ROME is burning…

As MSNBC, CNN, and much of the mainstream media are short reporting our nation’s downhill slide into an “economic depression”—Lebron is coming to South Beach and Lindsey Lohan is going to jail.

Why do I write of such trivia?

Because it seems that news of a Hollywood train wreck, and a basketball player’s choice of a new master are more important to most—but not all Americans.

We’re 80-plus days into the worst ecological disaster faced by our nation since the revolution that created her and the number one interview on FOX News for July 8th was with Lindsey Lohan’s ex-con father—not once...but twice.

Granted, FOX allotted standard time segments to the other top stories of the day—the Russian spy trade, The “Kill the Crackers”/New Black Panthers/DOJ Race Case, the sunken tourist boat in Pennsylvania and yes, BP’s pesky oil gusher—but there seemed to be no “hard break” cutoff for Lohan’s father who ranted about the enablers in his daughter’s life, his ex-wife and the paparazzi who meddle in his private life.

After hearing Michael Lohan drop an “F-bomb” live on Studio B during Shepard Smith’s interview; I was shocked to see the powers-that-be at Fox give him a second chance at Faux News fame--in primetime no less, with Sean Hannity!

Seven-thousand satellite-fed channels available on a Wednesday night and there was not a damned thing on T.V.!

Mind you—while it appears that I’m picking on FOX News, none, N-O-N-E of the other “Snooze Stations” had bothered to cover the “top stories” I mentioned--and the reason is Americans—most, not all—are more interested in gossip and sports, or the hottest new techie-toy, than they are about our nation’s current or future situation.

Case in point:

Thousands lined up in the days leading up to Thursday June 24, 2010 to insure their ability to purchase and sign up for Apple’s new 4G I-phone. Many slept in parking lots and in line for the opportunity.

Apple called the demand for the phone "off the charts" and was working to get phones into customers' hands as quickly as possible.

I’m sure—just think of the new two-year service contracts for all those “gotta-have-it” customers--and of the initial sales profits before the price on the thing is slashed in half just six-months from now.

Sean Hill, 39, a D.C. police officer who pre-ordered an iPhone, smiled proudly and held his up victoriously as he left the newly opened Apple store in the Georgetown neighborhood.

"I'm like a kid in a candy store," he said. "I'm probably going to spend all morning playing with it."

Have you seen the crime rate in D.C.? It seems like the police there are always playing with something.

In Aventura, Fla., Loren and Veronica McHenry held out hope after they ended up at the back of the line. They arrived at 9 p.m. Wednesday and were told no one was allowed on mall property overnight. When they returned the next morning, they learned that 120 people had camped out at a nearby parking lot.

"There's no coordination between the mall employees, security and law enforcement," said Mr. McHenry, 42, shaking his head in disbelief. "It's a mess."

Yep, it’s an effin shame. We can’t coordinate a cell phone sale at a shopping mall—so why should we expect BP and our national leadership to coordinate the response to a major disaster or fix the economy?

One thing’s for certain—Americans will stand in line for anything.

Whether it’s to be first in line on Black Friday for those holiday bargains, a years worth of free fast food or for a case of water and a bag of ice after a hurricane, Americans have proven—as if been trained--to stand in line for things they want—and that’s a good thing.

With the economy continuing to show little signs of life, the lines for free stuff are about to get much longer—only these lines are going to be at welfare processing centers and depleted food banks.

Quite simply, while the collective “we”—Americans—have allowed ourselves to be distracted by the World Cup, Li-lo, and Lebron--the government has failed—among other things--to extend unemployment benefits before they went on vacation—thus leaving those families who have been so dependent on the subsidy in a lurch.

But hey, not to worry—Lebron’s coming to South Beach and that’s gonna make a real difference in a whole lotta people’s lives! I can tell. I saw the fans joyously jumping about as they screamed in excitement—about a person they will never meet and whose successes will never impact them personally.

I know, it’s not all their fault—the T.V. was the babysitter for the latch-key generation of kids during the 70’s and 80’s—and the television, before the internet and social networking robbed us--lulled many Americans into a false sense of what’s important.

