BP Equals Big Polluter Equals British Pensioners = Big Problem=Bankruptcy Probability
Written by Paul I. Adujie
It is good news that President Obama is demanding and insisted that BP establish an escrow account for the clean up and compensation in the aftermath of BP disaster which BP inflicted on the American Gulf Coast. It is exceedingly good news that BP did not resist the escrow account idea and so, $20 billion dollars may be set aside for the clean up.
The mammoth clean up as a consequence of BP sloppy oil drillings in the Gulf of Mexico without regard for human and environmental safety. And the trillion dollars question to be asked is why does the energy industry spend so little in research and development to meet safety demands in the high stakes offshore oil drilling game? BP committed blunders. It is therefore almost refreshing that BP finally heeded demands to suspend dividends payments in the face burgeoning environmental and financials disaster brought upon millions by BP itself. There should be no tears from anyone for BP, none.
BP drilled for oil without mandatory precautions for the safety of persons, flora and fauna. It is a delight that BP is getting pummeled from all sides for its deliberate ineptitudes. BP is receiving a beating of its stocks on trading floors and the people and government of the United States are making sure that BP hears displeasures loud and clear. BP made a calculated decision not to invest in necessary research and development and requisite technology in disaster prevent and disaster management as BP was fixated on profits and fixated on cutting corners on matters of safety. BP wanted to avoid the overhead costs of doing oil drilling at the depth of the oceans now, BP has a trillion times expenditure to clean up, to compensate for damages BP caused as it skimped on safety. There is hell to pay in cash and damage to BP’s image!
BP is still fumbling and bungling and foundering, 8 weeks or precisely 56 days after the BP oil spillage catastrophe of April 20, 2010. More and more have been revealed BP’s poverty of ideas and BP’s extreme neglect to undertake preventive measures to avoid what is now an oil spillage disaster-catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, which is now determined to be 10 times more than the Exxon Valdez oil spillage in 1989 on Prince William Sound in Alaska. Big Polluter is reeling from self inflicted injuries which could see BP into bankruptcy and that will be a great lesson for all corporate wrongdoers!
More and more revelations continue to surface, as to how BP’s fixation on the bottom line, profits and greed, as BP neglected necessary precautions, at the expense of human lives, at the expense of the environment and now, the consequences have come to bite BP. And sadly, the rest of us, are adversely affected both in the short term, medium and long term. BP’s failure to have disaster preparedness plan or disaster and crises management arrangement is egregiously offensive and outrageous! BP and the other oil giants and corporate behemoths merely had archaic and antiquated ideas about drilling safety. Most of these oil conglomerates actually listed the name of a long dead disaster consultant as their go to person in case of accidents
The latest and newest of these revelations actually comes from major oil corporations as they testified under oath before the United States Congressional Hearings as President Obama and the people and government of America investigates the blunders and bungling committed by BP, which resulted in this monumental poisoning of the waters and wetlands in and around American Gulf Coast
BP made five specific shortcuts … carelessness, recklessness, confirm BP failed to follow industry standards, design standards and industry norm, most other oil companies said they would not have drilled the way BP did.
Walruses have not been seen in Gulf of Mexico for 3 million years and yet, oil companies included such useless information on their disaster plan… oil companies merely copied and Xeroxed an Alaskan plan for all locations
BP had all opportunities to make decisions to avoid high risks, but chose the cheap option, BP also misrepresented the barrels per day in the spillage which is now put about 70, 000 barrels per day and that does not even include the natural gas which is also being spewed into the waters of the American Gulf.
It is the case, and it now public knowledge, that BP took the least costly least expensive option, BP did not conduct requisite test and it was horribly negligent on the part of BP, they tried to cut costs and BP became criminally negligent. BP had choices and other members of the oil industry states this… and it has become obvious that BP put profits before safety hence the extraordinary disaster which is now unfolding
According to The New York Times, in an article titled “Oil Executives Break Ranks in Testimony” and written By JOHN M. BRODER “ The chairmen of four of the world’s largest oil companies broke their nearly two-month silence on the major spill in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and publicly blamed BP for mishandling the well that caused the disaster. This may seem self-serving, but their blames for BP are consistent with what the public now knows. Here are excerpts of statements by big oil ““We would not have drilled the well the way they did,” said Rex W. Tillerson, chief executive of Exxon Mobil. “It certainly appears that not all the standards that we would recommend or that we would employ were in place,” said John S. Watson chairman of Chevron. “It’s not a well that we would have drilled in that mechanical setup,” said Marvin E. Odum, president of Shell.
All the oil companies have identical disaster plan such as what BP has applied and which has been unsuccessful. There are now back up plans and disaster management plan A and plan B
More than 5 million feet of booms or oil flow stopper or containment booms have been deployed in the American Gulf Coast, but thunderstorms and hurricane have increase ocean waves and booms are not effective and spilled oil have not been kept out of wetlands, animal habitats or even the waterfront beaches. Boom will not be the best defense or methods to clean up the spillage the size of BP oil spill disaster. BP continues to jump hoops in worth than useless efforts to pretend that it is tackling or fixing the spillage disaster, but the truth remains, that until a relief well is eventually drilled and completed in about two months, perhaps at the end of August 2010, the BP oil spill into the Gulf Coast waters will continue and oil will most probably spread into the Atlantic Ocean via Florida
Experts from national laboratory, scientists from academia, and sundry public interest experts to tackle the millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, what is necessary, and will make BP pay.
President Obama in his Oval Office address to Americans recounted the huge efforts his administration has so far invested in efforts to stem the BP mess. Mr. Obama describe the immense size of persons, equipment and other resources so far committed to remediation. This has involved thousands of federal and state personnel. President Obama has also assured that no efforts and expense will be spared in order to restore the American Gulf Coast to its erstwhile pristine state. Such restoration will enable residents of the currently affected states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida respectively, return to their ways of life, including, seafood hunts, restaurant businesses and travel and tours to the waterfront and beaches which are the mainstays of these coastal states, apart from the oil industry, which constitutes a major employment source in the American Gulf Coast.
President Obama has expressed his commitment to dedicate resources and assistance to all Gulf States, vowing that BP will ultimately bear the expense of clean up. Mr. Obama however explained that, even the best efforts notwithstanding, there will be more oil and more damage before oil spillage is fixed. He also clearly standing his understanding of all the issues, including the fact that the way of life of the people in the Gulf Coast is in jeopardy. In this regard, he specifically referred to the adverse or negative impact of the BP oil disaster on restaurants/shops/hotels/fishermen/oyster men/way of life altered
Mr. Obama reassured Americans that every step will be taken and no stone will be left unturned to compel BP to clean up its mess and to face the natural consequences which have arisen from the BP spillage. He announced that he was set meet BP helms people and would demand that BP set aside a substantial and significant amount of money in escrow, which will be administered by independent entity, free of BP manipulations and interference.
President Obama repeatedly and incessantly, through the Oval Office speech, assured and reassured Americans, that the beauty and bounty of Gulf Coast must be restored. And a step in such direction is Mr. Obama decision to immediately appoint the former governor of Mississippi, to manager the long term efforts, of both the clean up and the compensation procedures and processes. Mr. Obama reiterated over and over, that BP will pay for impact on region. President Obama also used disaster as reason for necessity for all Americans to clamor for reasoned national policy on energy, especially, clean energy, which he described as the long term policy and the best way to prevent a recurrence or a way to ensure that there no repeat of a similar disaster, such as the current one inflicted by BP
The need for reexamination of offshore drilling approvals was also stressed; Mr. Obama insisted that all necessary precautions will now be taken and back up plans must be in place, hence his imposition of a six months moratorium on offshore drilling which he had approved prior to the Gulf of Mexico spillage by BP. Mr. Obama’s 6 months moratorium, may be reduced or may end earlier, but he did emphasize the need to know all the facts as soon as possible, such as what caused accident and how to avoid. He insisted on this requirements as preconditions for any further offshore drilling, while expressing his knowledge and awareness of the fact that many Americans are heavily reliant on the jobs in the oil industry subsector.
