September 6, 2006: Oil spill in Philippines

[Undertoad]

This oil spill in the Philippines is a disaster, but that doesn't stop us from appreciating one thing about it: the color. Its rainbow-like sheen is unlike anything else, the beauty in this bad thing.



And the oddity in this bad thing: in this WaPo day in pics image caught by xoB, a prison inmate is donating his hair so that it can be used in an effort to clean the spill.

This full story explains that, along with the inmates, 500 hair salons are donating hair to this cause. It's kind of experimental; apparently a researcher found that when hair is dragged through the oil in permeable bags, some oil will cling to it, making for a low-tech cleanup approach.

No word on how well that's going. Off-hand, it sounds like a feel-good public effort that may be more effective at rallying the people than actually cleaning the spill. Others aren't waiting for the hair treatment; this story about prosecuting the captain of the oil tanker mentions (at the bottom):

Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, for her part, said a Coast Guard boat is also set to arrive in Guimaras to bring in more coconut husks from Romblon to help absorb the oil slick.

Alabastro also said the coconut husks are better than human hair, which would be more difficult to contain.

Cruz defended the use of chemical sprayers or dispersants to stop the oil sleek, saying it was ensured to be safe before it was used.

He said the Japanese Coast Guard, in its initial report, said the use of dispersants is effective and safe and without any side effects to marine life.