Those children—who we plopped in front of the boob-tube in their urine soaked diapers as soon as they could almost sit up—were fed a steady diet of commercial-based mindless programming that exposed them to all of the gotta-have-items-of-the-day that they begged mommy and daddy into submission for each night.

Some grew-up and evolved watching shows like Jerry Springer, Maury and Entertainment Tonight; while others became double-chinned, statistical experts, albeit not by advanced education--but by the teachings of ESPN.

These lords of the sports bar—mouth-breathing masters of the buffalo wing-n-beer pitcher special--can spout the most worthless stats about their sports heroes in a drunken stupor 24/7--yet most can’t run down a basketball court—much less hit the hoop—thanks to their years of dedicated “television inspired conditioning.”

It’s that conditioning that has clouded a generation of Americans ability to understand the decline of our nation’s standing in the free world and their future ability to watch Lebron or any of their favorite players play.

You see, if you’re unemployed or underemployed--you can’t pay for game tickets, cable, or food, or rent—but it’s OK cuz Lebron’s comin’ to Miami and Li-lo’s goin’ to jail—while Rome is burning.

B.O. ~ He said, “Yes we can…”

Like most Americans who proudly watched our nation’s man of hope and change deliver his election winning speech in Chicago back in November 2008—I’m disappointed.

We all remember the tear streaked faces of his most ardent supporters who braved the chilly November night in Grant Park.

They stood shoulder to shoulder to hear a newly elected Mr. Obama give the first of his now famous 10th-grade level speeches—a speech that he punctuated with his trademarked line, “Yes, we can.”

A “line” the crowd repeated like hypnotized drones for the entire seventeen minute speech.

While Americans have reluctantly had to accept the excuses for his failures over the last eighteen months--the BP blowout has been Mr. Obama’s first real world test at leading this nation out of a disaster occurring on his watch.

This catastrophe and lack of response has proven there’s no leadership at the top, no leadership in the middle and no substance in the agency staffing at the bottom of the Obama administration.

The administration’s critical failure has been “since day one” when it was discovered that a mandated piece of equipment—an oil fire boom—was not owned by the government agency responsible for a quick response.

When the leadership of the responsible agencies finally surfaced eight days after the deaths of eleven men—they made the rounds on the Sunday morning news shows in a media mop up of their mess by reassuring the nation they’d been on top of the event “since day one.”

You’ll notice that since that weekend of them eating their feet on television--which was followed by a couple of brief appearances on the Gulf Coast—the DHS, DOI and EPA heads have been relatively unseen—swept into the closet to allow the President to appear and “take control.”

That control, or lack of it, was readily apparent in the speech delivered from the Oval Office last Tuesday night.

In using the Oval Office, a setting reserved to deliver only the most important of messages to the American people—Obama chose to redeliver his politically motivated eco-agenda and eliminated any leadership or solutions in his message to those in peril along the Gulf Coast.

His words were as empty as his suit.

In the weeks prior to the BP blowout, Mr. Obama admitted to our nation that the responsible agencies under his leadership, were incapable of responding to a terrorist driven nuclear attack of any size—and the BP oil spill reaffirmed our national level of preparedness to be weak at best.

What Obama’s proven good at is convening divisive committees who argue party lines, filing lawsuits, and layering bureaucracy so thick that nothing—I repeat NOTHING--can be done without pain to save our Gulf Coast.

In my opinion—it’s by design—to allow him to push his Obama “green economy” and his unaffordable cap-and-trade bill—-in other words, his agenda.

What better way to win the hearts and minds of the Grant Park “Yes-we-can” Club, than with pictures of oily beaches, oily dead birds and the oil-broken lives of ruined people?

The real leadership in the Gulf has proven to be the locals—just watch Governor Bobby Jindal or Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nunguesser during their interviews—they have a plan, they want to act and instead of helping lead—the President and his henchmen and women are in the way, purposely.

I wonder if those same tear streaked faces of the Grant Park group are watching the heartbreak along the Gulf Coast from their air conditioned living rooms—where are the Hollywood stars, the Jesse’s, the Al’s, the Oprah’s—they’ve been incredibly silent since April 20th.