President Obama also used the speech to describe and chastise former employees of the Mineral Management Service or MMS, who allowed oil companies to be self-policing and self regulating. He further announced his rededication to revamp MMS, and a reborn MMS will not engage in the corruption ridden cozy relationship with oil companies. There will be no more self policing for MMS, oil companies showered MMS with gifts in corruption and influence peddling and thereby allowing companies to write regulations. Mr. Obama vowed new leadership at MMS, to rebuild industry watchdog, new regulation and enforcement. He restated the fact that offshore drilling is known to be inherently risky, it a drilling for energy source, one mile beneath the ocean waters, it is dangerous
President Obama reminded all Americans that it is time to reconsider actions and public policies which will curb addictions to oil which he sees as the cause of this risk taking drilling. Mr. Obama reminded Americans that the BP oil spillage is a poignant pointer to the consequences of inaction now in plain sight in this spillage, which he explained as the crude oil which is now a tragedy still unfolding in proportions and magnitude. President Obama concisely stated his mission as a national mission to seize control of US destiny in clean energy. Clean energy he said , is way to go and it must be accelerated.
BP seem to be at end its ropes, the deliberate obfuscations are perhaps finally over. The lessons are quite spectacular in nature. Consider the fact that BP engage half-truths and retailing of facts in its dealings with the government of the United States and the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, as well as the American press and media.
It is quite easy to imagine, what BP or any other oil corporate giant would have done, were the spewing in the Gulf of Mexico to have occurred in a less powerful nation, with less powerful and assertive government, scientists, environmentalists, press and media and vibrant public such as we have here in the United States. There have been vigorous reactions throughout the USA, and reactions have not been limited to the Gulf Coast states. Denouncing BP has been by every American and as such, it has been an equal opportunity event.
The BP disaster-catastrophe is speedily and quickly laying a precedent and the reactions by the American government, the oil industry, nongovernmental organizations, scientists, sundry experts and environmentalists etc and the world is acutely observing and keenly watching and the implications, the reverberations are substantial and significant, these are matters for global considerations.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Israel In Lawlessness Defies The World Again! Murders Innocent Humanitarians
Israel In Lawlessness Defies The World Again! Murders Innocent Humanitarians
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Israel has again, lawlessly massacred defenseless protesters; Israel’s culture of lawlessness is her default position in Israel’s blockade against Palestine, the same lawlessness with which Israel resort to arbitrary demolition of properties of Palestinians as Israel also frequently undertakes confiscation of properties of Palestinians. Israel is allowed to indulge in lawlessness while the entire world looks the other way, always!
Israel has fully embraced a culture of lawlessness and Turkey is right in her recent description of Israel as “a state terrorist.” and Israel as inhumane. Turkey has correctly, properly and rightly described Israel high handedness in reaction to Israel’s shooting to death, activists who were acting merely to bring world attention to the sufferings, hardships and desperation of the people in Palestine
There were all sorts of things which Israel could have and should have done, and actions which Israel should have taken to avoid needless deaths, the flotilla was planned and known to Israel, it was not a violent or clandestine military aggression on the part of the activists. Israel engaged in a well advertised, plan to “resist” the flotilla which were bearing humanitarian supplies and basic goods for the long suffering people of Palestine, Palestinians blockaded for so long by Israel, the flotilla was not an invasion!
The nation of Israel has, as usual, attacked and murdered unarmed persons unprovoked, this, even though these persons were merely engaged in civil disobedience and were in fact on international waters and this is has occurred so soon after Israel stole identities and passports of many nationals and Israel thereafter forged passports for its citizens who brazenly accosted and murdered a member of HAMAS, this victim of Israel’s targeted assassinations, whatever his sins, was not accorded due process and the rule of law.
The nation of Israel regularly engages in acts of lawlessness, murder, maiming and leaving too many people dislocated and displaced in Palestine. Israel engages in all these, both within its borders and outside as exemplified by the assassination in Dubai in which Israel stole passports of various nationals and forged a plethora of documents, while violating international laws and violating rules, regulations and all known protocols, including those of Dubai. Israel received mild criticisms, despite these flagrant violations of laws, rules, regulations, conventions and diplomacy etc
Israel frequently and regularly engages in murderous adventures and Israel escapes censure and condemnation, all these, despite the extremely opprobrious and egregious behaviors of Israel! One can imagine the outrage and shouts of condemnations were these conduct by Israel committed and inflicted by say, Venezuela, or China or North Korea or Cuba or Libya and for that matter, just any other nation on earth, other than Israel itself!
What other nation will engage in frequent demolition and confiscation of properties as Israel regularly inflicts on Palestinians? What other nation on earth would engage in actions which imposes hardships, sufferings and desperation on a mass scale, as Israel has inflicted on Palestine and sometimes on Lebanon? What other nation apart from Israel have frequently demonstrated such contempt, disdain and disregard for the United Nations and its subsidiaries? What other nation has refused to declare whether or not it possesses nuclear weapons or not and further refuse inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency? What other nations engages in modern day colonialism and apartheid as Israel does, and escapes criticism from mainstream press all across western nations?
9 people ended up dead or KILLED… USS liberty with American flag was attacked and an American killed and several other Americans injured and this is coming after another innocent American Rachael Curries was bludgeoned to death by Israel and her only offense was that she was protesting nonviolently against Israel behaviors toward Palestinians
Israel is using the blockade as weapon to overthrow HAMAS which was legitimately elected by Palestinians but which Bush rejected and which Obama now follows as American policy
Humanitarian aid organizations are prevented from delivery goods and no rebuilding of hospitals, clinics and schools years after Israel destroyed them. US fund Israel, and receives military armament and technologies, US has not put its foots down or demonstrate any leadership by way of ensuring Israel comply with the countless United Nations resolutions passed over the years against Israel. Israel does whatever it wants as it persists in unnecessarily exacerbating the abject human conditions in Palestine. This is obviously not the way to peace and the so-called two state solution, of Palestine and Israel at peace and living side by side as free, independent and sovereign nations. How is it that the US has no modicum of influence over Israel’s domestic and foreign policies? Despite the well touted “special relationships, of being allies and Siamese twins joined at the hips? Why is it that this advertised symbiotic relationship only works in Israel’s favor?
British former Ambassador to the United Nations Jeremy Greenstock says United States should prevent itself from being seen as an unthinking supporter of Israel. Unbearable situation in Palestine due to the occupation. Israel is the sole surviving political power usurper and colonial power in the world and Israel remains oblivious of the pains, misery, suffering and hardships which Israel inflicts, even as Israel is entrenched in her sour attitudes of land grabs and settlement expansion in Palestine. Israel has a permanent siege mentality and Israel and her supporters and allies, continue to use this stance by Israel, as poor excuse, why Israel must have no duty, obligations and responsibilities
Former Israel ambassador to Turkey says Israeli government has too much self confidence and tend to ignore the whole world and instead sees every criticism as a matter image management or media event. Israeli seem blissfully unaware that the entire world is opposed to Israeli colonialism and occupation of Palestine
UN ambiguous language... it did not directly condemn Israel for killings... US Ambassador says they trust Israel to conduct impartial investigation... independent? Why have the United Nations and the United States acquiesced and conceded to Israel to investigate herself after the massacres of 9 defenseless activists? Again, I am quite unaware of any precedent in which another nation, other than Israel, murders so many citizens of other nations, including the US, and yet, Israel is allowed to investigate her massacres? Perhaps we should have allowed North Korea to investigate whether or not, North Korea was responsible for the sinking and torpedoing of South Korean ship which led to the deaths of 46 South Korean sailors? Israel remains the only nation on earth which refuses or at other times dictate terms of UN forces to serve as buffer neutral forces, between Israel and Palestine
Many in Israel are condemning the killings by Israel, and yet, the United States is not able to and quite unwilling to condemn Israel. And yet, in the United States, condemning Israel’s aggressions, egregious criminalities and murders is liable to earn anyone and everyone, the unfair label of being anti Israel or even worse, of being an anti Semite! But what would Israel have done, if another nation massacred 9 Israelis in one full swoop, while those Israeli citizens were merely protesting the wrongheaded blockade of another nation, similar to the one Israel has inflicted on Palestine? A blockade by Israel, which by all measure and by all accounts, is not motivated by security concerns, but as punishments for HAMAS and the Palestine population, to compel and force HAMAS out of Palestine political equation
Israel massacres 10 and refuses independent investigation and Israel is above the law
Israel did not demonstrate any restraint. Israel could and should have vigorous inspection of ships arriving on its shore. Israel as the world knows, is the colonial power in Palestine. Israel is the occupying power in Palestine with absolute power over Palestine land, sea and air space and channels
Israel is held to a lower standard of behavior and the whole world watches these repeated double standards in which Israel is allowed to possess nuclear weapons and Iran must not. Israel is allowed to massacre 9 innocent and defenseless activists from Turkey just as Israel have done in the past in the murder of a young American peace activist Rachel Corrie who was mowed down by Israel with a bulldozer!
