BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a political failure
The ongoing oil spill from BP's well in the Gulf of Mexico is a tragedy. A human one -- 11 lives were lost in the initial explosion -- and an environmental one; the heartbreaking pictures (via) are already emerging, and there will be more.
There's a lot of public anger over the spill, mostly directed at BP itself, brilliantly captured by the BP Global PR Twitter feed. And there's a lot to blame them for. As the New York Times reports, BP officials knew weeks in advance that there were problems with the rig and had deliberately scaled back the rigorousness of the federally-mandated testing they were doing on the rig -- a very unusual practice; usually the tests get more and more strenuous. They knew something was up.
The Wall Street Journal (free article) has a lot more detail: they chose an inherently risky well design, skipped a lot of standard safety checks, ignored best practices, and were in an almighty hurry to get things finished. Furthermore, they might even have avoided loss of life: there's unsubstantiated rumours on the internet that a subcontractor on Deepwater Horizon ordered all their personnel off the rig 6 hours prior to the explosion because they believed it to be unsafe. If BP had listened to them, they could have evacuated. It's a scandal.
But as I started saying in this thread on Hacker News, it's not really BP we should be angry at. It's not their scandal. BP, Transocean, even Halliburton, were all just doing what was in their best interests. Relief wells such as the one they are hurriedly drilling are enormously expensive, and skipping them makes the cost of drilling the many unsuccessful wells necessary to get a profitable well going much less. Even the enormous costs of cleanup of this leak will probably not outweigh all the money they saved over years of risky practices.
The real problem here is political. The only way to get the oil companies to take the externalities of drilling into account is to force them to do so; economic self-interest is in favour of destroying the environment. The Minerals Management Service, the regulator in charge, was obviously corrupt and completely in the thrall of the oil companies.
So when the leak is plugged, and the decades-long task* of oil cleanup is underway, remember to direct your anger prudently and productively at the politicians in charge, the ones capable of pushing legislation forward that will create a stronger and more independent regulator. Yelling at BP and taking their money is emotionally satisfying, but will not fix the real problem. Destroying the environment must become more than merely expensive; it must be criminalized. Oil executives will think twice about approving risky drilling practices if they know they will personally go to jail if it fails.
* Cleanup of the Exxon Valdez spill, which happened in 1989, is still ongoing.
Comments
mayuli8888
mayuli8888
mayuli8888
chenxiaofeng
linlin
linlin
Let us go shopping online for As the internet development, the word becomes smaller! More and more people are willing to go shopping online, they think it is more convinced and fair, they can easy to compare price with other shops, especially young person they like to buy present online to send their friends. As the online shop become hot, good reputation is very important if the company want to development. was recommended to me from my friends. They said they have buy the product from it many times and been trusted! I doubt what they said until I login Which have different shape and pattern .I like butterfly which represents serenity, hope and the circle of life? I love all of them that I don not know which one is my favorite. I called my friends, someone said, and you know another said other pattern. I throw a coin to decide which one I should choose! At last became my favorite I don’t waste time on barging with salesman and money on taxi. Now I rarely go shopping in outside, I found a lot good shop on internet. is a best one.
Long, Links of London has been considered as jewelry and gift industry pioneer and leader. In 2007, the brand for three consecutive years in the UK links of london Jewellery Awards , won the "annual jewelry brand" awards. Links of London was described as "the market can adapt to all kinds of smart casual brand design showing the effect is very alarming
linlin
linlin
Love London, Get the Links of London. links of london
London is an amazing city for me, Big Ben, Buckingham House, London Eyes, Red bus, and so on. I had an unforgettable trip in London Last summer. But I met some problem, when I planed to by some souvenir. The souvenir in London is too common which is the same as souvenir in other place, and they also links of london sale were not made in England. Actually, I want some souvenir that is fashion and unique in London, but not is a common cup with a “London” logo, because I did want to buy some extraordinary thing for my girlfriend.
