Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1,2
Last summer we seemed to agree that the BP oil spill was an outrage against creation, a grim reminder that profits trump respect for the ecosystems in which this company functioned. I blogged about the religious and spiritual implications of this mess a couple of times during the attempts to cap the well in the Gulf of Mexico. Then the story was gone from the news, the way so many others disappear once the sensational aspects disappear.
In recent weeks there have been a few stories related to the BP spill. The first round had to do with the official inquiry, which concluded that this catastrophe was avoidable. Didn't we all realize that at the time?
Now BP is maintaining that the costs for cleanup have been over-estimated and the company should be let off the hook for some of them, to the tune of billions of dollars. You might recall that during the spill BP assured everyone that they would take full responsibility for the damage, both current and future. It was hard not to be cynical about their promises at the time, and this confirms suspicions. Some contractors are complaining that they are not being paid, and with the situation out of sight and mind it is easier for BP to drag its feet.
So, is their reluctance to "come clean" a sin? I'm inclined to say that it is, an affront to the environment, the people of the region, and to God.
Please share your thoughts.
It's a little like bargaining with God. If this happens I promise to go to church every Sunday, etc. etc. Once the crisis is over you start to bargain again "well you didn't give me 'exactly' what I wanted" or "well, I went for three months, that was three months more than I went before". It's so easy to renege once you get what you want. Should BP be allowed to. Absolutely not. They should have their feet held to the fire until they pony up. The media should not let this die until BP holds true to their word.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lynn. I just wish there was more we could do against BP. Their profits are breathtakingly enormous, yet they will not spend the money(which amounts to a small fraction of their profits)to clean up their mess properly.
ReplyDeleteIn related news, the microbial "oil munchers" that have been placed on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico have not been working as effectively as hoped, and a large number of creatures have been found dead.
The disastrous effects of the spill will be felt for many years, yet BP still shirks its responsibilities.
BP is raising my BP(blood pressure!).
Typical.
ReplyDeletePredictable.
Deplorable.
They have a tight fist just like everyone else. You are all correct. They should be made an example of.
ReplyDeleteShould is the operative word. They will be like the cute child that did something terrible, and got grounded for a month. After a couple of days being relatively good they bat their eyes, and are let off the hook.
The government will let it slide, because they create jobs, pay taxes, and many people have BP in their RRSP, and we can't let that slip.
Personally I'm disgusted with the whole mess. All levels of government, all big business.
We can blame then, but it's all of us that feed the beast by indulging in the shiny things they sell us. How do we break free from our guilded cage? Do we really want to? Deep down, do we?