Can BP really do this without the people knowing?

Anyone else creeped out about this story?
Is this the lengths one company will go so it doesnt look any worse in the media? They would be willing to endanger the lives of the people living there by poisoning them with this toxic dispersant?



Analysis: Media Blackout in the Gulf?

Reporters face difficulties gaining access to site, cleanup workers

Recent media reports on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico have centered around events occurring away from ground zero, such as an article on ideas for cleanup from the Christian Science Monitor, the deployment of National Guard troops from FoxNews, and Monday's Larry King telethon to raise relief money, covered by ABC News.

BP CEO Tony Hayward caused a stir over the weekend, when he backed out of an oil conference in London on Saturday. This story topped the newswires, receiving international coverage.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/37869/

 

My housemate just got back from the beaches down their and didn't notice any Stasi style security forces. In fact, he pretty much swilled bourbon and fished for sharks from the beach the whole time.

I would suggest that maybe the Epoch Times isn't the most reliable of sources, being a rather kooky Falun Gong paper.

 

On the contrary, it has been widely reported throughout the media that this is exactly what has been happening (CNN, 60 Minutes, NPR, DN;etc) it just is not the lead story. However it was recently relaxed with such wide media attention.



-The Shatinator

 

I honestly can't say I'm all that surprised. BP is a pretty evil corporation, no doubt about that. Then again, most oil corporations are.

 

So, some 20-year old security company hire who didn't even get a cheap polyester uniform relates what his 23-year old supervisor told him, which is that a reporter can't walk down a public beach and talk to other people on a public beach, even though neither the security company hire nor his supervisor has any jurisdiction over either the beach, the employees, or even their own pants.

This is where a more experienced person would call them up short, very short, and point out that if they can't cite their chain of command then their protestations are invalid. For example, the reporter could say, "I am here by order of Barack Obama, President of the United States. Unless your orders somehow supercede mine by coming directly from God, I suggest you get out of my way unless you want to experience the joys of Gitmo."

Remember, quasi-teenage employees of private security companies are those who couldn't find gainful employment at MacDonalds.

 

Um, agist much?

In what universe is a 23 year old a "teenager"? Seems like bigdaddy's poor math skills are rubbing off on you.

MacDonalds? Never heard of it. Do you, perhaps, mean McDonald's? If so, spelling is your friend.

 

Maybe he meant McDowell's!

 

Aye, laddie, I be havin' one of them Quarter Pounders with Cheese, och!!

 

When McDonald's arrived on British shores they did what they had done the world over and trademarked everything to the eyeballs. When they tried to trademark the name "McDonald's" in Scotland they were laughed out of court.

 

It seems like this story is centered around that WDSU video, a situation I don't think has happened twice. I work at a New Orleans TV station and our people haven't had any trouble getting to beaches.

As for access to the "disaster site itself," I'm not sure how many news organizations are even trying to have boats out there. We do get fresh flyover video from Fox and CNN on a regular basis though. We're a Fox affiliate and the network has picked up the tab for several boat rides we've taken to various islands.

 

Does not surprise me at all. In fact the only thing surprising is it took this long for them to start attempting to clamp down and put more spin in their spin control.

 

Well, BP couldn't even dream of such control without the direct approval of the government, since as a private corporation their authority only extends as far as their own property. That's why I pointed out the youth of the security guard, and probably his boss, since anyone older would've known that absent a directive from government they'd have no more authority over a public beach than a drunk fisherman. If they try to exert such control you can arrest them and drag them into court. That's why they must be able to cite the basis for their authority. If they refuse, you can declare them a Cuban saboteur and face plant them in the sand, holding them there until the sheriff or other actual law enforcement personal arrive.