Gulf Watch: BP Oil Disaster Two Year Memorial Media Roundup
Fri, 2012-04-20 17:33
Two years ago today the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, due to poor decisions made by BP and Halliburton engineers, killing 11 rig workers and spilling upwards of 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. As tragic as that moment was, the tragedy continues to spread, much as the 1.8 million gallons of chemical dispersants spread far beyond the waters where they were targeted. Workers who were overexposed to oil during the cleanup have been crying out for two years that their health conditions have been worsening since getting involved. Gulf coast residents, tourists and workers who sniffed, inhaled or skin-absorbed the chemicals found in crude oil and dispersants have also been crying for help. Yet, these cries have largely been ignored.
Kenneth Feinberg, administrator for the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, said to Bridge the Gulf that he had “reservations about whether those claimants," who have been saying they have health problems related to the BP oil disaster, "can offer proof.” Of the over 220,000 claims paid to individuals and businesses for economic losses tied to the disaster, zero were for health claims.
Two years later, a Department of Justice investigation found that Feinberg ran his GCCF operations straight sloppy, with $64 million paid out to those who were underpaid or not paid at all. Bridge the Gulf, which launched two years ago, in the wake of the BP oil disaster, has been recording the complaints of hundreds of Gulf Coast citizens who didn't get their due from GCCF.
You can also read and hear from some of these folks in a series of interviews we did to coincide with a new report released in collaboration with the Institute for Southern Studies and Gulf Coast Fund called "Troubled Waters." In that report, we find that Gulf Coast residents are still reeling from these problems, and despite a settlement that will include millions for health problems, there still seems to be a burden of proof problem that might exclude thousands of people from benefits and reimbursments that they need.
The fact that the BP settlement acknowledged health benefits in ways that Feinberg didn't is a clear victory for Gulf Coast grassroots organizations who lobbied and fought for this. But there will be plenty of monitoring and oversight needed to make sure that those who had been excluded before will be included under the new terms. It is also a clear victory that Gulf Coast Fund advisor Derrick Evans and Texas environmental justice advocate Bryan Parras were able to get a BP shareholder to agree to come to the Gulf Coast to see what the problems are that remain.
This, and other problems still occurring in the Gulf, finally grabbed the attention of some in the media, who've found evidence behind the grievances that Feinberg was so skeptical about. Please do read the "Troubled Waters" report and the interviews, but also check out these news stories that captured the essence of the problem two years into the BP oil disaster:
- Antonia Juhasz at The Nation did a deep-dive into the health crisis in the Gulf giving a picture of who might and might not be covered by the BP health settlement. Writes Juhasz, "Many people whose health was adversely affected by the spill would be excluded. The Medical Benefits Settlement covers about 90,000 people who are qualifying cleanup workers (out of an estimated 140,000) and 110,000 coastal residents living within one-half to one mile of the coast (out of a coastal population of 21 million). Although it would cover “certain respiratory, gastrointestinal, eye, skin and neurophysiological” conditions, it excludes mental health and a host of physical ailments, including cancers, birth defects, developmental disorders and neurological disorders including dementia." She also spoke with a staffmember from the Government Accountability Project who said, “Over twenty-five whistleblowers in our investigation have reported the worst public health tragedies of any investigation in GAP’s thirty-five-year history.” She also spoke with Charles Taylor, who detailed his health problems for Bridge the Gulf earlier this month.
- Common Dreams zoned in on the safety of Gulf seafood, a subject of tremendous dispute since the BP disaster started. Gulf states have been trying to market their seafood, particularly the shrimp, to the public, convincing them that it's all safe. This has been done to protect the economic viability of the markets, and BP is giving them over $50 million to continue that promotion. But the science is not certain that all seafood is safe, as Common Dreams writes, "Scientists studying the Gulf of Mexico are reporting alarming rates of deformities in marine-life, including 'horribly mutated shrimp, fish with oozing sores, underdeveloped blue crabs lacking claws, and eyeless crabs and shrimp'." On the same issue, Dr. Jim Cowan, with Louisiana State University's Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, tells Al-Jazeera, "I asked a NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] sampler what percentage of fish they find with sores prior to 2010, and it's one tenth of one percent, which is what we found prior to 2010 as well. But nothing like we've seen with these secondary infections and at this high of rate since the spill." You can also read about problems found with Gulf sealife in the "Troubled Waters" report. Read Bridge the Gulf's interview with Daniel Nguyen who talks about safe alternatives to fishing when the health of the waters is in question.
- Bridge the Gulf contributor Jordan Flaherty wrote a lengthy account of the state of the Gulf in this article in CounterPunch. Here, he brought attention to the legacy of problems with the Gulf Coast long before BP, but exacerbated by BP's oil disaster. Writes Flaherty, "It is widely agreed that environmental problems on the coast date back to long before the well blew open. The massive catastrophe brought into focus problems that have existed for a generation. Land loss caused by oil company drilling has already displaced many who lived by the coast, and the pollution from treatment plants has poisoned communities across the state – especially in 'cancer alley,' the corridor of industrial facilities along the Mississippi River south of Baton Rouge." Read Bridge the Gulf's interview with documentarian Monique Verdin, whose film "Louisiana, My Love" also talks about the legacy of environmental problems harming the Gulf.
