The world is vulnerable to oilspills

As a metaphor for the failure of bureaucracy, there can be nothing starker than thousands of dead creatures being thrown onshore by black waters when an oilspill takes place. If authorities are prepared, it is easy to avert any spill from blowing out of proportion. But there is always 'deliberate ignorance'.

Helen Thomas, information system manager of the uk-based International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation, has recently conducted a comprehensive analysis and found that not even a single country can be given the clean chit for being properly geared-up to face future adversities. Most nations do not have disaster recovery plans.

After mapping regions that are most vulnerable to oilspills, Thomas has established that the Black Sea is in danger of living up to its name -- it tops the list of regions most at risk.