MV Wakashio: Proposal for Improved Processes in the Event of Oil Leaks.

I was once lucky enough to go to Mauritius. It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful place I have ever found myself.

I’m crying right now.

Oil leaks like this do utterly unspeakable damage. We can’t carry on inflicting this ecocide.

We need better processes for when leaks like this happen.

So, following the usual format of descriptively conveying my strength of feeling followed by policy musings, I’d like to suggest a “deposit” kind of insurance and compensation scheme so effected communities and ecosystems don’t have to wait so long for the polluter to actually pay, all the while sustaining more damage.

The money needed to mitigate this damage and start the long long work of repair should be something the owner of the tanker (perhaps in combination with the government of country the profits from it) puts up as essentially a deposit on the ocean. In short, it they don’t crash and cause ecocide they can keep it. But every single time they set off that deposit goes back on the table.

Perhaps the financial liability would also encourage renewable alternatives that wouldnt be such a financial risk of transport.