Perhaps the multitudes who stood there in Grant Park and were so moved to mimic the chant, have realized what many of us knew before they voted for him—when it comes to leading us and our nation, through this or any other major disaster—“No, he can’t.”

The Fisherman's Wife...a voice from the bayou

Monday, May 25th I took the opportunity to reach out to one of the many people already affected by BP PLC’s oil spill who has made comments on my blog via Facebook.

Our emails became a couple of candid phone calls that have given me insight and a “voice” from within this disaster.

Respecting my new found friend’s fears of corporate retribution--against her husband, the Captain of a 65’ fishing boat currently at sea under contract with BP—I’ve chosen to identify her only as--the fisherman’s wife.

The fisherman’s wife is a native of the bayou with that certain most unmistaken drawl of Louisiana. She’s also a mother who like most American moms is involved with her kids in Little League and school--and like many of my friends whose lives depend on the sea—she’s sturdy and steadfast.

“I just wanna share for a minute, as some of you know I'm taking this crisis with BP and spreading the word to everyone I can. We are all frustrated, saddened, and growing impatient."—the fisherman’s wife

“Frustrated, saddened and growing impatient.” Her words reflect that of everyone on the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida—and with any hopes, in Washington, D.C.

The fisherman’s wife explained to me that after BP’s attempt to get the fishermen to sign “Indemnity and Hold Harmless Waivers” was “thrown out by a Federal judge”, her family’s boat along with those of many others was contracted by the $92 million dollar-a-day earning BP to go deploy oil booms at wages that equal “good money in the off season” to the fishermen.

Unfortunately, May/June in the Gulf of Mexico is not the “off season”.

BP’s DHR Vessels of Opportunity website states “crews on vessels scheduled for day-work will receive eight hours of pay and crews on vessels scheduled to perform nighttime operations will be paid for 12 hours of work. If vessels are scheduled and are not used, the day rate will still be paid.” The website doesn’t give exact figures, but says the daily rates are based on the vessel’s length.

“This is a disaster that is going to do what no hurricane has ever done. The oil spill damage we face is one thing, the lack of interest and nonsupport is another. If I've learned nothing else in the years I've lived here it's that the people of our community are resilient, determined, hardworking, heartfelt people.”—the fisherman’s wife

The shrimpers, crabbers and fishermen of the Parrish all answered the call, as have many others along the Gulf Coast. Only a few of the many were hired.

Two weeks ago, the men gathered the required personal protective gear, fueled and provisioned their boats—with money out of their own pockets—before gathering in a circle on the docks to say a prayer.

They then set off to do battle in the rough oily waters of the Gulf of Mexico in a Hail Mary attempt at saving their fishing grounds, their livelihoods and their neighborhoods.

Those who stayed behind to “hold down the fort” were given BP’s Claims Hotline phone number, BP’s online claims website, and individual claims account numbers to prove they’ve filed.

“It’s like going to the IRS. They don’t make nothing easy. The want proof of everything. How big is your boat? How long have you been fishing? What do you fish for? How much have you earned in the past? What did you expect to earn this year? They make you feel as if you’ve done something wrong for making a claim.”—the fisherman’s wife

Instead of seeing checks, the people of Louisiana have seen organized chaos. One quote from the fisherman’s wife’s Facebook page says that one Captain is “catching hell” in the confusion of working with BP off Grand Isle.

“That will not change! We have a saying called "Cajun ingenuity" and it's time we show it. We need to take charge, complaining is not getting results, we need to step up and do this.”

“We need to show up in our shrimp boots and gloves and start placing boom, we need to walk into our officials offices and TELL, not ask them what we want, we need to demand in person what BP needs to do here, and out there for our fishermen. My heart goes out to each of you and I know we are all praying.”--the fisherman’s wife

The fishermen that live, and work in the Gulf know those waters better than any corporate “suit” yet they’re being restricted on where they can work, what they can do, and how they can do it--and they’ve been silenced from sharing their experiences--being told “not to be within a mile of the media”.

