Boycott BP Solar.

[crxvfr]

Russ, I'm not talking about hay or hair or some kind of highly technical centrifuge machinery. One guy had a cloth that would capture oil but let water pass. You just drag it behind a boat. What would be the damage of using this kind of stuff just to keep it from hitting the marshes?

The only thing BP has done worse at than safety which led to the mess is PR management. That they have botched up worse than anyone could imagine! FUBAR many times over- an old 'military' expression covers it too well.

Watch THIS 7 minute video. It starts slow but at the end you will feel like you are living in the twighlight zone. In order for things to get FUBAR, you have to do something first. Their negligence spanning years and decades should be criminal.

EDIT ADD: I would use the acronym SNAFU
Situation Normal - All Fuc*** Up

[russ]

@Miket - I expect that many station owners would like to switch away from BP but contracts would not allow them to do so.

@BuzzBuds - More comes out all the time about how BP screwed up on the well. Their managers turned down the recommendations from their own people and others such as Haliburton when it came to saving a few million here and there. Their management definitely did many things that led to the whole mess.

@crxvfr - People are generally allowed I believe - very likely there are certain areas cordoned off - some news fools will try to make an issue for sure. The solutions from Joe Blow off the street - I have read many on different engineers forums as well as from the public - most have been impractical - very many silly - no small number have even been more dangerous.

The prez 'gonna kick some ass' was at his juvenile best with that and many of his other statements. I read them as I generally refuse to listen to heads of state chatter as the talk is almost always 99% political.

The work they are doing is not something anyone else can take over. No other oil company has any desire as it is a quagmire and no government agency has the equipment or expertise.

The only thing BP has done worse at than safety which led to the mess is PR management. That they have botched up worse than anyone could imagine! FUBAR many times over- an old 'military' expression covers it too well.

[crxvfr]

Boy! I'm surprised to be reading things so political.

You guys go for the complicated version.

I think they are all dirty crooks.

They could have done much much more than they've done, whether it be BP or the government. I've seen solutions from Joe Blow off the street that could have made a difference. But it's really all about politics and money though, right? It is like Katrina. Nobodies allowed down there, meanwhile everyone's haggling over stuff.

[BuzzBuds]

You might be careful when asking for BP to fry, because essentially you are saying you want organizations like the NEA (teachers union), ALF-CIO, and other large pension groups to fry. Good chance if you have a retirement plan, you are asking for your own throat to be cut.

Being a Union member myself I can see where you are coming from but I still do beleive that BP could have made more etempts to secure this event from even happening at all and I do beleive they have cut some corners that led to this happening to start with

[russ]

Even the refining and and gas (petrol) distribution would not suffer. İt a commodity that could be sold at any gas pump.

I realize that people like to feel they are doing something but - just because BP crapped in the nest does not mean everyone else needs to as well.

[crxvfr]

I think since the corporations and lobbies own the politicians, the only way you can really vote is with your money. Effect the money behind the politicians and the politicians would listen, maybe.

[miket]

Playing the devils advocate, couldn't that independant busineman switch his station(s) away from BP to another gas company because of the boycott? BP's stock would go down but the other companies stock would go up so those with their retirement diversified might see a wash.

Realistically the station part of the company and maybe refining would suffer but drillilng wouldnt slow down because of all those countries in the world that could buy their oil.

[russ]

What green blogs (or maybe mainstream press) do you get your news from? There are numerous sources of news available that are frantic and trying to grab prime time that are reasonably accurate.

If you screw the BP station (the owner of which is an independent businessman) you really don't accomplish much except to hurt the owner of the station who may well be your neighbor.

The prez running around makin silly statements trying to sound tough is bad enough. Then the rest of the vigilantes come out as well.

People have three choices really - 1) go down there and help 2) do nothing 3) Chatter with their friends or drinking buddies about what they would do. The number 3 option accomplishes the least.

Let the lawyers worry about the criminal charges and civil litigation - they are on it like smell on dog stuff already.

[ionized]

it is the government's and environmental groups that are responsible when BP and their contractors don't have adequate safety equipment, don't maintain and operate the safety equipment that they have installed, don't follow established safety procedures and don't have adequate fall-back procedures i place? Preposterous!

It does not matter what the regulations are. BP and their contractors are required to protect working personnel, the oceans and shores. If they don't, they are liable in criminal and civil court.

[Sunking]

Might also mention that the reason for drilling in such deep water is that the govenrment will not let any company drill closer to the shore, on the continental shelf, which would be in more shallow waters. Protecting the environment!

