Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$: The Legacy of the EXXON Valdez Oil Spill

by Riki Ott

Dr. Riki Ott exposes the profound legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and how readers can help reshape our global energy future. The author chronicles the long-lasting environmental harm to Prince... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0964522667
• ISBN13: 9780964522664
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Dragonfly Sisters Press
• Length: 560 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

An Environmental Must Read!

Dr. Riki Ott has devoted her life to uncovering the truth about the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. She has a Ph.D. in Marine Toxicology and has worked as a commercial fisherwoman off the shores of Alaska. She was one of the first people to witness the devastation caused by the oil spill. She knew this was the big one and she asked herself the question, "I know enough to make a difference, but do I care enough for the Sound to commit my life to this?" Clearly Dr. Ott does care enough as she has worked tirelessly to educate people about the truth about what really happened and about the toxicity of oil. This is the story of people who care and people who don't. Most people have heard a bit about the spill, but most people have not heard about the health damage done to workers involved with the clean up. Many people stepped up to help the minute they heard about the spill, putting their lives on hold to do what they could to clean up the spill not realizing the devastating effects it would have on their own health. Many people suffer with symptoms of a mysterious illness due to the toxicity of the oil they were inhaling along with the powerful and toxic cleaning agents. Imagine being on an oil-covered beach surrounded by dead and decaying animals "engulfed in clouds of oil mist and saltwater steam." (89) It is hard to imagine enduring even one minute of this let alone weeks on end without proper safety equipment. Dr. Ott tells the stories of the people who unknowingly sacrificed themselves to a greater good and the people who lied and covered up the truth about the damaging health effects from oil exposure. This is also the story of the non-human inhabitants affected by the oil spill. It is the story of the birds, mammals, fish, plankton and other life in Prince William Sound. How many were lost due to oiling? Are populations recovering? What are the long-lasting effects? Dr. Ott has put all the studies together to give a broad overview on the subject. There are 64 pages of references to this book! Dr. Ott has interviewed people and read all she could find to compile what is known at this point. This book provides a comprehensive look at pre-spill studies, early oil spill studies, ecosystem studies, and the status of the Sound. This is not an easy book to read because it exposes such awful truths, not just about Exxon's oil spill, but about our own contribution, from fossil fuel use, to damaging our health and our environment. However, this book leaves readers feeling hopeful as Dr. Ott takes the third part of the book to discuss her recommendations to reduce risk of oil spills and oil pollution, inspiring people everywhere to take action by supporting responsible companies and doing what they can to reduce consumption of fossil fuels. It is hard for me to find the words to adequately express what a tremendous contribution this book makes to the world. It should be in every library in the country and instructors should include it in the readings for co

Great book for college courses

Dr. Ott's book will serve as an excellent supplement to course syllabi around the country. The book's interdisciplinary approach makes it a perfect educational tool for a variety of departments - public health, environmental studies, ecology, and sociology to name a few. Ott's ability to combine rigourous science with an accessbile writing style offers an engaging expose of oil's effects on humans and nature. Perhaps just as important, the book also presents students and teachers with an inspiring model of how one scientist's passion and determination can uncover truths of global importance. Highly recommended for teachers and students.

A good read!

Dr. Ott , like the lone pedestrian facing a tank about to run him over, faces the giant Exxon. In Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$, Ott reveals the far reaching effects of the Valdez oil spill on human health, wildlife populations, and the environment. Worker safety and environmental laws based on antiquated science need to be revamped, the industry needs to be held fully accountable and finally we need to take a look at ourselves and the role we can play in reducing the toxicity of our environment. This journey with Dr. Ott, through the initial devastation and lingering after effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, tells the incredible magnitude of the disaster. Through her first hand account we are transported to Prince William Sound, and hear the silencing of the birds, see the slick lapping the shore and smell the inescapable fumes. We also learn that drilling is no longer necessary when looking for oil in Alaska, just scrap away some rocks and a little sand and there on the beaches you'll find it.

Urgent action required

Dr. Ott's book is not only an exceptionally good read but her message must reach our Senators and Representatives now and action must be taken. Dependence on oil is NOT the way of the future. It is highly toxic not only to the environment but to human health as well. We need to start now, to conserve our oil reserves and develop alternative energy sources or the chances are, that our retirement years will be the setting for a major economic shift toward the worst. If President Bush would like to enter the history books as a man of incredible foresight, he'd better pick up this banner and start leading us in that direction now.

Alaska Resident Says Book Rocks

As a lifelong resident of the area affected by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, I was ecstatic when this crusader, Dr. Ott, accurately portrayed the spill. Not only does Dr. Ott expose Exxon's myths and public deceptions, but she does justice to the thousands of residents affected by the spill. This book personalizes the disaster by adding a human dimension without compromising fact. If you believe that Prince William Sound has recovered from the effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Dr. Ott's book will show you how Exxon has deceived us all. Overall, a groundbreaking worthwhile read!!