Israel is an ally the US cannot use military in Iraq, or Afghanistan and Israel is such an ally which always brings monumental embarrassments to the US, despite US financing of Israel with money and equipment. Israel have been caught several times spying on the United States, Israel’s ally, which defends Israel even against American own national and strategic interests, short, medium and long terms!
In January 2009, Israel killed 1400 Palestinians, and that is merely about 15 months ago and in the face of all 1400 Palestinian deaths in the hands of Israel, there world offered not even a murmur or tepid response. Again, we only have to imagine, what the United States and others would have done or have said, if the killing 1400 people anywhere, was by another nation, other than Israel, an American client state, a bad client, as Israel is, a client without manners, a client which listens only to herself, and not to the US and the UN!
Israeli commando have not shown flotilla had contraband and even if there were contrabands, it will be no reason still, to shoot and kill nine defenseless activists. Turkey was attacked by Israel, even though Turkey is a nation which has been very friendly towards Israel, Turkey must feel like an orphan now. Israel’s aggressive militaristic policies towards Palestine, Persians and all Arabs have always been predicated on Israel repeated tautology, that its neighbors wish to annihilate her or drive her into the seas, but, this usual hollow argument by Israel is now shown for what it really is, a mere pretext by Israel to strangulate and emasculate Israel’s neighbors with Israel’s “security” as camouflage. Turkey is not hostile to Israel, and yet, the world is now witness to the massacres of 9 citizens of Turkey by Israel, Israel the peace-loving, and rule of law and the “only democratic nation” in the Middle East?
Turkey now reviews relations with Israel and understandably so. Turkey must now feel embarrassed before its neighbors, who behind the scenes and even without gloating, must be by now chuckling “I told you so” to Turkey regarding Israel’s siege mentality and paranoia in connections with Israel’s neighbors which Israel seeks to dominate.
HAMAS is unfazed as Israel defends its illegal blockade and Israel’s latest aggressions have the potentials of making things in the Middle East become incredibly worse. Israel and her allies have sought to emasculate, strangle and suffocate the government in Palestine which organized by HAMAS. Israel have since sought to pull the carpet from under HAMAS feet through a senseless and inhumane economic blockade. And through all of these, Israel pretends that it all about a search for arms. The truth of the matter is, Israel has banned sweets, spices, and caramels as goods Palestinians cannot import into Palestine territories. Now the world knows that sweets, spices and caramels are security threats to Israel! And now the world knows that sweets and spices are parts of the essential ingredients in HAMAS bomb and Katusha Rockets endeavors
Israel literarily and metaphorically dictates American foreign policy towards Israel, Arabs, Persians and the entire Middle East, Persian Gulf Region. And American entanglements in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and to a large extent, Afghanistan, are inspired and motivated by America quest to support and “defend” Israel at all costs and even when it is not in America’s best strategic interests, measured whether in both short and long terms. The unthinking rush to support Israel at all costs, have resulted in the squanders of blood and treasure by America and that seem to continue without vigorous public debate by a plurality of Americans
A few months ago for instance, Vice President Joseph Biden was on an official visit to Israel, and upon his arrival there, Mr. Biden promptly announced that US policy on Iran and nuclear is because nobody can come between the US and Israel safety and security. And as if on cue and following a script, Mr. Biden, a sitting American vice president received a crude undiplomatic slap in the face; even Israeli press and media were caught off guard in surprise as Israeli government announced the start of construction of additional 1600 houses in East Jerusalem. Israeli Newspapers reported in screaming headlines, “Israel Slaps America In The Face Again And Embarrasses Vice President Biden
The question which should be asked is, but why is America smiling? Only a fool or buffoon would smile upon being slapped in the face, and America is no fool or buffoon, so why is America still smiling and encouraging Israel’s truancy, intransigence and recalcitrance in dealings with Palestinians, Arabs and Persians?
A few months after Vice President Joe Biden disrespected and embarrassed by Israel, in most undiplomatic way, and the wrong way to treat a guest, an ally and friend, now comes a fence mending visit by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel, while he was in Canada on the way to Washington DC, he had to skip DC and went home to Israel because of the massacres of 9 multinational activists by Israel, it is noteworthy that one of the activists, is an American and from right here in New York.
Israel announced ahead of time that it would interfere with the activists and in the aftermath, the US pressured the UN to have a reaction to Israel’s misconduct in a less than tepid response! The clamored for condemnations of Israel’s murderous actions on the high seas on international waters was hijacked and stopped by supporters of Israel and in particular, the United States.
Obama tepid response to fatalities caused by Israel shows and demonstrates the stranglehold, the clout and extraordinary power of the AIPAC an other American Jews lobby groups on American political leadership, it is almost always irrelevant and insignificant, whether the occupant of the White House is Republican or Democrat, and as we now know, whether the US president white or black or whether he is a change agent such as Mr. Obama, or Mr. Bush who gave Israel everything Israel ever wanted, whims and caprices, kitchen sink and all.
The murders of 9 persons by Israel on the flotilla from Turkey, is heinous, this is particularly so, in view of the fact that these persons were unarmed, and yet, they were met with special forces on international waters, instead of custom service inspectors or other
There is just too much kid gloves treatment reserved for Israel by a cross spectrum of the American Media. Imagine if Iran, North Korea, or Venezuela had killed ten unarmed persons protesting an egregious blockade such as Israel has inflicted on Palestine for far too long... and here.... there are platitudes being written and spoken?
The United Nations could not even make declarations or pronouncements against these needless killings without UN choice of words being dictated?
It should surprise all reasonable persons around the world, that Israeli press is more critical on Israeli government than the American press/media.... go figure! It speaks volumes that the press/media in Israel is more forthright about the misconduct of the Israeli government and military... this the American press/media and government are quite unwilling to do! wow! Another massacre by Israel, another affront by Israel and Israel does not receive even a rebuke from the US, and US actually pressures the UN in arm-twisting, to offer Israel a backslapping for Israel’s opprobrious killings of 9 innocent citizens.
Why is Israel allowed to engage in aggressions and murders like no other nation on earth? And why does the United States continually shield Israel from the natural consequences of Israel murderous aggressions?
Why is there never the courage to censure Israel? Who protects Palestine? Who protects Persians? Who protects the Arabs?
And why would, and why does anyone then still pretend about the source of all the troubles and violence in the Middle East?
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Israel has again, lawlessly massacred defenseless protesters; Israel’s culture of lawlessness is her default position in Israel’s blockade against Palestine, the same lawlessness with which Israel resort to arbitrary demolition of properties of Palestinians as Israel also frequently undertakes confiscation of properties of Palestinians. Israel is allowed to indulge in lawlessness while the entire world looks the other way, always!
Israel has fully embraced a culture of lawlessness and Turkey is right in her recent description of Israel as “a state terrorist.” and Israel as inhumane. Turkey has correctly, properly and rightly described Israel high handedness in reaction to Israel’s shooting to death, activists who were acting merely to bring world attention to the sufferings, hardships and desperation of the people in Palestine
There were all sorts of things which Israel could have and should have done, and actions which Israel should have taken to avoid needless deaths, the flotilla was planned and known to Israel, it was not a violent or clandestine military aggression on the part of the activists. Israel engaged in a well advertised, plan to “resist” the flotilla which were bearing humanitarian supplies and basic goods for the long suffering people of Palestine, Palestinians blockaded for so long by Israel, the flotilla was not an invasion!
The nation of Israel has, as usual, attacked and murdered unarmed persons unprovoked, this, even though these persons were merely engaged in civil disobedience and were in fact on international waters and this is has occurred so soon after Israel stole identities and passports of many nationals and Israel thereafter forged passports for its citizens who brazenly accosted and murdered a member of HAMAS, this victim of Israel’s targeted assassinations, whatever his sins, was not accorded due process and the rule of law.