- Finally, check out this infographic from Colorlines (Disclosure: I'm a regular contributor to the site), which takes numbers from some of the indexes in the "Troubled Waters" report and adds some animation to it. You can hear from Cherri Foytlin about how some of the issues depicted in the infographic are affecting Gulf residents.
New Orleans-based journalist Brentin Mock is the latest addition to the Bridge the Gulf community, where he works as web editor. He joins us after working with a number of Gulf Coast-based organizations including The Lens and Ocean Conservancy, and has reported extensively on the Gulf Coast for numerous outlets including Colorlines, The Daily Beast, Newsweek, The American Prospect, Essence, and The Root.
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The Right after-Life span of a Tv Series
Some television set shows wear& 039t possess just after-life in any way. These get caught in about three instructional classes: (i) weak high quality, (the second) black and white and (three) topical cream.
I&Number039ll get these different types one at a time:
Poor High quality
In case a television show is less than regular therefore it&Number039s not likely to receive its initially showing much less any upcoming airings. Poor people high quality are closely related to the bad screenplay or terrible making or can be an additional specialised drawback similar to second-rate audio quality. There are several earlier television set demonstrates from way within the 50& 039s, 60&Number039s and even some inside 70&Number039s that have been saved for television set nonetheless in which the quality of sound was thought for being of too little sent out superior. Even so, we could now see a few of these explains aired in any case, as trendy secrets to enhancing audio quality are utilized. Possibly it is dust off many of those people older taping solutions and flicks. I intended if the executing, scripting or frequent manufacturing principles are already incredibly bad next the inside of it could end around incorporate some perverted benefits as, generally, incredibly poorly created television from way back can be reasonably amusing to look at. Gloomy in case you achieved it, unless they& 039re the lifestyle protection under the law entrepreneurs, once circumstance they can weep all the best way to the bank!
Black or white
There are some in their youth that don't be aware of what the time period white and black means. Nowadays, flick and video shot in non colored documents is sometimes used to have some decorating with a routine. In situations elapsed, all television set is at non colored documents. Unfortunately that fashionable viewers aren& 039t helpful to it as well as possibly significantly detract with the enjoyment of looking at a television exhibit. Grayscale reveals will likely be into computer files dyed but that is an expensive organization whether it is completed proper. Check out this residence, while, as electronic digital colorization of ancient tv reveals will become simpler to perform, some obsolete relics will emerge from the woodworking and also be shown over in the future.
Applicable
As opposed to (technical) high quality difficulties and white and black are not a problem for television unveils which have been made right now, topicality even now nearly prohibits a telly present from ever before remaining noticed one more time, help you save to have an after only do maybe two or three hours or times after the authentic airing. Jewel a stand up comedy show centered around topical ointment situations, a documented or simply a chat demonstrate, except in cases where the themes staying repleat are even now suitable a long time later, these types of display may have no this means to the majority of viewers besides those people interested in the past of occasions. There'll be omissions appearing like uncovers which can be too helpful to 't be seen one more time, but every built documentaries - some of which might be points of interest in current extramarital affairs - will not be seen all over again, regardless how excellent they are. Software machines should have in mind the entire possible of any tv current, which include importance in years to come, and sad to say relevant unveils [url=http://labesoft.com/en/download/daemon_tools_lite.html]Daemon Tools Lite[/url]
can offer one or two day after-existence.
Some displays dress in& 039t fit in the course of having absolutely no soon after-daily life, but instead of owning reduced just after-everyday living. These include individuals demonstrates which can be placed in modern instances, specifically the place that the custom of the day is represented. Put songs reveals match up these kinds as do trend shows. Dramas, comparable to water and soap
operas have limited do it again charm as soon as the figures have the moment. These demonstrates normally transparent framework should they be duplicated of the entirety, say 25 years eventually. Some of these reveals can make us moan when they bring in the trends who were so awesome about the time. One more number of reveals that receive the restricted life expectancy classification are advanced reveals. These can be dramas or documentaries that seek to foresee what everyday living will likely be like sometime soon. The thing is that they're normally made with current beliefs and behaviour and can exclusively use modern day convention as their qualifications. Regardless of what future time one out of these reveals is all about in, it's possible to solve their development time to within just many years. As real time grabs on top of them, their forecasts are exposed with both hopelessly focused and naive skills or gadgets that are repulsive compared to the actual thing that was developed several years following the indicate have been generated. You will discover significant ommissions like Star Wars containing attained an extraordinary right after-everyday living and is also a growing number of highly regarded as a great deal of its tips about know-how are noticed as possible and attainable.
