To Boycott or to Not Boycott BP

[cabetcl]

Hello all, today I saw on yahoo that some people are Boycotting BP.

It is a hard decision to make. on one hand I agree, they need to be punished for their mistakes. But on the other hand, if BP goes bankrupt, who will clean up all the leaked oil? YES this was a horrible accident and BP is at fault. but we need to look at the big picture. BP is cleaning it up, it is going to cost billions to do so. some estimate 100 billion. So what I'm saying is, if BP goes belly up, who will clean it up? most likely the government will have to do it, and when that happens who do you think will pay for it? We will in taxes. the Best way to punish them is to keep them alive so they can clean all the crap up. Let them go bankrupt is the easy way out.

Once BP announced that they are committed to clean up their mess, I only buy BP gasoline. all of you should do the same.

[shawn]

As if a small number of boycotters will bankrupt BP.
They do not make the majority of their cash from the chain gas pumps.
BP supplies airlines, military, mining and shipping companies?
Any chance of them getting in on a boycott?
Doubtful.

[ImBill]

I've been doing some thinking along the same lines, but it seems totally futile. BP is mind numbingly huge. They have undoubtedly been reaping record profits for the past few years like the other oil companies. Are they any less responsible than the government who is supposed to be making sure they follow regulations and safety mandates? Are they any less responsible than those who set us down this path of sheer madness, making our whole world dependent on oil? Are they any less responsible than those of us who have continued down this dead end path over the years when we knew it was incredibly dangerous, irresponsible, unsustainable, and bad for the planet's health?

I think the only way in which we can consider them more culpable is if we consider the possibility that they used their economic might to force us to keep using their product by suppressing competing technology and/or paying politicians to protect their business. It is obvious to me that oil company profits are way more important than the lives of countless animals and our environment in our society. Why is that? Is it only the oil companies? I don't think so.

[Athena]

What BP doesn't want you to know....

Whether one decides to boycott BP or not, I like to think a large enough group of people can make a difference. The ties between BP and regulatory agencies need to be brought to light. Bribes, mercury dumping, and refusing to let clean-up workers wear protective gear doesn't leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling for BP.

Don't refuse to take a stand against a company because you think you will lose...rather, you do it because you're against its wrongdoings. The rest of the article, plus videos is found here.

The U.S. regulators who were responsible for oversight of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico accepted meals, tickets to sporting events and gifts from at least one oil company. A new report offers further evidence that the Minerals Management Service has what has been described as a culture of lax oversight and cozy ties to industry.
The problem was not confined to the MMS. In 2007, a British Petroleum refinery in Indiana was allowed to continue to dump mercury into Lake Michigan by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. A permit exempted a BP plant from a federal regulation limiting mercury discharges into the Great Lakes.

The New York Times reports:

"In mid-2008, a minerals agency employee conducted four inspections on drilling platforms when he was also negotiating a job with the drilling company ... And an inspector ... may have been under the influence of [crystal methamphetamine] during an inspection."

But there are even more downright criminal activities taking place right now. According to a government panel, new calculations suggest that "an amount equivalent to the Exxon Valdez disaster could be flowing into the Gulf of Mexico every 8 to 10 days," the New York Times reported on June 10.

In addition, the CNN video above discusses the health problems suffered by the clean-up workers, and the fact that BP is strongly discouraging any type of protective gear, such as respirators and even rubber gloves! In the video, Kerry Kennedy mentions that the average age at the time of death of workers who cleaned up after the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill was 51!

Today, all those clean-up workers are DEAD!

[ImBill]

Whether one decides to boycott BP or not, I like to think a large enough group of people can make a difference.

The question is, how large of a group does it need to be? The poor people in Alaska sure didn't seem to have enough clout to get the government to make Exxonmobil clean up the mess or pay the people back for the devastation they caused.

The ties between BP and regulatory agencies need to be brought to light. Bribes, mercury dumping, and refusing to let clean-up workers wear protective gear doesn't leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling for BP.

It shouldn't leave a warm, fuzzy feeling about our government, either.

Don't refuse to take a stand against a company because you think you will lose...rather, you do it because you're against its wrongdoings. The rest of the article, plus videos is found here.