The nation of Israel regularly engages in acts of lawlessness, murder, maiming and leaving too many people dislocated and displaced in Palestine. Israel engages in all these, both within its borders and outside as exemplified by the assassination in Dubai in which Israel stole passports of various nationals and forged a plethora of documents, while violating international laws and violating rules, regulations and all known protocols, including those of Dubai. Israel received mild criticisms, despite these flagrant violations of laws, rules, regulations, conventions and diplomacy etc
Israel frequently and regularly engages in murderous adventures and Israel escapes censure and condemnation, all these, despite the extremely opprobrious and egregious behaviors of Israel! One can imagine the outrage and shouts of condemnations were these conduct by Israel committed and inflicted by say, Venezuela, or China or North Korea or Cuba or Libya and for that matter, just any other nation on earth, other than Israel itself!
What other nation will engage in frequent demolition and confiscation of properties as Israel regularly inflicts on Palestinians? What other nation on earth would engage in actions which imposes hardships, sufferings and desperation on a mass scale, as Israel has inflicted on Palestine and sometimes on Lebanon? What other nation apart from Israel have frequently demonstrated such contempt, disdain and disregard for the United Nations and its subsidiaries? What other nation has refused to declare whether or not it possesses nuclear weapons or not and further refuse inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency? What other nations engages in modern day colonialism and apartheid as Israel does, and escapes criticism from mainstream press all across western nations?
9 people ended up dead or KILLED… USS liberty with American flag was attacked and an American killed and several other Americans injured and this is coming after another innocent American Rachael Curries was bludgeoned to death by Israel and her only offense was that she was protesting nonviolently against Israel behaviors toward Palestinians
Israel is using the blockade as weapon to overthrow HAMAS which was legitimately elected by Palestinians but which Bush rejected and which Obama now follows as American policy
Humanitarian aid organizations are prevented from delivery goods and no rebuilding of hospitals, clinics and schools years after Israel destroyed them. US fund Israel, and receives military armament and technologies, US has not put its foots down or demonstrate any leadership by way of ensuring Israel comply with the countless United Nations resolutions passed over the years against Israel. Israel does whatever it wants as it persists in unnecessarily exacerbating the abject human conditions in Palestine. This is obviously not the way to peace and the so-called two state solution, of Palestine and Israel at peace and living side by side as free, independent and sovereign nations. How is it that the US has no modicum of influence over Israel’s domestic and foreign policies? Despite the well touted “special relationships, of being allies and Siamese twins joined at the hips? Why is it that this advertised symbiotic relationship only works in Israel’s favor?
British former Ambassador to the United Nations Jeremy Greenstock says United States should prevent itself from being seen as an unthinking supporter of Israel. Unbearable situation in Palestine due to the occupation. Israel is the sole surviving political power usurper and colonial power in the world and Israel remains oblivious of the pains, misery, suffering and hardships which Israel inflicts, even as Israel is entrenched in her sour attitudes of land grabs and settlement expansion in Palestine. Israel has a permanent siege mentality and Israel and her supporters and allies, continue to use this stance by Israel, as poor excuse, why Israel must have no duty, obligations and responsibilities
Former Israel ambassador to Turkey says Israeli government has too much self confidence and tend to ignore the whole world and instead sees every criticism as a matter image management or media event. Israeli seem blissfully unaware that the entire world is opposed to Israeli colonialism and occupation of Palestine
UN ambiguous language... it did not directly condemn Israel for killings... US Ambassador says they trust Israel to conduct impartial investigation... independent? Why have the United Nations and the United States acquiesced and conceded to Israel to investigate herself after the massacres of 9 defenseless activists? Again, I am quite unaware of any precedent in which another nation, other than Israel, murders so many citizens of other nations, including the US, and yet, Israel is allowed to investigate her massacres? Perhaps we should have allowed North Korea to investigate whether or not, North Korea was responsible for the sinking and torpedoing of South Korean ship which led to the deaths of 46 South Korean sailors? Israel remains the only nation on earth which refuses or at other times dictate terms of UN forces to serve as buffer neutral forces, between Israel and Palestine
Many in Israel are condemning the killings by Israel, and yet, the United States is not able to and quite unwilling to condemn Israel. And yet, in the United States, condemning Israel’s aggressions, egregious criminalities and murders is liable to earn anyone and everyone, the unfair label of being anti Israel or even worse, of being an anti Semite! But what would Israel have done, if another nation massacred 9 Israelis in one full swoop, while those Israeli citizens were merely protesting the wrongheaded blockade of another nation, similar to the one Israel has inflicted on Palestine? A blockade by Israel, which by all measure and by all accounts, is not motivated by security concerns, but as punishments for HAMAS and the Palestine population, to compel and force HAMAS out of Palestine political equation
Israel massacres 10 and refuses independent investigation and Israel is above the law
Israel did not demonstrate any restraint. Israel could and should have vigorous inspection of ships arriving on its shore. Israel as the world knows, is the colonial power in Palestine. Israel is the occupying power in Palestine with absolute power over Palestine land, sea and air space and channels
Israel is held to a lower standard of behavior and the whole world watches these repeated double standards in which Israel is allowed to possess nuclear weapons and Iran must not. Israel is allowed to massacre 9 innocent and defenseless activists from Turkey just as Israel have done in the past in the murder of a young American peace activist Rachel Corrie who was mowed down by Israel with a bulldozer!
Israel is an ally the US cannot use military in Iraq, or Afghanistan and Israel is such an ally which always brings monumental embarrassments to the US, despite US financing of Israel with money and equipment. Israel have been caught several times spying on the United States, Israel’s ally, which defends Israel even against American own national and strategic interests, short, medium and long terms!
In January 2009, Israel killed 1400 Palestinians, and that is merely about 15 months ago and in the face of all 1400 Palestinian deaths in the hands of Israel, there world offered not even a murmur or tepid response. Again, we only have to imagine, what the United States and others would have done or have said, if the killing 1400 people anywhere, was by another nation, other than Israel, an American client state, a bad client, as Israel is, a client without manners, a client which listens only to herself, and not to the US and the UN!
Israeli commando have not shown flotilla had contraband and even if there were contrabands, it will be no reason still, to shoot and kill nine defenseless activists. Turkey was attacked by Israel, even though Turkey is a nation which has been very friendly towards Israel, Turkey must feel like an orphan now. Israel’s aggressive militaristic policies towards Palestine, Persians and all Arabs have always been predicated on Israel repeated tautology, that its neighbors wish to annihilate her or drive her into the seas, but, this usual hollow argument by Israel is now shown for what it really is, a mere pretext by Israel to strangulate and emasculate Israel’s neighbors with Israel’s “security” as camouflage. Turkey is not hostile to Israel, and yet, the world is now witness to the massacres of 9 citizens of Turkey by Israel, Israel the peace-loving, and rule of law and the “only democratic nation” in the Middle East?
Turkey now reviews relations with Israel and understandably so. Turkey must now feel embarrassed before its neighbors, who behind the scenes and even without gloating, must be by now chuckling “I told you so” to Turkey regarding Israel’s siege mentality and paranoia in connections with Israel’s neighbors which Israel seeks to dominate.
HAMAS is unfazed as Israel defends its illegal blockade and Israel’s latest aggressions have the potentials of making things in the Middle East become incredibly worse. Israel and her allies have sought to emasculate, strangle and suffocate the government in Palestine which organized by HAMAS. Israel have since sought to pull the carpet from under HAMAS feet through a senseless and inhumane economic blockade. And through all of these, Israel pretends that it all about a search for arms. The truth of the matter is, Israel has banned sweets, spices, and caramels as goods Palestinians cannot import into Palestine territories. Now the world knows that sweets, spices and caramels are security threats to Israel! And now the world knows that sweets and spices are parts of the essential ingredients in HAMAS bomb and Katusha Rockets endeavors
Israel literarily and metaphorically dictates American foreign policy towards Israel, Arabs, Persians and the entire Middle East, Persian Gulf Region. And American entanglements in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and to a large extent, Afghanistan, are inspired and motivated by America quest to support and “defend” Israel at all costs and even when it is not in America’s best strategic interests, measured whether in both short and long terms. The unthinking rush to support Israel at all costs, have resulted in the squanders of blood and treasure by America and that seem to continue without vigorous public debate by a plurality of Americans
A few months ago for instance, Vice President Joseph Biden was on an official visit to Israel, and upon his arrival there, Mr. Biden promptly announced that US policy on Iran and nuclear is because nobody can come between the US and Israel safety and security. And as if on cue and following a script, Mr. Biden, a sitting American vice president received a crude undiplomatic slap in the face; even Israeli press and media were caught off guard in surprise as Israeli government announced the start of construction of additional 1600 houses in East Jerusalem. Israeli Newspapers reported in screaming headlines, “Israel Slaps America In The Face Again And Embarrasses Vice President Biden
The question which should be asked is, but why is America smiling? Only a fool or buffoon would smile upon being slapped in the face, and America is no fool or buffoon, so why is America still smiling and encouraging Israel’s truancy, intransigence and recalcitrance in dealings with Palestinians, Arabs and Persians?
