Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Oily

Did you read that BP's Gulf-specific disaster response plan, submitted to and approved by the government last year, was flawed and full of serious errors? Like listing experts and advisors who are dead or whose numbers are disconnected, vastly underestimating the impact of a spill, even one ten times the size of the one we're currently dealing with, and including contingency plans for wildlife that don't live in the Gulf, implying that it was lifted from an Alaska-based response plan?

It is just one more horrifying thing in a list of horrifying things that are not even adequately described by the word "horrifying," because in fact they are incomprehensible. And yes, I do believe that BP should shoulder the blame for, and the cost of, this mess, but that doesn't mean we didn't all play a part in setting up a situation where something like this could happen.

We are all responsible. But some more than others.

And don't even get me started on Sarah Palin's disgusting, twisted, perverted, insane comments about how if we drilled in the Alaska Natural Wildlife Refuge like she suggested, this never would have happened. Which, of course, conveniently ignores the fact that the whole "drill, baby, drill" chant was also about offshore drilling.

Why won't this woman just go away? Though, of course, I'd take having to listen to her and her inane comments any day if the oil spill would go away instead.

10 comments:

  1. I know. I hate the whole impact of this because it was something that didn't NEED to happen. I think of the animals and the ecosystem and the earth that is harmed due to stupidity and zero thought.

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  2. Can you believe that they are advertising that she is coming to speak in my town? Of course, it's a smaller city in Texas, BUT STILL! I don't get it. People would really take the time to go listen to her. Crazy.

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  3. I think it's easy in times of horrifying disasters to point fingers and expose blame. What's just as horrifying to me is how many of our systems are broken ... how many are hanging by just a thread ... how many we'll never know are so flawed until something big happens. Pointing fingers and blame and determining who will pay is important ... but, this should be a huge warning flag to investigate all our checks and balances to make sure they're doing what they're supposed to do ... and maybe PREVENT something like this from happening again.

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  4. Yes, this is heartbreaking and horrifying. It makes me sick. I hate that it's so political though - BP is to blame. Full stop. I worry that their atrocious behavior and awful lack of safety will turn this into a "no drilling, ever" incident that will only increase our dependence on foreign oil.

    Although, maybe this will be a wakeup call to further push cleaner methods of renewable energy. I hope. Because innocent animals, not to mention people who make their livings from those waters, should NOT have to suffer this way.

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  5. Thought you might enjoy this list of Palinisms:

    http://www.slate.com/id/2253337/

    "And while we're at it, let's expedite the regulatory and permitting and legal processes for on- and offshore drilling."
    —Speaking at the Tea Party convention on Feb. 26, 2010, about six weeks before the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

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  6. I can't believe it's still going on. And I can't believe that BP & all of the other oiling companies involved (since I'm guessing that other businesses take their cuts too) aren't just agreeing a mistake was a made, and getting in there to sort it out. That live clip of the oil literally GUSHING into the ocean made my heart break.

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  7. you know what's even more disgusting about palin's comments? BP has another pipe... in alaska.. THAT ALSO JUST RESULTED IN A SPILL.

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  8. I am so royally pissed off about the whole spill situation that I can't even think straight. I see red anytime I think about it. I think about the absolutely stunning beaches that are ruined, the wildlife and reefs that might not recover, the jobs lost, the tourist industry - ACK! I have to go punch a pillow now! !!!

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  9. I wish Sarah Palin would just DISAPPEAR ALREADY. Also, Sarah, if you don't have anything helpful to say (which you really never do) then don't say anything at all.

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  10. Sarah Palin's twitter account makes me want to slit my wrists.

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