If BP put as much energy into the clean up as the cover up...

BP is working night and day to mitigate the negative impact of the Gulf disaster: on BP. Interviews, TV and newspaper ads, plus hijacking google are just tips of the iceberg. The effort to actually clean up the oil pales in comparison to the monumental undertaking of whitewashing the whole thing. This is all stuff you know, but I thought I'd summarize. Individually, the things they have done post-"spill" are appalling. Together, they indicate a pattern, not only of corporate self interest, but of creating additional damage. Let's review:

Right away they offered insulting low ball estimates of 1000 barrels per day. A more accurate estimate may have given responders a better idea of how to deploy resources, and more time to protect shorelines.

Unprecedented amounts of dispersants were dumped by planes on the surface to reduce the visible effects of the oil. When this raised alarms, the dispersants were injected at the underwater site of the leak, reducing the visible effect of planes dumping dispersants.

The dispersants broke the oil into small particles, creating vast undersea plumes, the existence of which BP denied. Independent scientists confirmed that they are real.

Reports surfaced of animal carcasses being removed from beaches.

BP denied a media gag order for clean up workers, but strangely they wouldn't even utter, "no comment" when questioned by reporters.

Media and the public were instructed by BP officials to leave affected areas upon threat of arrest.

Clean up workers were threatened with termination if they used respirators on the job. The lack of this equipment, plus the presence of oil and dispersants is resulting in many cases of illness.

The true magnitude of this disaster would be hard to assess given the size of the Gulf and the amount of oil released, even if everyone involved was honestly trying to quantify it. These moves by BP not only obscure the truth, they create more damage. Two things really bother me about this. One is the obvious, that they would do this in the first place. This is worse than their typical lax attitude about safety under "normal" conditions. Secondly, and most infuriating, is that they are allowed to do this. The government is either complicit or impotent. In the case of the dispersants, the EPA is complicit, they bought the story about the disersants reducing the impact of the spill, and are trying to sell it to us. We are also being deceived about who is in charge. BP is running the clean up and the cover up, both monumental failures.

Good - that will allow Cuba to sue the US government in the event the oil reaches their shores.

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