A few months after Vice President Joe Biden disrespected and embarrassed by Israel, in most undiplomatic way, and the wrong way to treat a guest, an ally and friend, now comes a fence mending visit by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel, while he was in Canada on the way to Washington DC, he had to skip DC and went home to Israel because of the massacres of 9 multinational activists by Israel, it is noteworthy that one of the activists, is an American and from right here in New York.
Israel announced ahead of time that it would interfere with the activists and in the aftermath, the US pressured the UN to have a reaction to Israel’s misconduct in a less than tepid response! The clamored for condemnations of Israel’s murderous actions on the high seas on international waters was hijacked and stopped by supporters of Israel and in particular, the United States.
Obama tepid response to fatalities caused by Israel shows and demonstrates the stranglehold, the clout and extraordinary power of the AIPAC an other American Jews lobby groups on American political leadership, it is almost always irrelevant and insignificant, whether the occupant of the White House is Republican or Democrat, and as we now know, whether the US president white or black or whether he is a change agent such as Mr. Obama, or Mr. Bush who gave Israel everything Israel ever wanted, whims and caprices, kitchen sink and all.
The murders of 9 persons by Israel on the flotilla from Turkey, is heinous, this is particularly so, in view of the fact that these persons were unarmed, and yet, they were met with special forces on international waters, instead of custom service inspectors or other
There is just too much kid gloves treatment reserved for Israel by a cross spectrum of the American Media. Imagine if Iran, North Korea, or Venezuela had killed ten unarmed persons protesting an egregious blockade such as Israel has inflicted on Palestine for far too long... and here.... there are platitudes being written and spoken?
The United Nations could not even make declarations or pronouncements against these needless killings without UN choice of words being dictated?
It should surprise all reasonable persons around the world, that Israeli press is more critical on Israeli government than the American press/media.... go figure! It speaks volumes that the press/media in Israel is more forthright about the misconduct of the Israeli government and military... this the American press/media and government are quite unwilling to do! wow! Another massacre by Israel, another affront by Israel and Israel does not receive even a rebuke from the US, and US actually pressures the UN in arm-twisting, to offer Israel a backslapping for Israel’s opprobrious killings of 9 innocent citizens.
Why is Israel allowed to engage in aggressions and murders like no other nation on earth? And why does the United States continually shield Israel from the natural consequences of Israel murderous aggressions?
Why is there never the courage to censure Israel? Who protects Palestine? Who protects Persians? Who protects the Arabs?
And why would, and why does anyone then still pretend about the source of all the troubles and violence in the Middle East?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Spill Baby Spill; Of Private Profits Public Burdens And Liability?
Spill Baby Spill; Of Private Profits Public Burdens And Liability?
Written by Paul I. Adujie
British Petroleum or BP now stands for Big Problem! BP has ineptly inflicted immense environmental disaster and extreme catastrophe on every living beings in the world and as a consequence, BP has also inflicted financial pains on its shareholders as well as its corporate self! BP is understandably getting pummeled in many stock trading places now.
Human error and disregard to safeguards and failures to have back up plans are the reasons for this outsized and extraordinary environmental catastrophe which is still unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. There were failures by BP to make backup plans in this high risks adventure of offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere and the chickens are coming home to roost and there should be no surprise to anyone. This inestimable damage was foreseeable and quite preventable by BP, with proper planning, investments and commitment of adequate resources, BP, just like other oil giants, chose to do otherwise.
BP have for years engaged in a blitzkrieg and blitz of advertisings in which BP prided itself of being “Beyond Petroleum” while in fact, BP evidently failed to undertake the necessary research and development for disaster prevention and disaster management and appropriate industry technologies, and in the face of this environmental cataclysm, BP is actually a Beastly Polluter and with fitting names which should be such Bastardized Puerile oil company or Base Putrid oil drilling. BP publicity and image laundry over the years, now amounts a mere camouflage and window dressing. There is clearly no substitute for best business practices, with due regard for safety for persons, flora and fauna
It is good thing that BP is suffering from the consequences of its environmental ineptitude. BP shares are being battered in American and European stock exchanges, and even amidst of these pummeling, BP is declaring 10 billion dollars in dividends for shareholders and spending millions on public relations advertising while the house is on fire?
I billion dollars spent by BP already, and the US federal government has just sent 69 million dollars in partial bill to BP. And 10 billion dollars in dividends for shareholders gas been announced by BP, these are all clear indications of the deep-pockets of BP and other oil giants. It must therefore be made clear to BP, that it must not attempt to obfuscate and confuse and out-lawyer claimants who are affected and afflicted by BP’s unwarranted environmental degradations and pollutions in the Gulf of Mexico, which in particular have had dramatic adverse effect on the ecosystem in and around the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida
The whole world should be asking BP why it failed to back up plans? And why it did not sufficiently invest money and other resources into its Blowout Preventers and the so-called relief wells in the Gulf of Mexico and every where else where BP is engaged in offshore drilling and oil prospecting and explorations? BP was engaged in cost cutting and skimping on resources, even though, BP in 2009 made an after tax profits in excess of $25 billion dollars!
BP has continuously and dramatically understated the magnitude of spill
BP should be taken over in receivership as done to GM and Chrysler and AIG etc
BP never contemplated risks and accidents… BP told regulators in Canada that relief wells are unnecessary because of current modern technology…. Same season relief well capability BP argued was not necessary, because of technology, methodology and modalities, two barriers, drilling relief wells and Blowout Preventers and relief wells. BP argued that relief wells unnecessary, because of modern technologies, BP argued this before Canada regulators barely one month before the spillage in the Gulf of Mexico! Oil companies know the apparent, obvious and inherent risk in oil drilling
The world now knows, through the Oil Flow Technical Committee, an independent body made up of college professors and plethora of scientist, that the true volume of BP spillage in the Gulf of Mexico is in excess of 40,000 barrels of crude oil daily, since the occurrence of this preventable avoidable disaster in American Gulf Coast. This despite BP’s wayward efforts in deceit, as BP pretended all along since April 20, 2010, as it insisted that the spillage was a mere 5, 000 barrels a day!
Blame BP for not have disaster management plans and back up plans and disaster relief plans blame BP contractors and subcontractors for not being whistle blowers against BP as BP sought to cut corners skim on overhead cost, then blame the Republicans for their idiocies also known as deregulation regimes in banking and financial industry, which in effect brought about the Wall Street crash, the financial meltdown and the global economic crises via securitization of mortgages and for inventing the too clever by half financial floozy, also known as derivatives!
It takes equal measure of courage to put blames where such blames belong instead of blaming the wrong persons. Obama should stop blaming himself for the spillage by BP, BP made $25 billion dollars after tax profits in 2009 and that is no chump change and BP and other oil companies do know the deal. Oil giants and oil conglomerates are keenly aware of the inherent danger in offshore drilling, particularly so, when such drilling is done 5,000 below sea water. Someone should inform Mr. Obama that BP is aware that there are risks in offshore drilling and that BP and other oil companies know the risks and rewards therein, hence these oil companies are not in the agro-business of the vegetable planting and harvesting business!