Many in the Parrish have not seen their loved ones since they left. Ship to shore communications with family members have been sparse sparing the occasional cell phone call “when they can get service on the boats”, VHF radio messages relayed via neighbors and for some, satellite phones that are costly to operate.

There’s no way to bring the boats back to port because the hulls are contaminated with oil. BP promised “car wash type deal” that was to be used to decontaminate the vessels at sea, but that has not materialized either, and there’s no telling of what the long term effects of the oil will do to the boat hulls.

“For now we’ve been depending on each other and Kim and David at Mariah Jade Shrimp Company, they’ve made things happen. Kim’s been organizing what BP doesn’t seem to be able to do and David has been helping get groceries, fuel and transportation for the guys that need to come to shore. Her boats and her sons are out there working the oil too. They’ve organized, delivered and continue everyday to get things done.”

"We are voicing our concerns that seem to be in vain. Some of us our concerned about what the oil spill will to to our fishing economy, others our communities,or ecosystem and wildlife. Regardless of whatever our fears and anger is for,we will all be affected."—the fisherman’s wife

“We will all be affected.” Truer words have never been spoken and they’re not in vain, they're those of--the fisherman's wife.

BP’s “Transparency” is simply Bullshitting People

Much of this article was assembled from multiple web sources and links (cut-n-paste them) to corresponding stories in an attempt to put some of the puzzle pieces together and allow us all to quickly see the truth in BP’s handling of the BP Deepwater Horizons oil gusher and the “initiatives” of the Obama administration.

They’re simply not listening. Many believe there’s a lot more being covered up by both parties as they continue their respective agendas--and unfortunately their agendas do not include, “We the people…”

At the end of this article I’ve included BP’s contact information on multiple fronts so those readers so inclined may legally express their “transparency”.

From (www.bp.com), “BP today reiterated its pledge to be open and transparent in its response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.” “We are committed to providing the American people with the information they need to understand the environmental impact from the spill and the response steps that have been taken," said BP's chief executive Tony Hayward.

This is the same guy who a week or so ago said the environmental aspects from this spill would be “very, very moderate”!

Yes, Tony—the loss of eleven lives, the physical scarring of those burned in the blaze as they jumped for their lives; along with the psychological scarring of all those on the platform when it exploded in multiple blasts—is all reduced to “moderate” in your corporate mind. It’s “all about the company and shareholders” in your world.

Has BP or the U.S. administration stopped to think that some of BP’s shareholders are some of the people who elected our current President?

When one takes the time to assemble BP’s shoddy PR, versus what’s actually being done to stop the flow and clean-up the goo, the insensitive nature of Mr. Hayward, BP PLC, the Obama Administration and the corporate world is…transparent.

Excerpts from…..
Deepwater Horizon Response http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/
“The Unified Area Command for the Deepwater Horizon/BP Response announces it will not use hair boom in its response efforts. Individuals and organizations are asked to discontinue the collection of hair for the hair boom.” “Our priority when cleaning up an oil spill is to find the most efficient and expedient way to remove the oil from the affected area while causing no additional damage.

Yet BP refuses EPA order to switch to less-toxic oil dispersant http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-20100523,0,907236.story

As President Obama, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Homeland Security and countless others voice their “we doing everything in our power”, it seems that Washington is impotent.

OBAMA POLITELY ASKS FOR COOPERATION WHILE BP RULES SPILL ZONE WITH IRON FIST
http://trueslant.com/allisonkilkenny/2010/05/22/obama-politely-asks-for-cooperation-while-bp-rules-spill-zone-with-iron-fist/

The writer of that article sees the transparency saying, “Judging by the government’s handling of the spill zone, I’d be hard pressed to tell you who is in charge of the country right now. BP has stifled the freedom of the press, given the finger to the EPA, and will not be forced to testify in Obama’s shiny, new commission…”

The article goes on to quote multiple people from the media who have been “run-off” from covering this story both on land and sea stating, “BP has quartered off the Louisiana coast like an army in a war zone, and has shaken off any attempt by the government to control their response to the environmental disaster.”

