[Whitfield:] A number of groups are rushing to help clean up the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico, or offering up ideas, at the very least. At least one is halfway around the world, in Abu Dhabi. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom is there.
[Mohammed Jamjoom, Cnn Correspondent:] In Abu Dhabi, one of the world's largest oil producers, prevention is key.
[Ayedh Al Massabi, Supreme Petroleum Council:] We learned from others. You know? What others' mistakes, we learn, and we implement them, this learning to protect our area.
[Jamjoom:] Ayedh al Massabi heads up the crisis management team for Abu Dhabi's Supreme Petroleum Council. When and if an oil spill happens, he and his team must be ready to deploy and deal with it within an hour.
[Ilhab El Saftawi, Supreme Petroleum Council:] Our job is be prepared 247 in case of any emergency.
[Jamjoom:] This warehouse stores all the equipment they'll need. Some of it's even been used in other cleanup efforts, like when the team went to assist with Egypt's oil spill in 2006. And it will be used again. The team is now preparing to go help in the massive cleanup effort under way in the Gulf of Mexico.
[Massabi:] So we are sharing knowledge. We are sharing information every time, because this is a crisis. And it can happen any time. You know? It can happen now, it can happen in this area, or in a foreign area.
[Jamjoom:] Abu Dhabi has learned the hard way. In 2000, mangrove trees lining its coastline were severely threatened by an oil spill. Thabit al Abdessalam's organization took the lead in rehabilitating the area.
[Thabit Al Abdessalam, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi:] As you can see, the mangroves are healthy.
[Jamjoom:] Protection of this ecosystem is a priority. Since the spill, a water-monitoring program has been put in place and sediment tests are now done regularly.
[Abdessalam:] One group, basically, essentially, in that they act as filters for the west also. So, there is a dual function. I mean, you would want to see that the water is clean, but also, the mangroves contribute to making that water clean.
[Jamjoom:] Abdessalam says the damage could have been far worse. 2000's oil spill was small, compared to what the Gulf of Mexico is facing. But it's not just the amount of oil that plays a part.
[Massabi:] So, our strategy at the Supreme Petroleum Council is to control the whole area of Abu Dhabi, to protect the whole area, the sea life, the humans, the environment. So this is our land and our philosophy.
[Jamjoom:] Mohammed Jamjoom, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
[Whitfield:] President Barack Obama is meeting with his advisers to discuss the oil leak in the Gulf at this hour, and we'll hear from the president actually later. His remarks are expected at 11:50 Eastern Time. Of course we'll have live coverage of that, right here, from the CNN NEWSROOM.