Mr. Obama should stop blaming himself for BP’s blunders! Obama is not the one who brought about deregulation in the United States whether in particular reference to the oil industry or the banking and financial industry. I think that there are civic lessons is in oil spill, coal mining deaths and financial crises
It is the case that BP is resisting capture and contain measures which have worked in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere such as experiments already measured in Norway, BP disregarded slowly winding down drilling as recommended by subcontractors
In a sarcastic way, I must say that President Barack Obama is the luckiest man on earth, he had to clean up after Bush and Republicans in the financial industry, oil industry, two foreign wars, and a scandalously comatose domestic economy and yet, Mr. Obama gets pounded by the Republicans and the ubiquitous and boisterous Tea Party charlatans!
It is the case that so much of what Obama is confronted with, by way of public policy debacles, are what Mr. Obama inherited from Bush-Cheney dumped on Americans. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana who famously criticized Obama for having big government … now says he want Obama federal government to clean up Louisiana and free it of soothe and plumes… some Americans seek to have it both ways, vigorous and robust regulations by government on the one hand and less government on the other. This is similar to demand a million persons army to fight various battles, while advocating the elimination of the department of defense and national army in the first place
Americans and citizens of the world should blame BP for the environmental catastrophe which BP has wrought on the Gulf of Mexico. BP and other oil companies are keenly and acutely aware of the sacrosanct fact that oil drilling is inherently dangerous and fundamentally risky, oil drilling business without thinking of and planning for accidents and plans to clean up… what was the back up plan? BP in 2009 made an after tax profits of $25 billion dollars a year, there is price to pay for misconduct.
An American regulatory agency, Mineral Management Service, MMS has been in bed metaphorically and literally with oil industry. Deregulation is what caused the trouble in the financial industry and now, the same deregulation which caused the spills in Gulf of Mexico. And again, it bears repeating that, all these shenanigans came about and were fostered and festered during the deregulation atmosphere of the Republicans and the Bush-Cheney.
Obama’s pandering is what has got him in trouble… he knew deregulation is bad, he knew offshore drilling is dangerous for the environment, but, in expedient manner and in the name of bipartisanship, he joined the drill baby drill chorus by Republicans. After one month of the catastrophe and mammoth disaster, it is apparent that magnitude of BP spill is unmatched in American history
BP is shading the information and controlling information and action and response, Obama could and should have put a coalition of the state governments of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi and the American military to work and put BP under them… we seeing dead birds and plumes of oil
BP is out of its depths! There is nothing BP can do cannot do without the input of the federal government, the United States government is exercising effective oversight and the world have noticed the various Admirals of the US Coast Guards who have been overseeing these BP clean up efforts
The world is not equally oblivious of the continued presence of Secretary Salazar of the Department of the Interior and representatives of Energy, Mineral Management Service etc, all Agencies/Department of the US Govt. which have maintained presence in the Gulf Coast/Gulf of Mexico all along and for over a month now... since the explosion, deaths and spillage by BP
No one should be forgiving of BP made $25 billion dollars in profits last year, BP Should be able to clean up after itself! BP does not need anyone or Obama to hold BP's greedy corporate hands! And those like Karl Rove call it Obama’s Katrina are merely seeking to make political hays out of a gargantuan mess caused by BP. Mr. Obama’s political enemies, those same persons who made drill baby drill a famous mantra of theirs, are the same ones engaging in the melodrama of calling BP mess an Obama Katrina?
Obama has been on top of things, Obama has visited the Gulf Coastal states more than three times since April 20, 2010 when this BP spillage disaster was inflicted on the Gulf of Mexico. Obama is going there again soon, he was there first week of the oil spill. It must be recognized that this a disaster one mile under water and it is impossible for Mr. Obama to go under water to inspect the disaster. What does the world expect Mr. Obama to do?
It is the case that in this BP inflicted environmental disaster and mammoth catastrophe in American Gulf Coast, chickens come home to roost, both onshore and offshore drilling has consequences and Nigerians have been dealing with these adverse effects for so long, longer than 50 years! As a consequence of the catastrophe in America’s Gulf Coast, the world have had to learn first hand, the stories of fishermen, oyster men, and assortment of restaurants and travel and tours operators in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida etc. The world has been compelled to learn about brown swans and endangered birds and turtles and wetlands in America’s Gulf Coast states, and yet, the BP spillage in the Gulf of Mexico is quite MINOR in comparison with the extreme degradation of the environment in Nigeria’s Niger Delta which has gone on for fifty years. The world does not know or does not care about the stories of Niger Delta women who have had to endure miscarriages, stillbirths and children with deformities, and adults with skin lesions and more adults with eye diseases and all types of infections, diseases and afflictions, all, as consequences of oil drilling in the Niger Delta! This disdain and contempt by oil corporate giants is not peculiar to the Niger Delta, it is identical in Angola, Ecuador etc.
Additionally, this pattern of contempt and disdain, is actually not peculiar to the oil industry, pharmaceutical companies and all types of multinational conglomerates are known to engage in these complete disregard for peoples outside the America and Europe. Union Carbide was such example in Bhopal India and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals is another example of American and European egregious corporate misconduct in Nigeria. Halliburton for instance, was known to have inflated and engaged in over-billing in its no-bid contract in Iraq, with the United States Armed Forces, just as the same Halliburton has pleaded guilty to bribing its way into contracts in Nigeria, despite Nigerian laws and despite laws in the United States which prohibits and proscribes such conducts, such as American companies offering inducements or bribes to foreign public officials. It is the case that too many corporations are too focused on profits, and these American and European corporations frequently engage in bribes, corruption, blackmail, spying and intimidation in search of profits and lucre, as was the case of the now bankrupt ENRON which lied and bribed its way into extinction in America, Asia and Nigeria
The US agency known as Mineral Management Service is now leaderless because of the sudden departure of the head of that agency in the wake of BP mess and tepid response, and besides, MMS have been rife with corruption and have been scandalized with revelations that its officials were too frequently in cozy relationships, both metaphorical and physical.
This BP mess, has once again brought to sharp focus, the futility of Mr. Obama’s fixation on bipartisanship! So much for Mr. Obama’s focus on bipartisan focus! See how Republicans are slamming and lambasting Obama and the Republicans sees political opportunity in the unfolding mess by BP! The Republicans are engaging in acts of overkill as they tackle Mr. Obama over an essentially private disaster brought about by BP an oil conglomerate!
After more than one month, BP is still unsure of the quantity of crude oil being spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the US federal government does not have better technology than BP, does Nigeria, Ecuador and other nations where there have been pollution, do have better equipment and technology than the United States.
An oil spill is a result of private enterprise for private profit... BP, Halliburton and TransOcean are responsible for the spillage and the consequences and the US government. Oil spillage is not like municipal garbage, state or federal garbage requiring government removal... this catastrophe was brought about by private companies, which should have had more contingency plans, by way of relief wells, and other disaster management plans.
George W. Bush's administration knew the forecast of Hurricane Katrina and after it happened... Bush praised Michael Brown for doing a "darn good job!" conversely, Barrack Obama went to the Gulf of Mexico promptly as the accident happened...No one should forget how Bush-Cheney co-wrote American energy policies with oil industry executives... but now, Tea Party and Republican critics of Mr. Obama wants to dump all these at Mr. Obama's doorsteps? He has been there for ONLY sixteen months and has written no energy laws!
Should Mr. Obama have been more aggressive and be accused of being a Socialist/Communist? Or be accused of trying to nationalize private properties and private companies? Similar to the unfair accusations against President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who sought to make multinational oil companies accountable in their drillings in Venezuela and he was quickly branded, labeled and excoriated by these oil giants of America and Europe! Should Mr. Obama and his White House become the sanitation department or agency of BP? NO!
No one should forget how Bush-Cheney co-wrote American energy policies with oil industry executives... but now, Tea Party and Republican critics of Mr. Obama wants to dump all these at Mr. Obama's doorsteps? He has been there for ONLY sixteen months and has written no energy laws!
Conservatives, Republicans and Tea Party are looking to make this an Obama administration mess! Even though, it was these same conservatives, republicans and Tea Party persons who were advocating "Drill Baby Drill" hence we now have "Spill Baby Spill" Some are eager to compare this to Hurricane Katrina which was mismanaged by FEMA... but the ... See More oil spillage in the Gulf of Mexico was caused by the activities of private companies BP, Halliburton and TransOceans etc and for their own private profits... BP alone made a profit of $25 billion dollars in 2009!
