April 20 Today marks the one year anniversary of the British Petroleum oil spill in the gulf, and while many people think things are beginning to look better, sadly improvements are taking a long time.365 days. That's a year, so surely most of this hoopla and mumbo jumbo about the clean up is gone right? Wrong. Thousands of people are still out of work and effected by the BP spill everyday. Fisherman everywhere are out of work. From crab to catfish the fishing market is so bad no one will buy the fish. But do you blame them?
When the Deepwater Horizon oil rig burst and began spewing oil into the Gulf millions of gallons infected the waters in the Atlantic Ocean, but just how much? 206 million gallons of oil spread its way across the ocean and traveled along with the current to many beaches ruining each communities chances of drawing a crowd for the summer season.
The sheets of oil then started to show up on the wildlife. Seals, fish, and birds alike all were observed and photographed as the oil inhabited their homes and ruined many animal's health. Actually 2,079 birds and at least 456 sea turtles have been treated in facilities set up for helping animals in the Gulf according to National Geographic, but those are just the ones that have been rescued. How many animals lost their lives due to the fact that someone overlooked inspection criteria on the rig.
The worst part of the oil spill was the 11 people that lost their lives in the bursting fire from the Deepwater Horizon rig. “The Best Year in Safety” is what the Transocean drilling company passed out bonuses to top executives for the year of the spill, so the question remains did they company rally cut corners in safety? Transocean's CEO made $5.8 million his year which was a 34% increase in his pay, and that bonus weighs out to $374,000 increase in pay after this year. Why do these CEO's get to keep the money when people's loved ones passed away. Should it not be ethical to help pay for these people's funeral cost or help their families more? Guess not.
After the spill BP addressed the public and set up its four points plan. First, they pose to be transparent in what the US government and US people want to do. Second, they will meet the economic responsibilities of those infected. Third, they will in full make good about the environmental effects of the spill. Finally, they will participate in a safe Gulf of Mexico Oil Industry.
To be transparent means to have light pass through, or to have a very obvious plan. So what is the plan? Well no one really knows, because the statements and promises made through commercials and media coverup have never been kept. Meeting the needs of economically troubled people who were hurt during the spill is another goal, but people all over think that phase is also over. After affected people received their settlement checks no other money came in. So if those people only receive money for a couple months and now do not have a job how did BP really help? BP does a lot to coverup the spill more than anything, but maybe instead of media propaganda used to cover the spill BP should use the money to help restore the Gulf or the people and animals effected. So Happy one year anniversary British Petroleum thanks for everything you do and unfortunately keep doing.
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