You hit the nail on the head. The explosion and following leak is as much of the government and environmentalist fault as is BP's. USA policy has forced exploration to deep water drilling. This would be a non-event if it happened in shallow waters or on land.

You might be careful when asking for BP to fry, because essentially you are saying you want organizations like the NEA (teachers union), ALF-CIO, and other large pension groups to fry. Good chance if you have a retirement plan, you are asking for your own throat to be cut.

[russ]

@ionized - Might check to see that your pension fund doesn't have any BP stock - many will. Penalize individuals - not companies. Put Hayward in the slammer for 5 years and that will act as a deterent.

When I was working in India safety was never considered important by company officers at almost any site. If some laborers were killed they just made a phone call to a labor supply contractor and ordered more.

One day some workers were killed working on a blast furnace at Tata Steel. The cops took the heads of several companies to jail for being negligent in saftey. The very next day and clear across India the president of our company sent out a memo telling how important safety was. He could have cared less about the workers but jail time!

Once there was a possibility of him being inconvenienced it became important but only then.

[russ]

@ Gary Beck - Green Mafia - Yes there is and you don't have to be a Beck or Limbaugh fan - I can't stomach either one of the clowns. When you go for vigilante justice you belong to the 'green mafia'!

BP may well fry and if so then great - but it should be in a court of law. No more than 1 or 2 percent of the reporting we see on TV has any accuracy at all. There are a few blogs where the guys do try to get as accurate detail as is possible. They should pay the 'poster' pelican a royalty - he could be a very rich bird as they show him over and over.

What other wonderful things do you teach kids?

The warranty papers on probably 75% of panels sold are as good as useless in a few years time as the companies don't survive.

Far more birds & creatures die every day from being hit by busses, cars & trucks - they don't get a pathetic picture put on TV - maybe you should park the bus?

Corporate punishments will show no one anything - criminal punishment of individuals will. If a Hayward or Suttles type is faced with prison time due to his decisions they do make different and better decisions.

Might also mention that the reason for drilling in such deep water is that the govenrment will not let any company drill closer to the shore, on the continental shelf, which would be in more shallow waters. Protecting the environment!

[BuzzBuds]

I completely disagree with Russ. It's not "green mafia." there's no such thing unless you're a fanatic rush limbaugh fan. whatever.

BP should fry. They were criminially negligent and created the biggest environmental disaster in the history of our country, all because they wanted to save a few bucks. The government should prosecute, sieze their assets, and the executives should rot in jail.

Nothing we do is going to fix the spill. It's going to last for decades regardles of BP's fate. So in that light, BP should be forced into bankruptcy and the criminals should go to jail. A boycott alone won't make it happen but it will help.

Keep in mind, BP is making billions in profits, as we speak. Every penny of that money should go to relief efforts, not the pockets of the assholes who caused this.

Taking their money and puttin ghtem in jail will do nothing for the birds and fish. But it will show the other oil companies what happens if you cut corners in the name of profits.

ionized is right.

I second this
and I agree with you ionized

The shareholders are the company. The company was negligent so it deserves to die. The hurt parties will get the first shot at the assets. The costal restoration will get fixed at the expense of the company.

I think "boycotting" may not be the answer but I dont think it will hurt anyone in the short or long term I mean using a mud solution in the deep sea come on too much water for that to work cutting into the line again too much water and way too much presure for them to seal it back up.
I know its too late now but if they had several shut off valves in place every so many feet and mostly directly at the point of where the oil enters the Pipe!! Stupid or not if there is a reason for them not having this instaled other than just cost then I for one would like to know what reason?

[garybeck]

I completely disagree with Russ. It's not "green mafia." there's no such thing unless you're a fanatic rush limbaugh fan. whatever.

BP should fry. They were criminially negligent and created the biggest environmental disaster in the history of our country, all because they wanted to save a few bucks. The government should prosecute, sieze their assets, and the executives should rot in jail.

Nothing we do is going to fix the spill. It's going to last for decades regardles of BP's fate. So in that light, BP should be forced into bankruptcy and the criminals should go to jail. A boycott alone won't make it happen but it will help.

Keep in mind, BP is making billions in profits, as we speak. Every penny of that money should go to relief efforts, not the pockets of the assholes who caused this.

Taking their money and puttin ghtem in jail will do nothing for the birds and fish. But it will show the other oil companies what happens if you cut corners in the name of profits.

ionized is right.

[ionized]

The shareholders are the company. The company was negligent so it deserves to die. The hurt parties will get the first shot at the assets. The costal restoration will get fixed at the expense of the company.