In trying to find out “who is in charge of the country right now”, I found Sylvia V. Baca, a senior public and private sector manager in energy and environmental policy and programs, who was named Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on June 18, 2009. An appointment did not require Senate confirmation.

Her resume is “all BP”.

“Baca had been general manager for Social Investment Programs and Strategic Partnerships at BP America Inc. in Houston, and had held several senior management positions with the company since 2001. She was also Director of Global Health, Safety, Environment & Emergency Response for BP Shipping Ltd. in London.”

From her DOI web page: “As vice president for Health, Safety and Environment, BP North America in Los Angeles, Baca served as policy advisor on environmental initiatives, such as climate change, biodiversity, sustainable development, land restoration and air and water programs focusing on environmental initiatives, overseeing cooperative projects with private and public organizations, developing health, safety, and emergency response programs and working on climate change…”

To read more on Ms. Baca go to her DOI webpage http://www.doi.gov/archive/bio/baca_bio.html.

This promise of transparency is the same promise made by President Obama during his campaign and reiterated in multiple speeches since his moving into the White House.

For many of us, Obama’s buzz words were understood, yet for the majority of Americans—who supposedly voted for him--the transparency is becoming apparent—he’s running his agenda while not listening to or saying anything to, the press or the American people—be it healthcare, immigration, the environment or his attitude.

It’s time for the American public to also be as transparent as possible and express themselves as we legally have the rights to do so. While I’m not suggesting looking to the streets of Greece or Thailand for suggestion, I am saying it’s time for US, the citizens of the U.S. to express our displeasure with BP and their mishandling of securing their ever so valuable well.

Perhaps informational pickets from public access around BP stores and facilities reminding BP customers and shareholders about those who died and/or were on the platform are in order.

Perhaps it’s time for BP representatives to be met by local fishermen on the docks as they traverse from the oil inundated areas and the blast site.

Or perhaps it’s just time to voice our opinions to BP until they admit we’ve been heard.

Here are some of the ways I’ve been able to express my transparency with BP. I do hope their phones ring true with our concerns and their voicemails and email inboxes be chock-full of our feelings of disgust in their handling of their mess.

Twitter: Oil_Spill_2010 follow @Oil_Spill_2010

Facebook:
Deepwater Horizon Response
http://www.facebook.com/DeepwaterHorizonResponse?ref=ts

BP America Press Office:
+1 281 366 0265

BP Press Office London:
+44 20 7496 4076
BP Investor Relations: +1-281-366-4937

Claims: +1 800 440 0858
www.bp.com/claims

Media and government inquiries:
+1 985 902 5231 or +1 985 902 5240

People interested in “volunteering” can call 866-448-5816

Call early and email often, but remember we live in a different age now so word your thoughts carefully to avoid looking insensitive, as BP’s Tony Hayward and the corporation has shown themselves to be.

“The truth may not always be heard in the spoken word…

…yet it’s always seen in people’s actions.” Those are my words, the very words I use in signing my book, BETRAYAL: Clinton, Castro & the Cuban Five (ISBN-13: 978-1440118012), a book that exposes the murder and cover-up of four U.S. residents, shot down over international waters by Cuban MiGs in 1996.

My words are also applicable to BP PLC and their handling of their “underwater oil volcano” as it’s described by Florida Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL).

In fact, Senator Nelson fears that BP PLC will not handle their responsibilities properly and try to limit their losses to a decades old $75 million dollar liability limit.

Nelson also he indicated residents in the potentially affected states should not rely on the statements made by “Big Oil” and to prepare for a legal battle.

I concur with Senator Nelson, considering developments of the past few days.

BP filed the exploration plan and environmental impact analysis I mentioned in a previous article with the federal government in February 2009, saying BP it had the capability to handle a "worst-case scenario" at the Deepwater Horizon site…with capabilities of handling a leak of 162,000 barrels per day from an uncontrolled blowout – BP’s calculations have proven to be untrue.

BP PLC has also said they will pay for the clean-up as well as damages and commercial loss due to the oil leak, but their actions Monday, May 3rd, signaled a much different approach.