I think it's time to take a stand against our federal government, not the companies that the government panders to. They clearly do not have our best interest in mind, and are clearly dishonest with us at every turn. They have done away with many of the checks and balances to keep government honest, do away with anyone who tries to clean up the system, and have sold us and our children down the river with our massive national debt. Plus they tax the crap out of us so they can interfere more and more in our daily lives, usurping power from the states and the people at the same time.

We dump more plastic in the oceans, landfills, and our waterways than oil. Very few people seem to be caring or doing anything about it. Who do we boycott to stop the plastic?

BP probably doesn't want clean up workers wearing protective suits because they want everyone to think that there are no health risks involved with the oil or the chemicals being used. They are always going to be more concerned with profits and public image than they are about any damage they do. I wouldn't expect anything different from any of the big corporations, no matter what their product is. I've also gotten used to our government and the news letting this type of thing be swept under the rug as much as possible. Oh, sure, there will be some outrage, some fear mongering, some sound bites and pictures from the unfortunate victims, but once the payouts are made, it will be back to business as usual. And, I'm reasonably sure that virtually none of the money will go to the people who need it, and that by the time any of it does trickle down, it will be too late. Their lives will have already been ruined. Of course, no amount of money will save the biggest loser, which will be the ecosystem of at least the gulf and probably a whole lot more.

It's disgusting and inexcusable. But, I think we're all to blame. We continue to support this game as it is difficult to find a way out as an individual. We really can't live on our own (and very few would want to), so as long as the rest of our compadres are enmeshed in the illusion, we're kind of stuck in it, too.

[rickoff]

We dump more plastic in the oceans, landfills, and our waterways than oil. Very few people seem to be caring or doing anything about it. Who do we boycott to stop the plastic?

That would be BP again. Plastics are made from fractionated petroleum.

Rick

[Pamela Vicik-Smith]

Whether my decision makes a difference or not, I will not knowingly give BP another cent of my money. However, I understand that sort of decision may not be as easy for others to make.

I spent last week in Tennessee on business. I drove all over the central and eastern part of the state visiting clients. I was surprised at how prolific BP is in TN. In some of the smaller towns I was in, BP was the only gas station around. There were times I had to drive quite a few miles to find an alternative to fill my rental car.

Jobs are also very scarse in some of these towns. I certainly understand the viewpoint that boycotting BP will endanger these people's livelihood. However, speaking only for myself, I could not in good conscience buy gas or anything else from them.

[ImBill]

That would be BP again. Plastics are made from fractionated petroleum.

Rick

They may provide the product that plastic is made from and they may even make some of the plastic, but they aren't the ones being irresponsible about its disposal; we all are (at least the vast majority of us). I guess we're also responsible for wanting all of our toys and gadgets packed in those form-fitting plastic packages that you need to use an implement of destruction on to get open...

[wpage]

BP

They cut corners trying to be competitive. They drilled far out to satisfy the EPA. They operated within the law...
I blame the US gov. How do we boycott them by not paying taxes and getting locked up?

[ImBill]

They cut corners trying to be competitive. They drilled far out to satisfy the EPA. They operated within the law...

Well, we can't let them completely off the hook. The hydraulic lines going to the Blow Out Preventer were apparently leaking and the battery was dead on the panel to activate the BOP. I don't think regulations allow that kind of laxity. Whether the blame lies with BP or the company they leased the well from is open to debate, I guess. My feeling on the matter is that they are both responsible.

I blame the US gov. How do we boycott them by not paying taxes and getting locked up?

I have to agree with you here. The money we spend fighting two wars that we have no business whatsoever being involved in takes away from the money that might be spent making sure regulations are being followed. Of course, the bribery would probably make that point moot. Once we're locked up, we'll be much easier to control. At least we'll all finally be united and our lust for personal gratification will be severely stifled. Maybe then we'll be able to see the whole picture and start making the right decisions for ourselves and the planet.

[beinghappy]

the disbursements should be feared!

from what I've seen the disbursements that the government is using is just making the oil sink that is why you do not see all of the oil on the surface. the disaster is much worse than any one knows or can see. the next 25 to 30 years will tell the tail on all of the oil. it is so sad how the government has bowed down to B.P.
we need term limits for every one in government that is the only way we can prevent corruption. there not there long enough to be bought.
Eddie

[wpage]

Yes, term limits are a good start to get the old guard out and some fresh approach to running things. Frank Lautenberg and some of these 80+ dudes have passed their expiration dates for being effective as leaders.
Its time for meaningful change.