Why should we clean up after oil companies? they should curb their dogs... it is not the duty of the mayor of a municipality to clean up the mess of your dog on public space or sidewalk... only if you do not clean your dog's mess, then, you may be punished! The mayor should not confiscate your dog and Mr. Obama should not nationalize or seize BP, but make BP clean up, or bear the cost of clean up
The focus of critics should be on the activities of the oil companies who always fail to plan for foreseeable accidents and spills and catastrophes... even as these companies are singularly focused on profits! Deployment and response plans within 72 hours of accident… this is contingency by BP was to curb 450 barrels of oil per day in the event of accident but this never materialized when the accident occurred
It should be agreed that if you drive your car into a shop, in an accident, the ensuing property damage is on you and you are liable. As it is here, BP ruined an estuary, BP ruined the pristine wetlands in the American Gulf Coast, BP has hell to pay and BP is liable, BP ruined restaurant businesses, fishermen businesses, and oystermen business etc and BP is must take responsibility for the damages BP has caused.
BP dictated to its contractors as to speed of work and quality of materials, BP was known to complain to its contractors about cost overruns etc. BP is right now dictating to the US Coast Guards as to how to proceed in this mess clean up, because BP has control of its oil drilling wells everywhere, including the site of the giant mess in the Gulf of Mexico. BP brought this environmental catastrophes about and the focus should singularly be on BP.
It is BP which did not make contingency plans and back up plans and it is BP which underestimated the risks which are in any case well known to BP. It is BP which made $25 billion after tax profits in 2009 from oil exploration and prospecting, and yet, BP and other oil giants have not felt it important to invest in research and development in connection with disaster prevention and disaster management. BP and other oil companies are too frequently singularly focused and fixated on the bottom-line, which is profits, profits and more profits without requisite attention to safety for employees and talk much less about care the ecosystem and worldwide environments where oil giants reap billions of dollars yearly!
Written by Paul I. Adujie
British Petroleum or BP now stands for Big Problem! BP has ineptly inflicted immense environmental disaster and extreme catastrophe on every living beings in the world and as a consequence, BP has also inflicted financial pains on its shareholders as well as its corporate self! BP is understandably getting pummeled in many stock trading places now.
Human error and disregard to safeguards and failures to have back up plans are the reasons for this outsized and extraordinary environmental catastrophe which is still unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. There were failures by BP to make backup plans in this high risks adventure of offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere and the chickens are coming home to roost and there should be no surprise to anyone. This inestimable damage was foreseeable and quite preventable by BP, with proper planning, investments and commitment of adequate resources, BP, just like other oil giants, chose to do otherwise.
BP have for years engaged in a blitzkrieg and blitz of advertisings in which BP prided itself of being “Beyond Petroleum” while in fact, BP evidently failed to undertake the necessary research and development for disaster prevention and disaster management and appropriate industry technologies, and in the face of this environmental cataclysm, BP is actually a Beastly Polluter and with fitting names which should be such Bastardized Puerile oil company or Base Putrid oil drilling. BP publicity and image laundry over the years, now amounts a mere camouflage and window dressing. There is clearly no substitute for best business practices, with due regard for safety for persons, flora and fauna
It is good thing that BP is suffering from the consequences of its environmental ineptitude. BP shares are being battered in American and European stock exchanges, and even amidst of these pummeling, BP is declaring 10 billion dollars in dividends for shareholders and spending millions on public relations advertising while the house is on fire?
I billion dollars spent by BP already, and the US federal government has just sent 69 million dollars in partial bill to BP. And 10 billion dollars in dividends for shareholders gas been announced by BP, these are all clear indications of the deep-pockets of BP and other oil giants. It must therefore be made clear to BP, that it must not attempt to obfuscate and confuse and out-lawyer claimants who are affected and afflicted by BP’s unwarranted environmental degradations and pollutions in the Gulf of Mexico, which in particular have had dramatic adverse effect on the ecosystem in and around the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida
The whole world should be asking BP why it failed to back up plans? And why it did not sufficiently invest money and other resources into its Blowout Preventers and the so-called relief wells in the Gulf of Mexico and every where else where BP is engaged in offshore drilling and oil prospecting and explorations? BP was engaged in cost cutting and skimping on resources, even though, BP in 2009 made an after tax profits in excess of $25 billion dollars!
BP has continuously and dramatically understated the magnitude of spill
BP should be taken over in receivership as done to GM and Chrysler and AIG etc
BP never contemplated risks and accidents… BP told regulators in Canada that relief wells are unnecessary because of current modern technology…. Same season relief well capability BP argued was not necessary, because of technology, methodology and modalities, two barriers, drilling relief wells and Blowout Preventers and relief wells. BP argued that relief wells unnecessary, because of modern technologies, BP argued this before Canada regulators barely one month before the spillage in the Gulf of Mexico! Oil companies know the apparent, obvious and inherent risk in oil drilling
The world now knows, through the Oil Flow Technical Committee, an independent body made up of college professors and plethora of scientist, that the true volume of BP spillage in the Gulf of Mexico is in excess of 40,000 barrels of crude oil daily, since the occurrence of this preventable avoidable disaster in American Gulf Coast. This despite BP’s wayward efforts in deceit, as BP pretended all along since April 20, 2010, as it insisted that the spillage was a mere 5, 000 barrels a day!
Blame BP for not have disaster management plans and back up plans and disaster relief plans blame BP contractors and subcontractors for not being whistle blowers against BP as BP sought to cut corners skim on overhead cost, then blame the Republicans for their idiocies also known as deregulation regimes in banking and financial industry, which in effect brought about the Wall Street crash, the financial meltdown and the global economic crises via securitization of mortgages and for inventing the too clever by half financial floozy, also known as derivatives!
It takes equal measure of courage to put blames where such blames belong instead of blaming the wrong persons. Obama should stop blaming himself for the spillage by BP, BP made $25 billion dollars after tax profits in 2009 and that is no chump change and BP and other oil companies do know the deal. Oil giants and oil conglomerates are keenly aware of the inherent danger in offshore drilling, particularly so, when such drilling is done 5,000 below sea water. Someone should inform Mr. Obama that BP is aware that there are risks in offshore drilling and that BP and other oil companies know the risks and rewards therein, hence these oil companies are not in the agro-business of the vegetable planting and harvesting business!
Mr. Obama should stop blaming himself for BP’s blunders! Obama is not the one who brought about deregulation in the United States whether in particular reference to the oil industry or the banking and financial industry. I think that there are civic lessons is in oil spill, coal mining deaths and financial crises
It is the case that BP is resisting capture and contain measures which have worked in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere such as experiments already measured in Norway, BP disregarded slowly winding down drilling as recommended by subcontractors
In a sarcastic way, I must say that President Barack Obama is the luckiest man on earth, he had to clean up after Bush and Republicans in the financial industry, oil industry, two foreign wars, and a scandalously comatose domestic economy and yet, Mr. Obama gets pounded by the Republicans and the ubiquitous and boisterous Tea Party charlatans!
It is the case that so much of what Obama is confronted with, by way of public policy debacles, are what Mr. Obama inherited from Bush-Cheney dumped on Americans. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana who famously criticized Obama for having big government … now says he want Obama federal government to clean up Louisiana and free it of soothe and plumes… some Americans seek to have it both ways, vigorous and robust regulations by government on the one hand and less government on the other. This is similar to demand a million persons army to fight various battles, while advocating the elimination of the department of defense and national army in the first place
Americans and citizens of the world should blame BP for the environmental catastrophe which BP has wrought on the Gulf of Mexico. BP and other oil companies are keenly and acutely aware of the sacrosanct fact that oil drilling is inherently dangerous and fundamentally risky, oil drilling business without thinking of and planning for accidents and plans to clean up… what was the back up plan? BP in 2009 made an after tax profits of $25 billion dollars a year, there is price to pay for misconduct.
An American regulatory agency, Mineral Management Service, MMS has been in bed metaphorically and literally with oil industry. Deregulation is what caused the trouble in the financial industry and now, the same deregulation which caused the spills in Gulf of Mexico. And again, it bears repeating that, all these shenanigans came about and were fostered and festered during the deregulation atmosphere of the Republicans and the Bush-Cheney.
