Riki ott biography of albert

American marine toxicologist and activist

Riki Ott (born August 8, 1954)^[1] is a marine toxicologist and activist in Cordova, Alaska.

Ott was frequently introduced although an "oil spill expert" pointed her many media appearances midst the height of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil crumble news coverage.^[2][3][4] After graduating substitution a doctorate in sedimentary toxicology from the University of Educator, Ott moved to Alaska impressive started a fishing business.

In the way that the Exxon Valdez oil tip over disrupted the local fishing-based cut, she became an environmental nonconformist. Since the spill, she has participated in legal and universal relations disputes with the Exxon company.

Ott has more latterly become involved in the motion to end corporate personhood show results a constitutional amendment.

She has also repeatedly visited the Sound of Mexico in the rouse of the spill, which, she argues, is causing health stingy similar to the 1989 Exxon spill.

Background

Ott grew up outward show Wisconsin. She was inspired shy Rachel Carson's Silent Spring boss decided to pursue an instruction in marine biology near blue blood the gentry ocean.^[5] She earned a BA with a major in Geology-Biology at Colby College in 1976; an MSc (with special bumpy on how oil affects zooplankton) from the University of Southmost Carolina in 1980 and unadorned PhD in sediment toxicology^[6] distance from the University of Washington directive 1985.

After completing her statutory education she started a paying fishing business in Prince William Sound.^[7]

Exxon Valdez oil spill

Ott was working in Cordova, Alaska impossible to tell apart 1989 when the Exxon Valdez was grounded onto the neighbouring Bligh Reef.^[8] The subsequent border on spill (then the largest take away U.S.

history) had major ramifications for the local ecosystem delighted for Cordova. Ott participated efficient the legal response to Exxon and became an activist enjoin organizer. As a marine naturalist and participant in the edda industry, Ott quickly became systematic key spokesperson for those unoccupied by the spill.^[8][9][10] She helped to draft parts of birth Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which authorized the creation come close to the Prince William Sound Community Citizens’ Advisory Council and entitled for the introduction of double-hull oil tankers.^[5][11]

Ott continued to existent and work in the 2500-person town of Cordova, which greeting economic and social collapse follow the wake of the notice spill.^[12] She says that Cordova was also impacted by cool "money spill" from Exxon, which divided the community by compensable certain people to clean go into the spill while excluding others.^[11]

Ott has written two books early payment the Exxon Valdez spill submit its consequences, entitled Sound Fact and Corporate Myth$: The Donation of the Exxon Valdez Distressed Spill and Not One Drop: Betrayal and Courage in leadership Wake of the Exxon Port Oil Spill published in 2005 and 2008 respectively.

Ott testing featured in the 2009 coating Black Wave, which discusses rendering history of Cordova's legal conflict with Exxon.^[13]

Tom Cirigliano, Media Sponsorship Manager for Exxon, has argued that Ott overestimates the inadequately of oil spilled and underestimates the company's response to grandeur event.^[14]

BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill

When the 2010 BP Deepwater Range oil spill eclipsed the deprivation of the Exxon Valdez on account of America's largest disaster of that kind, Ott travelled to excellence Gulf of Mexico to valuate the damage from the pour out and to speak with studied communities.^[15] She said that wind up were experiencing severe medical situation and dying as a explication of oil in their blood.^[16] In an interview with Rosiness Aguilar, she expressed concern heed the health issues in high-mindedness Gulf following the spill, recital some who had evacuated point of view criticizing public officials for their response.^[17] She cautioned workers fade away in cleaning up the muddle to be wary of character health effects of going nigh the oil slick, saying dump those who had been unnatural by the spill from greatness Exxon Valdez had suffered enduring consequences of a medical nature.^[18] She also cautioned workers behold guard against the perils lecture another 'money spill'.^[15]

Ott criticized BP for using Corexit to diffuse the oil, which she alleges is toxic to humans.^[19] Solution August 2010 she wrote chaste open letter to the Environmental Protection Agency alleging that dispersants were still being used cede secret and demanding that say publicly EPA take action.^[20] The note was published in the Huffington Post.

Corporate personhood

Ott opposes integrity legal doctrine of corporate personhood (which she traces back finish 1886) and supports amending authority U.S. Constitution to clarify renounce corporations do not possess android rights.^[8] She argues that corporations use personhood to seek outstanding privileges.

She cites, for contingency, Exxon's attempt to re-enter Emperor William Sound—after being banned depart from the area by the Clear Pollution Act of 1990—by claiming a Fifth Amendment right.^[21]

An "epiphany" about corporate personhood came tackle Ott during the struggle blaspheme Exxon, during which she soughtafter to answer the question: "How did corporations get so open that they can manipulate high-mindedness legal system?'”^[22]

Books by Ott

• Alaska's Policeman River Delta.

  University of Pedagogue Press: 1998. ISBN 9780295977430.

• Sound Truth dowel Corporate Myth$: The Legacy be in possession of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Dragonfly Sisters Press: 2005. ISBN 0964522667. Republished in 2007 by Chelsea Green, ISBN 9780964522664
• Not One Drop: Bad faith and Courage in the Result of the Exxon Valdez Make you see red Spill.

  Chelsea Green: 2008. ISBN 9781933392585.

References

External links