A Sea in Flames - Carl Safina [82]
BP is the only company that currently meets that description.
Coincidence? “The risk of having a dangerous company like BP develop new resources in the Gulf is too great,” said Daniel Weiss, Representative George Miller’s chief of staff. “Year after year after year, no matter how many incidents they’re involved in, no matter how many fines they’ve had to pay, they never changed their behavior. BP has no one to blame but themselves.”
BP’s bargaining chip: it says that if it can’t drill, then maybe it won’t be able to pay. Our bargaining chip: in about two weeks the House will, in fact, pass that company-banning language, helping guarantee BP’s continued attention.
This, I think, is true: BP, which gets more than 10 percent of its global production out of the Gulf of Mexico, needs us more than we need it. There are other companies that would send the same oil ashore.
Seeming to recognize that fact, BP is—for once—on its best behavior. Not only is its $20 billion escrow agreement with the White House voluntary, but “We have committed to do a number of things that are not part of the formal agreement with the White House,” notes a BP spokesman, in case America really hadn’t noticed. “We are not making a direct statement about anything we are committed to do. We are just expressing frustration that our commitments of good will have at least in some quarters been met with this kind of response.”
I receive this inane e-mail:
To help clear the toxins from the water, we will be using the energies of love and appreciation, and a special prayer related by Dr. Masaru Emoto. Dr. Emoto is the Japanese scientist who has done extensive research on how the energy of love and appreciation can change the molecular structure of water at the quantum level. The Process: Stand near, or in, the Gulf of Mexico. Or, imagine that you are standing there. Direct your thoughts and energies to feelings of love and appreciation. When you are filled with loving thoughts, speak the following prayer: “To whales, dolphins, manatees, pelicans, seagulls, and all aquatic bird species, fishes, shellfish, planktons, corals, algae, and all ion creatures in the Gulf of Mexico, I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.” Join us in prayer. We are one, and the One will join us together in this great work from wherever we are!
So there you have it.
Back on planet Earth, the total count of sea turtles recovered dead, injured, and oiled is up to about 460. The number of turtles coming up to nest has gone down, but the cold winter could have translated into a late spring for them.
Diane Sawyer, ABC News, has this report:
“Who is in charge of the cleanup? For four days we have been asking that question and we have not been able to get an answer. David Muir was with two frustrated governors today. David?”
“This barge should be out in the Gulf sucking up oil. But sixteen of these barges are docked here, all under orders not to move.”
Louisiana Governor Jindal: “The Coast Guard stopped them from going to work.”
David Muir: “And then today, word from the Coast Guard saying, ‘Go ahead.’ This kind of confusion is everywhere. Who’s in charge here?”
Alabama’s Governor Bob Riley: “Great question.”
Diane Sawyer: “Two governors saying they cannot get straight answers.”
But alongside the video on the Web, the print version of the story says, “The Coast Guard needed to confirm that the boats were equipped with fire extinguishers and life vests.” Well, I’ve been critical of the Coast Guard, but let’s be fair: that is a straight answer.
On June 20, Tony Hayward “steps down” from being BP’s gusher usher (after he was stepped on for making so many trips over his own feet). One day later, he has his life back. Off the Isle of Wight he attends yachting races with his son, while BP PR races to defend his right to do so. “No matter where he is, he is always in touch with what is happening within BP,” the BP spokesman says of Mr. Hayward, the very man who’d told the U.S. Congress that he was not aware of the Macondo well