In its continuing Deep Horizon crisis communications effort, BP now claims that it acted in a fully responsible manner. With a horrid combination of PR statements and ads, the oil company tries to maintain its dignity citing flawed efforts (we tried!). Instead BP has destroyed any remaining trust the public had in the organization.
This company has quickly become 2010’s worst corporate citizen, and it will be hard for anyone to beat them in the year’s remaining seven months (much less the decade). As the bard said, the company doth protest too much. Let’s look at what the mounting evidence reveals:
- BP puts incredible focus on Top Kill as a resolution and the EPA communicates its working while BP suspends the effort for 16 hours without telling the public because the procedure is actually failing. Federal government leadership was not notified.
- Claims of 5,000 barrels per day leaked by BP have been systematically dismissed by federal authorities as dramatically “underestimated.” Scientists estimate a 12,000-19,000 barrel rate as more accurate, easily placing Deep Horizon as the worst oil spill in global history.
- The oil company claimed it would be responsible for cleanup, but as this LA dead marsh video by Anderson Cooper reveals, BP failed to even show up.
- The New York Times reported that BP intentionally opted for a riskier cheaper casing for the well several days before the explosion. Responsibility includes understanding you get what you pay for.
- Fisherman hired to clean up the oil spill were not given protective clothing and are now becoming sick.
- As if the oil spill is not enough, the dispersants that BP have used — in spite of the EPA’s requests to stop — have further ravaged the extremely endangered Gulf wild life.
- CBS reporters trying to report on the crisis were threatened under threat of arrest by BP contractors.
- On and on, ad infinitum…
BP claims responsibility. The ethical failure in its actions cannot be dubbed socially responsible. Far from it. These corporate executives are demonstrative of some of the worst villainous behavior we have seen in decades.
The federal government maintains it has its boot on BP’s neck. It’s clear that since Obama has become personally involved — one month after the fact — the federal government is acting more responsibly, suspending further off shore drilling, etc. However, it’s not enough. It’s time to take the guillotine to BP’s neck, and file criminal proceedings against some of the world’s most despicable corporate citizens.