Gulf Oil Spill: Cap Placed Over Leak Collecting Only Fraction Of The Oil

That's true. Up to a point.



Keep in mind what the ultimate objective is, particularly at this time in world and oil history (Peak Oil).



All of the 'easy-to-get-at-(relatively)'-oil has been harvested. What remains (and there's a good deal of it) is hard to get out, and the risk of catastrophic failure to harvest it is immense.



The technological gains the oil industry has made is in its ability to get to that oil and harvest it, but not safely. The oil industry hasn't made any technological gains (nor has it tried) in what to do when there's a blowout or other accident where oil and gas spew uncontrollably into the seas.



The EPA can fine BP, the US government, citizens, et al, can sue to recoup money from BP, into its bankruptcy. So BP, a corporation (it's not really a person), is finished. That's not going to change the fact of the ruination of the Gulf of Mexico and, perhaps, the N. Atlantic Ocean, etc.



BP's not the only company drilling offshore. I think BP only has 2 or 3 rigs (and 2 in partnership with another company) of the THOUSANDS of oil rigs operating in the Gulf of Mexico. It's the rest of the industry that benefits from the ruination.



"Since there's nothing to save, since it's all ruined, why should we have to spend anything being careful? All regulations should be lifted and let the drilling begin!"
About Gulf Oil Spill
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Gulf Oil Spill: Cap Placed Over Leak Collecting Only Fraction Of The Oil

In addition to Bobby Jindal's request, we've already seen Mary Landrieu make a pitch for more drilling the very day after this disaster began. Obama hasn't shut down BP's other operations in US waters (Atlantis is potentially a worse nightmare than Deepwater Horizon and is still operating in the Gulf of Mexico, and according to reports last week, BP is moving ahead with drilling in the arctic). Obama's also moving ahead to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling in the Gulf at shallower depths, despite the fact that the Ixtoc and Montara blowouts that gushed for months were in shallow water.



If Louisiana's industries are 1) oil, gas, chemicals, and 2) fishing and tourism, and fishing and tourism is destroyed, how else is Louisiana going to make up the state's lost revenues if not by increasing offshore drilling?



And if BP were held responsible, 100%, for the damage & went bankrupt, the costs would fall to the US taxpayer (or it wouldn't be paid or cleaned up at all). Other oil conglomerates would step up & reap the benefit of unlimited drilling in a ruined Gulf of Mexico.



We need to get off of an oil economy, and not gradually. This isn't a job for the "split the difference"-"cut the baby in two"-Barack Obama. This calls for bold leadership.
About Gulf Oil Spill
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Gulf Oil Spill: Cap Placed Over Leak Collecting Only Fraction Of The Oil

Not long ago, someone tried to argue that BP has a vested interest in getting that well capped ASAP as they are liable for the environmental damage that will be caused.



At a certain point, when enough oil and gas has gushed, that becomes moot.



I facetiously argued that BP doesn't really have a vested interest in getting it done ASAP. Aside from the cap of $75 million & a reasonable expectation of a favorable outcome from any judgments against them in US courts (the judiciary branch of government stacked with corporate wh.ore.s that let corporations game the system to escape justice), an argument can be made that by destroying the entire region ecologically, BP & all pro-drilling interested parties (politicians included) can & will push for an increase in offshore drilling increase, "since it's all ruined anyway".
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Gulf Oil Spill: Cap Placed Over Leak Collecting Only Fraction Of The Oil

Then there's Dick Cheney in Saudi Arabia just after the explosion -



http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/05/why-was-dick-cheney-in-saudi-arabia-oil-halliburton-logan-act-riyadh
About Gulf Oil Spill
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Gulf Oil Spill: Cap Placed Over Leak Collecting Only Fraction Of The Oil

Obama is resuming offshore drilling, and leaves BP's other drilling operations, like Atlantis (critically unsafe), continuing, along with thousands of other oil rigs in the Gulf, NONE OF WHICH HAVE RELIEF WELLS.
About Gulf Oil Spill
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Gulf Oil Spill: Cap Placed Over Leak Collecting Only Fraction Of The Oil

Obama needs to put BP under temporary receivership.



Why in heII isn't he doing this?



http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-why-obama-should-put-bp-under-temporary-receivership-2010-5
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Impact: Get Involved

Which brings us back to executives' compensation and shareholders having no voting rights.



http://www.ibj.com/editorial-executive-pay-policies-not-salaries-need-reform/PARAMS/article/20222



It all comes back to politicians' (more specifically Obama's and Democrats', because they control government now) cozy relationship with the Corporatocracy, and their refusal to make any meaningful change.
About Gulf Oil Spill
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Read more...