FOX News reporter Jonathan Hunt reported that statements made by BP executives went so far as to try to deny that this is their accident.

BP execs claimed that while they were leasing and operating (and standing to profit from) the Deep Horizons oil rig; the rig was owned by a company called Trans Ocean; and that other equipment, including the failed blow-out preventor, was made by a different company, Cameron International.

It appears to me that BP PLC tried the old “not our fault” defense paired up with a “can’t see it from my house” attempt at disbursing the sub-surface Gulf oil by using highly toxic chemicals. Chemicals that are killing marine life while keeping the oil from reaching the Gulf shoreline in sticky, gooey globs.

Furthering their cause on Monday, BP PLC asked Gulf fishermen--who the company was employing to deploy oil booms--to sign legal waivers of indemnity.

The waiver said in part, “I hereby agree on behalf of myself, and my representatives, to hold harmless and indemnify and to release, waive and forever discharge the BP Exploration and Production Inc...from all claims and damages.” (Source J. Hunt, FOX News)

After fishermen complained BP PLC rolled out one of their spokeswomen, Ayana McIntosh-Lee; a very well educated, well spoken, cardboard cutout--specifically trained to calm rough corporate waters--who said, “We heard the concern, and we acted on it,” meaning BP PLC withdrew the requirement of indemnification from the fishermen.

McIntosh also said, “That if people have a legitimate claim and they file that, it will be honored.” BP PLC has said those claims have to be, “legitimate and objectively verifiable”, confusing words for those who work the docks and fishing fleets, as well as to those in Washington, D.C.
Corporate responsibility

BP’s primary corporate responsibility—according to what I learned many years ago in college—is to turn a profit for their shareholders. Shareholders in a stock corporation hold the keys to voting for the Board of Directors who stand to make big bonuses based on their performance.
Nothing in this business formula says the corporation has a responsibility to the safety and well-being of the general public.

Based on BP’s six-billion dollar first quarterly earnings for 2010—yes $5.6 billion with a “B” in the current economy—I see no need for BP PLC to even think about asking hard working Americans and businesses to bail them out of their sticky mess—and this includes preying on people’s sympathies by begging for volunteers.

Especially after trying to force indemnity waivers upon fishermen whom they were going to sub-contract and pay--and many whom admittedly have little or no formal education in dealing with corporate America and their privileged legal teams.

BP PLC needs to educate folks who are considering volunteering to help with mopping up their mess or oil stricken marine life and wildlife. The general public needs to be aware of the risks involved; and those who wish to help should be provided a 40-hour HAZWOPR training and certification course, appropriate HAZMAT apparel, full foot and hand protection, and respirators if the situation dictates.

Also, if people wish to be protected “down-the-road” from injuries, illnesses or even deaths caused by their slogging in BP’s oil--they need to have a formal relationship, not waivers signed—so from my perspective, it’d be best to be “employed” or sub-contracted in some fashion with BP PLC.

Anybody remember September 18, 2001?

That’s the day the Christine Todd Whitman; Administrator to the Environmental Protection Agency first released a report, in which she said, "Given the scope of the tragedy from last week, I am glad to reassure the people of New York and Washington, D.C. that their air is safe to breathe and their water is safe to drink." She also said, "The concentrations are such that they don't pose a health hazard...We're going to make sure everybody is safe."

Later, a 2003 report by the EPA's inspector general determined that such assurances were misleading, because the EPA "did not have sufficient data and analyses" to justify the assertions when they were made—and many of our 9/11 First Responders are sick, and many others have already died—based on the spoken word of the EPA.

BP’s statements and actions have not added up, and at this point I, as does Senator Nelson, question BP and “Big Oil”—so far there’s little “truth” in their “actions”.

Let us pray, that BP's coffer dam, “the big box" works!

Matt Lawrence is owner of Paratus International LLC, a company dedicated to preparedness training and planning in the private and public sector. He’s also author of “What To Do til the Cavalry Comes: A Family Guide to Preparedness in 21st Century America”. He can be reached via his website at www.mattlawrencebooks.com