Local organization offers oil spill solution

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida organization believes it has come up with a slick solution to soak up millions of gallons of oil that has spilled into the Gulf of Mexico.

The group's 100 percent Canadian Sphagnum peat moss could help in the cleanup along our beaches... if it comes to that.

Using transmission fluid, Maurice "Maui" Goodbeer, a local liason for the product, revealed how the moss works. "The phenomenon is when you dry it below 15 percent water retention, it no longer takes in water. It becomes hydrophobic and absorbs every derivative of crude oil," he said.

"As you can see, it's beginning to absorb the hydrocarbon into the cell structure," he continued. "It locks the hydrocarbon into the cell structure and the humic acid, which is naturally occurring inside the cell structure, begins to breakdown the hydrocarbon. It breaks it down into hydrogen and oxygen and then releases that hydrogen and oxygen, and then releases it as clean air."

In the ultimate test, he actually drinks the water the moss has separated. "So that's natural, that's green, and that's what we need to use in our environment."

Maui is also the director of Streetwaves, an organization that brings inner city youths to the beach while mentoring them. "We like for them to come to the ocean as much as they can," he said. "It's an avenue to get off the street. We teach them about the surfing culture, we teach them about environmental issues to bring their consciousness to a new level."

Part of that consciousness means that if indeed oil touches our shores, he says his kids are more than ready to help in the cleanup, and he is already in talks with the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce to get the process started if need be using the Canadian moss.

Miami Beach Commissioner Jerry Libbin said, "I just think it's incredible that Maui now has these inner city kids who've come over to Miami Beach to learn about paddle boarding and who are ready to take the next step to use this product."

For the kids who participate in Streetwaves, this provides an opportunity for them not only to do something good for the environment but also to do something great in themselves. Harry Duval, one of Streetwaves' participants said the time on the beach helps clear his head. "I'll be stressed out by quizzes, homework and projects due, and then I'll come out here, and I don't have to deal with anything but the waves."

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