Our very own Gulf

Disasters in the west always seem do far away to the point it's not easy to feel sympathetic even though I know I should. Each one carries it's bitter lesson to and unless it happens in your backyard it does not really hit home. There was been much about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the attempts by BP to contain and clean. The oil is also fast approaching land and people who depend on the sea being clean are no doubt in anguish (economically as well). It's all nice to read until the experience occurs in your very own backyard where I can see, smell and hopefully not feel.

Singapore has been having it's oil spill. Granted it's minute compared to what has been discharged on a per day basis in the Gulf but nonetheless, it's a spill. 2 ships collided off the east coast resulting in the spill. All seem well because it all still seemed so far away.

Until, I came back 2 days ago and wondered if the estate had been fogged to rid it of insects. It was that kerosene smell that was all over the house. I didn't give it much thought notwithstanding it lingered. It was there again when I came back. When I when on a run, it was there, all over the ECP. I looked into the water and there were pontoons, and beyond that, the water was heavy
and sluggish; it was also opaqued. It was the spill and it had finally hit home in our backyard. All through the ECP there was the smell of kerosene and the water was terrible. If this was bad, the spill in the Gulf must be a million times worse.

I now know what it feels like, but their anguish and despair must be much much worse.