The BP oil spill is one of the greatest tragedies of the year thus far. Aside from the numerous animals being drowned by oil in their natural habitat, 11 fatalities and 17 injuries have also been reported. According to the New York Times, about 100,000 barrels (4.2 million gallons) of oil are flowing into the Gulf of Mexico every day, and the number continues to increase. Research now shows that come July, the effects of the oil spill will hit us in North Carolina with the coming of the Gulf Stream. So what are we doing about it? Unfortunately, simply changing our Facebook profile picture to the grotesque images of oil-covered animals or black BP logos is not going to make much of a difference. Take the time to do some research about the spill. What caused it? Why is it such a big deal? How can it be prevented? Who is being held accountable? What effect is it having on our ecosystem? As the spill gets larger and the effects begin to reign in closer to home, it is far more crucial to look into the facts. Being informed can be our strongest weapon against something like this. Listen to the news or read up on the latest update on the spill. Being the hot topic that it is, every popular news channel and paper has some sort of update on it every day. Also, take a look at the photographs. They say photos are worth a thousand words, and they are the best way to visualize what has already happened and put into perspective what could. Look into volunteering at the Gulf and helping out with the cleanup. A variety of options are available for those interested. The National Audubon Society is training people to clean animals affected by the spill. The National Wildlife Federation is looking for people to form an extensive wildlife surveillance network for rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The Sierra Club is also taking calls for volunteers and offering helpful factsheets and suggestions to keep your informed. The saying “where there is a will, there is a way” comes to mind. If you can’t go out to the oil spill yourself, write to your local congressman about your concerns. Make a donation to any of the organizations involved with the cleanup. If you want to make a difference, you can. So what’s stopping you?