Radio 1

Your name: Renée Manders
ID code: 1569490

Radio 1
Title of programme: Assignment – Louisiana Deepwater – BP gulf of Mexico oil spill
Broadcast by BBC
Date: Monday, April 18, 2011
Duration: 23 minutes

Subject:
Robyn Bresnahan revisits the fishing families who were affected by the oil spill

Summary:
A year ago, Robyn Bresnahan spent a month with fishing communities in Louisiana. For this edition of Assignment she went back to see how they’re doing.

Wilbert Collins, head of Collins oysterscompany, has a large, white sign in his garden, saying: ‘Out of business after 90 years because of the BP oil spill’. But it’s not just costumers that Wilbert has lost. Last summer he had to lay off his own sons, including Nick. He is the 4th generation of oystermen. He still finds it hard to believe that after 25 years of fishing for oysters, he didn’t went to work this winter.

Charles Robin is the 5th generation shrimp fisher. He seems in better shape than last year. But he still hasn’t lost all of his anger, as most fishermen in Louisiana haven’t. But it’s not just their livelihoods that they’re worried about. They’re afraid that the chemical disbursement, used to break up the oil spill, may have side effects on their health.

People in Louisiana are not just hurting financially, but also with their mental health. People don’t know where to turn en depression is on the rise. Debts and stress levels are rising quickly.

Although kids have started projects to help the fishermen and are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the older fishermen just can’t seem to share their line of optimism.