When I wandered in the shopping mall Sloane Square in London, One Classical English style broad attracted me. I was Links of London. I felt loving this brand suddenly. I went into the shop, and found the items links london inside were fantastic and tasty. I thought it was the perfect place to choose a souvenir for my girlfriend. I bought a Flutter & Wow Silver & 18ct Gold Bracelet for my girlfriend. She was very happy. She said it was exactly what she wanted from links of london friendship bracelet London, Fashion, elegant and luxurious. I was also happy with my Links of London choice.
There is a introduction of Links of London, which shows how suitable it can be a souvenir gift to you love.
Links of London design interesting valuable watches, jewelry, tableware and fine, all in sterling silver and 18k gold production, together with assessment of Goldsmiths Hall in London or the Edinburgh Office of the links of london bracelets exclusive mark. Links of London in 1990 was by the creation of Annoushka Ducas and John Ayton, the light that is known for its innovative and affordable gifts and jewelry to establish high-level fame. Brand has developed rapidly over the past decade, with 38 branches and network of senior retail counters,
linlin
Love London, Get the Links of London. links of london
London is an amazing city for me, Big Ben, Buckingham House, London Eyes, Red bus, and so on. I had an unforgettable trip in London Last summer. But I met some problem, when I planed to by some souvenir. The souvenir in London is too common which is the same as souvenir in other place, and they also links of london sale were not made in England. Actually, I want some souvenir that is fashion and unique in London, but not is a common cup with a “London” logo, because I did want to buy some extraordinary thing for my girlfriend.
When I wandered in the shopping mall Sloane Square in London, One Classical English style broad attracted me. I was Links of London. I felt loving this brand suddenly. I went into the shop, and found the items links london inside were fantastic and tasty. I thought it was the perfect place to choose a souvenir for my girlfriend. I bought a Flutter & Wow Silver & 18ct Gold Bracelet for my girlfriend. She was very happy. She said it was exactly what she wanted from links of london friendship bracelet London, Fashion, elegant and luxurious. I was also happy with my Links of London choice.
There is a introduction of Links of London, which shows how suitable it can be a souvenir gift to you love.
Links of London design interesting valuable watches, jewelry, tableware and fine, all in sterling silver and 18k gold production, together with assessment of Goldsmiths Hall in London or the Edinburgh Office of the links of london bracelets exclusive mark. Links of London in 1990 was by the creation of Annoushka Ducas and John Ayton, the light that is known for its innovative and affordable gifts and jewelry to establish high-level fame. Brand has developed rapidly over the past decade, with 38 branches and network of senior retail counters,
linlin
Love London, Get the Links of London. links of london
London is an amazing city for me, Big Ben, Buckingham House, London Eyes, Red bus, and so on. I had an unforgettable trip in London Last summer. But I met some problem, when I planed to by some souvenir. The souvenir in London is too common which is the same as souvenir in other place, and they also links of london sale were not made in England. Actually, I want some souvenir that is fashion and unique in London, but not is a common cup with a “London” logo, because I did want to buy some extraordinary thing for my girlfriend.
When I wandered in the shopping mall Sloane Square in London, One Classical English style broad attracted me. I was Links of London. I felt loving this brand suddenly. I went into the shop, and found the items links london inside were fantastic and tasty. I thought it was the perfect place to choose a souvenir for my girlfriend. I bought a Flutter & Wow Silver & 18ct Gold Bracelet for my girlfriend. She was very happy. She said it was exactly what she wanted from links of london friendship bracelet London, Fashion, elegant and luxurious. I was also happy with my Links of London choice.
There is a introduction of Links of London, which shows how suitable it can be a souvenir gift to you love.
Links of London design interesting valuable watches, jewelry, tableware and fine, all in sterling silver and 18k gold production, together with assessment of Goldsmiths Hall in London or the Edinburgh Office of the links of london bracelets exclusive mark. Links of London in 1990 was by the creation of Annoushka Ducas and John Ayton, the light that is known for its innovative and affordable gifts and jewelry to establish high-level fame. Brand has developed rapidly over the past decade, with 38 branches and network of senior retail counters,
linlin
android Tablet PC
Tablet PC
Touchscreen Tablet Laptop
Hipad
Apad
android Tablet PC
in http://www.efox-shop.com/