And finally you will find demonstrates who have the longest and the majority acceptable after-living. Within this set may be included historic dramas and documentaries, and crazy living documentaries. Record hardly ever corrections (theoretically) neither of them does wildlife. Essentially, animals documentaries might win out primarily other individuals as regards to immediately after-daily life value. It is because wildlife is significantly beneath threat and there is significantly less of the usb ports as time goes on. This truth can make the wildlife documentaries of at the moment very worthwhile in a century, if there are any tendencies proceed.
My arguments higher than use right now&Number039s seems in shows. I've designed the reality that past television system unveils have different degrees of achievement in presently& 039s times. Nevertheless is actually simply one technique of investigating it. When we totally free outdated tv demonstrates through the shackles of getting to slip alongside their modern brethren and
as an alternative treat them as curios or collectibles, then why shouldn&Number039t we concerning-attempt a innovative dilemma, manufactured in 1962 and primarily based in 2006? No matter how awful the prophecies has been, wouldn&Number039t it& 039s pleasurable to discover what they had in thought processes again nowadays? And may not or otherwise not it&Number039s a manuscript and refreshing experience to check out a pop tunes found from, say, 1958, filled with adverts of waking time? Why is this so possess a couple of dated black or white humourous displays on the 60&Number039s, a couple of which had been timeless classics.
There will likely be growing need for previous television demonstrates more than introduced, much less cheap waffle for modern plans, but as part of a brand new style: the classic television show. It's possible there could possibly be daily life once the soon after-living after all.
I wrote this years ago and
I wrote this years ago and NOTHING has changed… except the BP, Gulf catastrophe…
EARTH DAY 2009 - Nothing really got accomplished but it was a great reason for social gathering… ahhhh, I mean protest rally.
Speech made at Earth Day gathering somewhere in California:
“Forgive me for being negative but I’ve heard all this Earth Day (Planet Forward/PBS.org) alternative energy stuff before… It’s ALWAYS just a technology’s breath away from being affordable, economically viable, consistent, reliable and done on a scale that ACTUALLY MATTERS! I hope and pray the Obama/Biden Administration moves forward with it’s stated energy and environmental agendas.
I think humans have been led by greedy &^*#~‘s to believe what is considered VALUABLE. Diamonds, commodities, stocks, cash, credit, gold, luxury car, etc… but we have NO FUTURES without a healthy Mother Earth. For GODS sake WHAT the #*~/ is WORTH MORE to the human race than the eco-system that keeps us from being like the other planets. Earth is the most precious gem in the Universe (definition- “the totality of all matter and energy that exists in the vastness of space, whether known to human beings or not” ® World English Dictionary) … as far as human beings are concerned.
WHY in the #*~/ DO WE TREAT OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET EARTH like a $10.00 meth whore? What, do all you Republicans/Conservatives want to bury the body of our precious eco-system out on the West Mesa hoping no one finds out the TRUTH? (watch “America’s Most Wanted” 4-25-09)
What we’ve done to the oceans and Great Lakes alone is a crime against Nature. (We should TORTURE the violators, lol. All the conservative talk shows ignored Earth Day and talked about the CIA and patriotism involved with torturing terror suspects)
Legitimate evidence proves our air, land and water have been fouled almost to the point of no return. And these facts, SO many PEOPLE in the USA have ignored or made fun of, REALLY WILL AFFECT THE FUTURE… To do NOTHING about the environmental problems proves these people are either insane or suicidal…
We owe our children and grandchildren the investment in a new kind of infrastructure that takes Mother Earth into consideration. Our parents and grand parents invested in our present system… the power transmission lines, Interstate highway system, sewer/water lines, etc… It was good for us and our Nation but now it’s all aged and failing. New technology is on the horizon and we NEED to START preparing for IT!
Thanks to the Republican Party and Conservative agendas we’re WAY behind the rest of the Western Nations when it comes to the environment and alternative energy sources. I remember when the Conservative Anti-Christ Ronald 6 Wilson 6 Reagan 6 cut funding for solar and wind energy research and development, the Ditto heads thought it was cool. Of course the news never got out that Reagan’s state of California ended up having spend millions to buy wind generators from Japan because our own great minds were too busy working on weapons systems. On & ON & ON… I could tell you 100’s of stories about Republicans #*~/ing over our children future.
The wealthy, powerful, aristocratic power brokers of the past such as big oil, big coal, big chemical and OTHER blatant polluters have STALLED new technology so they can squeeze and few more billion dollars profit from ravaging the planet Earth and using it’s water ways as a sewer
From Wall Street to K-Street to Main Street and ALL points in-between these evil power brokers let the LOVE of MONEY come before ETHICS, RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. These same individuals have PROVED over and over they can’t be TRUSTED but they use their great wealth and power to escape public scrutiny and prosecution.
They pay huge sums of money to their spokespersons such as Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney to divert the public’s attention and make light of those “environmental wackos”. Actually the so-called wacko’s are concerned citizens, intelligent/informed enough to understand the implications of staying the present course and ignoring the signs. I am somebody who loves nature spoact.blogspot.com