Complicated thoughts on BP disaster and public flogging of Tony Hayward
Posted on Jun 18th by William in Uncategorized
Once you’re on one US mail list it’s impossible to get off; the mail just replicates. I once signed something for the Obama campaign, and now I get all sortf of mail from liberal US causes. The latest is from teh David Plouff maillist gathering support for criticising the Republican who appeared to say sorry to BP.
I’m a big Obama fan, a BP shareholder, but above all a lover of New Orleans music and soft-shelled crab. So I have to get this off my chest.
This accident is a disaster.
But please let’s not be hypocrites. While we still use oil for heating or transport we can hardly demonise those who do the difficult and dangerous job of extracting it. Plainly some or several things have gone badly wrong here, to disastrous effect for many people but in law let’s hold people innocent until proven guilty. I feel we’re piling blame on to one man while we still dont know how to stop this thing or what really happened.
Unlike those responsible for previous corporate disasters in Bhopal and the Niger delta BP has at least said it will take responsibility and make substantial payments fast. Plouff and US politicians: you should acknowledge this.
If this man Hayward is trying to lead the effort to stop further damage and make what amends are possible perhaps it would help if you could all take your foot off his throat. He may or may not end up in jail; he’s not having an easy time of it; he may not always have the most fortunate turn of phrase. But he has an important job to do. Opportunistic political grandstanding won’t stop the flow or undo any damage; let’s not tolerate it.
(That said my partner says I’m a jerk and big oil is evil.)
the “David Plouffe” mailing list is the Organising for America mailing list (which is what the Obama for America” organisation evolved into.
You may have signed up to other lists (and I’m on a few with different addresses, and haven’t seen any sharing of addresses, although, like you, I would likely have opted out.
Youre right Sam to be more specific about the list. I’ll keep track of the others – Ive had to do half a dozen opt-outs to date. Is it more likely that Avaaz leaks?