Not One Drop: Betrayal and Courage in the Wake of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

Disliked, as it's Ott's lack of understanding of the importance oil rather than the "mis-managment" (the "handling") of oil as the key to this problem. For all of her "much-vaunted" education as a Dr. in marine biology, she's sadly lacking in commint sense within the oil industry as it's incredible importance to virtually EVERY industry within the US and Western Europe.

There is a lot that has been written about the spill of the Exxon Valdez, but I cannot think of any other work that looks at the lives of the people, as well as the marine damage done by this disaster. While writing the history of the spill, the author also included the history of the people who were affected and damaged and who continue to suffer, even 20 years after the "event".The author, who has a PhD in sedimentary pollution, as well as a masters degree in oil pollution, had an insiders look into the situation. Because she happened to be a resident of Cordova and a fisherman, and because she had the academic credentials for the work, she was thrust into the very center of the action regarding litigation, clean up, on going environmental damage and a range of other issues. She was so "dangerous" to the oil industry that they actually hired spies to watch her and tap her phone.Rarely does a book bring tears to my eyes, yet I found myself continuing to tear up as I turned the pages. The waste that was caused by this spill, not just by the death of marine animals, but by the time and energy and toll taken on the citizens affected by the spill should make most people cry.This story comes at a very critical time, as the nation debates whether or not to allow oil companies the right to expanded drilling operations in Alaska and in the waters of our coast lines. And, before any person forms an opinion, they must read this work to discover the lies spewed by the oil industry, as well as the shortcuts they took even as the money rolled in.

I read this book for a presentation that I had to do for my MBA program, I never intended to like it. The book was written so that I could understand it, not all scientific terms. I feel for all of the people of Cordova, I had no idea that this was still going on, or that they got a really crappy deal from the US Government, the same government that should have protected them. Riki made everyone so real, and you can feel for them with every new devastating development that "The Big One" brought to them. Now in light of the BP Spill in the gulf I wonder when people are going to realize that water and oil really don't mix.

This book is once again relevant after the huge Gulf of Mexico BP spill in April, 2010. A similar scenario is slowly playing out in late 2014, four years after the disaster. Dr. Riki Ott writes first hand and is so, so knowledgeable about the whole ugly mess.

Dr. Ott's life story is interesting and compelling. The parallels of what happened in Alaska's Prince William Sound due to Exxon and what is currently occuring to the coastal areas of LA, MS, AL and Florida is chilling. This book appears to be the blue print of what we can expect from BP, state & federal government....and the forecast is dire. It's an interesting read. I felt compelled to purchase mulitiple copies in order to "spread the word" to my coastal community. Dr. Ott speaks to the grim impact of oil (and oil dispersants) on the fishing industry, the environment (short and long term), tourism, physical and mental health issues of the citizens of Alaska. If I never hear the words "Drill, Baby, Drill", I'll live a long and happy life. British Petroleum is following Exxon play by play. "We will make this right". Exxon issued hard hats to clean up workers rather than respirators, ditto BP.

The book was very attractive in topic because of the effect on both our own need for fuel and the means of how to do that safely.The author was very well fitted for the topic and I learned much of the oil industry and the needs of concern thereof.The collection of facts regarding this industry and the deeper fare of the community in affect was well shown and displayed in good order to understand fully of the title.However, as the story continued I was finding more of the technical and legal topics than I cared to hear and began to wonder these were the "drop" also related to law?My best congradulations to this author for the book and her future in her work.

Scary but true expose of corporate greed and governmental betrayal of the public trust.