Saturday 29 May 2010

Oil spill - I try to help my friends in Florida


Gail says that if I am to take on the role of successor to the venerable Hamish, then I need to do some ‘pontificating’. According to the on-line dictionary, that means being “pompously dogmatic or self-important; pretentious”.

Oh. That sounds awfully difficult. And not my style at all.

I think I’ll just stick with being vocal and insistent. I can do that. And I know that Hamish never shied away from controversy, and neither shall I.

My friends in Florida, the ‘Barkalot Boyz’ (with my help, by the way, Gail is beginning to understand why a pair of WFT's might be so named….) and their Mom, and Kira and Scampi and their Mom too, are so very worried about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and how it will affect their precious coast and all the beautiful wildlife. Somehow I feel a bit responsible, ‘cos I live in ‘Europe’s oil capital’. What’s more, we have a lovely next door neighbour here who is always friendly and gives me lots of treats and cuddles and is a wonderful Dad to his two cute young children and helps fix Gail’s lawnmower and stuff like that. Can you believe how shocked I was when I learned that he works for BP? He’s an engineer on one of their North Sea oil fields. If you read some papers you’d think that only nasty stupid bad people work for BP. Well clearly that’s not the case at all.

So you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to run out into the garden right away and bark a message to my nice neighbour. I think he recognizes my voice by now. I'll tell him how concerned my pals in the USA are about this horrid oil spill. I'll also demand that he tells his BP colleagues across the Pond they must do absolutely all they can to stop the well leaking and the oil reaching those unspoiled coastal areas. And to make sure that a tragedy like this never ever happens again.

I know it’s not much, Jake and Just Harry, but I'm only a young pup and it’s the best I can do.

PS from Gail: Bertie has his work cut out if he's going to bark at all our many friends and neighbours who work for BP. Well, on second thoughts, I'm sure he'll manage!

17 comments:

  1. Hey we think we can hear him! Get those guys movin'. We can't be havin' tainted sardines.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

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  2. Thats the way to go, Bertie! Let the world know!

    Kisses,
    Stella

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  3. I don't think anyone quite has a grasp on the scope of damage this will cause - thank you for giving a "bark" out for it!

    Sam

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  4. Hey there Bertie...
    Seems that you have been generously endowed with wisdom at a young age. We can't agree with you more!
    Lotsaluv
    MAXMOM IN SA

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  5. Dear Bertie,

    Thank you so so much for your concerns. People here are scared and frustrated and angry. And some are protesting BP -- but you know what, it's one thing to protest a company and the management that made seriously wrong decisions, but we know that the men and women who work in the industry are good hardworking people, and deserve our respect, no matter what happened. We think, for example, about the 11 men who died on the rig -- and know they were good people just doing their jobs.

    The Louisiana coast, with its marshes, seems to be hit the hardest for the moment -- but as you may have seen, what the scientists are finding under the surface of the Gulf is worse than anyone could have imagined.

    Again, thank you so much!!!

    On a lighter note, we are so proud that you are learning why our mom named us the Barkalots. We take that name very very seriously and, since our townhouse, with its windows in the front and back, gives us the opportunity to run back and forth any time we hear an alien noise and bark our heads off, we do our best to live up to our image. Our barking is all the more appreciated because mom works from home and can hear us ALL DAY LONG (BOL).

    So all together now, one loud WOOF!!!!

    Your WFT pals,

    Jake and Just Harry

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  6. Hi Bertie, well done for having a good barking at your neighbour - though we are sure he is not personally responsible!
    Still a good barking will do no harm and it is certainly a very important issue to be barking about.
    We bassets are happy to join in the barking too.
    We ourselves would have described Hamish as rather 'erudite' we think you should aspire to that Bertie dear.
    It means witty, charming and with a sound knowledge of all things.
    In fact you can look it up in the dictionary for your homework!
    love and kisses
    Your aunties xxxx

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  7. You are doing a good job following in Hamish's pawprints. You tell'em Bertie
    Benny & Lily

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  8. Hi Bertie keep up the good work, I'm learning new things each day as well, don't know any BP men me self, but moms stopped buying the stuff you put in cars from them, so hope that helps out.

    See yea George xxx

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  9. Bewtie
    You make all us wiwy kids pwoud. To be so socially concious at such a young age is most impwessive. I know hamish would be vewy pwoud that you awe bawking youw opinion. I'm suwe youw neighbows awe soopew nice and it's not theiw fault that such a twagedy occuwed. We awe pwaying that it doesn't happen again. all thos poow injoowed aminals bweak ouw heawts.

    smoochie kisses
    ASTA
    pee ess you awe gwowing so quickly Bewtie, i hawdly wecognise you

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  10. Our momma is heartsick over the oil spill. We live way north of the spill in Michigan but momma considers herself a citizen of the whole world and is concerned for all of the people, animals and habitats. She cries sometimes when the news shows birds and baby animals suffering when they are coated with oil. We think the WHOLE WORLD should say prayers for the Gulf of Mexico because we all live on this delicate planet and it is being harmed.

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  11. I think you can handle it. You are a terrier after all. Just be persistent. You know how to do that.

    Slobbers,
    mango

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  12. Bertie my boy! Thinking of others at your tender age and giving a bark out is mostcommendable. Deserves a gold star. Though of course any bark out from you (and me)is second nature. You have done Hamish proud. Hold that ever changing square head of yours up high and proud!

    Wiry love Uncle E xx

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  13. Hello Bertie, you're living in Scotland ?!
    I'm glad to see the beautiful landscapes because I'm a little bit Scottish: the grand-mother of my mother was scottish !
    And Bertie is so cute !
    Thank you to share the beautiful photos,

    from Flo, Nana, and Uyanga.

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  14. Bertie, you are a wonderful spokesdoggie for environmental causes! Thanks for "barking up" !

    Your buddy,
    Bocci

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  15. Hello there Bertie,

    You are doing such a good job! Hamish is surely proud of you. Bark away! We need to find ways to make this a better world for all of us.


    -Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai, Wai-Max & the Piappies

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  16. Thanks Bertie, we here in America can use all the help we can get during this horrible oil spill. Hugs and Wags, Mistaya

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  17. We're here to thank you for your efforts. And to let you know that we know that all BP folks are not horrid and reprehensible. Some of them may even use blueberry flavored moisturizer.

    Jake (a bit obsessed at the moment ... and a bit anxious to get to the beach to make sure it's just as I left it))

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