M ore-than a month has elapsed since the Deepwater Oil Disaster began in the Gulf of Mexico and not only has BP failed to stop the flow of oil so far, but also we still don't even know how big the spill is –  because BP won't allow anyone else to investigate the extent of the problem.

Should a similar accident happen in the Palawan offshore oil wells being operated by Shell Petroleum, are Shell and the Philippine-government agencies ready to stop the flow of oil and gas? Do Shell and the Philippine government have contingency plans and the stand-by equipment ready to roll into action immediately after an accident happens? Do Shell and the Philippine government have viable plans of cleaning the sea and beaches of the islands in Palawan of the oil and gas spills?

Perhaps the incoming Administration of President-elect Noynoy Aquino must take steps to make sure that the Philippines and the operator of the offshore wells are prepared for any contingency.

The Deepwater Oil Disaster is a painful reminder of how dangerous the world’s addiction to oil really is – and how critical it is that public officials not only in Washington, DC, and Manila but also throughout the world pass strong climate-and-clean energy legislation that weans us off of dirty fossil fuels as soon as possible. We must make sure that our leaders understand the true cost of oil, especially its impact on the environment. # # #