coastal fisheries for their livelihoods were out in full force, doing mitigation and clean-up as best they knew how, without government assistance or support. within a reasonably short period of time, one of my foundation's favorite grantees, PRBO conservation science, was fighting to send their oil spill response team experts out to spain to help. last night, christine abraham and diana humple of PRBO gave a presentation on their experience in spain... it was sorely sad, but what an incredible thing to be involved in. it's also very cool to know that my foundation has a hand in helping provide these environmental services, management, guidance, and research through amazing grantees like PRBO.

in other news, the all-important big issue on the house side of capitol hill this week was the change the name of french fries and french toast in all three house cafeterias to "freedom fries" and "freedom toast." does anyone else besides me think this is a ridiculous and unnecessary waste of time and energy? seriously. there are such bigger fish to fry, and they're concerned with spiting the french for not wanting to go to war? ugh. sometimes i'm so disgusted by the hot air in washington d.c. does that mean, as an esteemed member of the foundation inquired, that there's now going to be freedom kissing, too? that could get interesting. :)