On the Horizon Disaster

      Shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster former British Petroleum CEO Tony Hayward told the Today Show that, “There’s no one who wants this over more than I do. I would like my life back.” News flash, so do a good many other people.

     My sister-in-law and her military husband used to live a few miles off of Pensacola, Florida. I often heard her talk about the amazingly beautiful clear water of the gulf.  They stayed with us a few days while running from Hurricane Katrina. We watched them as they watched, live on TV, the storm destroy their home and most everything they had to leave behind. For two years they lived in a shell of a home and neighborhood. This, however, turned out to be a temporary set-back for them.

     Her real anguish is now voiced in the more permanent man-made environmental damage to the gulf. The once beautiful water is now grimy and dirty. Millions of little black pellets and dead ocean life have washed up on the beaches. The result of shoddy construction and the subsequent use of poisonous dispersants called Corexit and its continued over use by the oil giant.

     Clint Guidry of the Louisiana Shrimpers Association calls it a, “Kill the Ocean, Save the Beaches” campaign perpetrated by BP and sanctioned by our government even after numerous groups have expressed concerns about harmful affects it may have on the marine life and ultimately human life.

     BP’s vessels of opportunity program or (VOO) claimed success as they used fishers and charter boat operators to spot oil on the water as BP would then spray more dispersants onto the surface. To use one of their own key words for many of their public claims, it was an “unprecedented” amount. Also, does BP think that allowing these seasoned men of the sea to do their dirty work is compensation and comparable to earning a real living?

     Although BP has agreed to a $20 billion escrow account to cover obligations from the spill it seems like this too may be falling apart.

     Mayor Tony Kennon of Orange Beach Alabama pulled equipment usage and emergency services from BP site areas because of insufficient funding. He said he was fed up with BP excuses for nonpayment. Does this mean that the areas involved will ultimately be footing the bill and man power in this clean-up?

     After the capping of the well, a government released report announced most of the oil was gone or dispersed. This is scary and sounds more like PR image control. Are they counting on the short memory span of the public and media for political and financial gain? 

     The question is where did the oil go? If it’s not still washing up on the ever expanding beaches, it’s lying at the bottom of the ocean causing dead zones.

     BP announced awhile back that they hope to have beaches cleaned up by the end of February and the start of spring break.

     On September 20 hundreds of workers were dismissed from clean-up efforts in North East Florida as it was announced that the oil is gone and BP needs to cut back.

-Julie Post