Obama’s pandering is what has got him in trouble… he knew deregulation is bad, he knew offshore drilling is dangerous for the environment, but, in expedient manner and in the name of bipartisanship, he joined the drill baby drill chorus by Republicans. After one month of the catastrophe and mammoth disaster, it is apparent that magnitude of BP spill is unmatched in American history
BP is shading the information and controlling information and action and response, Obama could and should have put a coalition of the state governments of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi and the American military to work and put BP under them… we seeing dead birds and plumes of oil
BP is out of its depths! There is nothing BP can do cannot do without the input of the federal government, the United States government is exercising effective oversight and the world have noticed the various Admirals of the US Coast Guards who have been overseeing these BP clean up efforts
The world is not equally oblivious of the continued presence of Secretary Salazar of the Department of the Interior and representatives of Energy, Mineral Management Service etc, all Agencies/Department of the US Govt. which have maintained presence in the Gulf Coast/Gulf of Mexico all along and for over a month now... since the explosion, deaths and spillage by BP
No one should be forgiving of BP made $25 billion dollars in profits last year, BP Should be able to clean up after itself! BP does not need anyone or Obama to hold BP's greedy corporate hands! And those like Karl Rove call it Obama’s Katrina are merely seeking to make political hays out of a gargantuan mess caused by BP. Mr. Obama’s political enemies, those same persons who made drill baby drill a famous mantra of theirs, are the same ones engaging in the melodrama of calling BP mess an Obama Katrina?
Obama has been on top of things, Obama has visited the Gulf Coastal states more than three times since April 20, 2010 when this BP spillage disaster was inflicted on the Gulf of Mexico. Obama is going there again soon, he was there first week of the oil spill. It must be recognized that this a disaster one mile under water and it is impossible for Mr. Obama to go under water to inspect the disaster. What does the world expect Mr. Obama to do?
It is the case that in this BP inflicted environmental disaster and mammoth catastrophe in American Gulf Coast, chickens come home to roost, both onshore and offshore drilling has consequences and Nigerians have been dealing with these adverse effects for so long, longer than 50 years! As a consequence of the catastrophe in America’s Gulf Coast, the world have had to learn first hand, the stories of fishermen, oyster men, and assortment of restaurants and travel and tours operators in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida etc. The world has been compelled to learn about brown swans and endangered birds and turtles and wetlands in America’s Gulf Coast states, and yet, the BP spillage in the Gulf of Mexico is quite MINOR in comparison with the extreme degradation of the environment in Nigeria’s Niger Delta which has gone on for fifty years. The world does not know or does not care about the stories of Niger Delta women who have had to endure miscarriages, stillbirths and children with deformities, and adults with skin lesions and more adults with eye diseases and all types of infections, diseases and afflictions, all, as consequences of oil drilling in the Niger Delta! This disdain and contempt by oil corporate giants is not peculiar to the Niger Delta, it is identical in Angola, Ecuador etc.
Additionally, this pattern of contempt and disdain, is actually not peculiar to the oil industry, pharmaceutical companies and all types of multinational conglomerates are known to engage in these complete disregard for peoples outside the America and Europe. Union Carbide was such example in Bhopal India and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals is another example of American and European egregious corporate misconduct in Nigeria. Halliburton for instance, was known to have inflated and engaged in over-billing in its no-bid contract in Iraq, with the United States Armed Forces, just as the same Halliburton has pleaded guilty to bribing its way into contracts in Nigeria, despite Nigerian laws and despite laws in the United States which prohibits and proscribes such conducts, such as American companies offering inducements or bribes to foreign public officials. It is the case that too many corporations are too focused on profits, and these American and European corporations frequently engage in bribes, corruption, blackmail, spying and intimidation in search of profits and lucre, as was the case of the now bankrupt ENRON which lied and bribed its way into extinction in America, Asia and Nigeria
The US agency known as Mineral Management Service is now leaderless because of the sudden departure of the head of that agency in the wake of BP mess and tepid response, and besides, MMS have been rife with corruption and have been scandalized with revelations that its officials were too frequently in cozy relationships, both metaphorical and physical.
This BP mess, has once again brought to sharp focus, the futility of Mr. Obama’s fixation on bipartisanship! So much for Mr. Obama’s focus on bipartisan focus! See how Republicans are slamming and lambasting Obama and the Republicans sees political opportunity in the unfolding mess by BP! The Republicans are engaging in acts of overkill as they tackle Mr. Obama over an essentially private disaster brought about by BP an oil conglomerate!
After more than one month, BP is still unsure of the quantity of crude oil being spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the US federal government does not have better technology than BP, does Nigeria, Ecuador and other nations where there have been pollution, do have better equipment and technology than the United States.
An oil spill is a result of private enterprise for private profit... BP, Halliburton and TransOcean are responsible for the spillage and the consequences and the US government. Oil spillage is not like municipal garbage, state or federal garbage requiring government removal... this catastrophe was brought about by private companies, which should have had more contingency plans, by way of relief wells, and other disaster management plans.
George W. Bush's administration knew the forecast of Hurricane Katrina and after it happened... Bush praised Michael Brown for doing a "darn good job!" conversely, Barrack Obama went to the Gulf of Mexico promptly as the accident happened...No one should forget how Bush-Cheney co-wrote American energy policies with oil industry executives... but now, Tea Party and Republican critics of Mr. Obama wants to dump all these at Mr. Obama's doorsteps? He has been there for ONLY sixteen months and has written no energy laws!
Should Mr. Obama have been more aggressive and be accused of being a Socialist/Communist? Or be accused of trying to nationalize private properties and private companies? Similar to the unfair accusations against President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who sought to make multinational oil companies accountable in their drillings in Venezuela and he was quickly branded, labeled and excoriated by these oil giants of America and Europe! Should Mr. Obama and his White House become the sanitation department or agency of BP? NO!
No one should forget how Bush-Cheney co-wrote American energy policies with oil industry executives... but now, Tea Party and Republican critics of Mr. Obama wants to dump all these at Mr. Obama's doorsteps? He has been there for ONLY sixteen months and has written no energy laws!
Conservatives, Republicans and Tea Party are looking to make this an Obama administration mess! Even though, it was these same conservatives, republicans and Tea Party persons who were advocating "Drill Baby Drill" hence we now have "Spill Baby Spill" Some are eager to compare this to Hurricane Katrina which was mismanaged by FEMA... but the ... See More oil spillage in the Gulf of Mexico was caused by the activities of private companies BP, Halliburton and TransOceans etc and for their own private profits... BP alone made a profit of $25 billion dollars in 2009!
Why should we clean up after oil companies? they should curb their dogs... it is not the duty of the mayor of a municipality to clean up the mess of your dog on public space or sidewalk... only if you do not clean your dog's mess, then, you may be punished! The mayor should not confiscate your dog and Mr. Obama should not nationalize or seize BP, but make BP clean up, or bear the cost of clean up
The focus of critics should be on the activities of the oil companies who always fail to plan for foreseeable accidents and spills and catastrophes... even as these companies are singularly focused on profits! Deployment and response plans within 72 hours of accident… this is contingency by BP was to curb 450 barrels of oil per day in the event of accident but this never materialized when the accident occurred
It should be agreed that if you drive your car into a shop, in an accident, the ensuing property damage is on you and you are liable. As it is here, BP ruined an estuary, BP ruined the pristine wetlands in the American Gulf Coast, BP has hell to pay and BP is liable, BP ruined restaurant businesses, fishermen businesses, and oystermen business etc and BP is must take responsibility for the damages BP has caused.
BP dictated to its contractors as to speed of work and quality of materials, BP was known to complain to its contractors about cost overruns etc. BP is right now dictating to the US Coast Guards as to how to proceed in this mess clean up, because BP has control of its oil drilling wells everywhere, including the site of the giant mess in the Gulf of Mexico. BP brought this environmental catastrophes about and the focus should singularly be on BP.
It is BP which did not make contingency plans and back up plans and it is BP which underestimated the risks which are in any case well known to BP. It is BP which made $25 billion after tax profits in 2009 from oil exploration and prospecting, and yet, BP and other oil giants have not felt it important to invest in research and development in connection with disaster prevention and disaster management. BP and other oil companies are too frequently singularly focused and fixated on the bottom-line, which is profits, profits and more profits without requisite attention to safety for employees and talk much less about care the ecosystem and worldwide environments where oil giants reap billions of dollars yearly!
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