Do not buy BP gas.

Wish I could give you multiple thanks!

 

Anyone who uses gasoline or oil products is partially to blame for this.

 

What??? How could you say such a mean spirited thing?

Always trust the media, media personalities, reporters, politicians, government employees, lawyers, and actors. They know everything and would never say or print anything that would be misleading.

Keith

 

Just bought some last night. When it comes to paying $3.04 or $2.89 the pocket wins out. Besides, I know I'm in the minority but do you honestly think that they had this accident on purpose? Is anyone still boycotting Exxon for the spill in Alaska? I didn't think so.

 

I am with you regarding being upset about this environmental catastrophe. It really is a sad situation, to say the least.

Unfortunately, it is not BP who you hurt by boycotting BP stations. It is the "Mom & Pop" station/convenenience store owners who are contractually locked with BP who you hurt. There profit margins are very small as it is (not the oil companies) These store owners have nothing to do with this disaster in the gulf.

 

I'll be happy to boycott BP if you will boycott every oil company ever involved in gross environmental damage.

Start with Ixotl, Valdez, and Nigeria.

Btw, what *is* this bullshit about "not having a plan." Show me the fantastic plans of any other company currently deep drilling in the gulf.

 

That's just a little harsh.

Here's what I think needs to be done. You get the executive staff of BP and you install "Sewage Fountains" in their front lawns. Big fountains that actually spout raw sewage. They are placed in the front lawns of their homes. They should come with a big dial that says ON/OFF but of course when you turn it to off...nothing happens or it actually spews more sewage.

These fountains remain in place and active until the oil leak is stopped. Once the oil leak is stopped the fountains can be turned off. Removal and ultimate clean-up of these fountains will be tied directly to the clean-up efforts of the company. They don't get their front lawn back, until we get clean shore lines and an uncontaminated ocean. Also if any widlife is harmed, the family pet get's a sewage fountain bath....(but since I don't want to harm an innocent dog, it should be immediately bathed, after the family pet is allowed to lounge in the living room for about 1/2 hour.)

I think you can see that this is a fair and balanced approach? After all it's times like these when we all need to be calm and reasonable.

 

Yes, I suppose that I was a little bit harsh in wanting to boil all these guys in their own oil. You do indeed have a much more balanced approach.

Keith

P.S. But couldn't we boil just one of these guys in oil with a little garlic and lemon with a pinch of salt?

 

I'm sure of it. I've noticed the same exact situation here on the E Coast. Prices were at $2.80 heading toward $3.00 several weeks ago. Normally they would be peaking now through July 4th.

Instead they're going down below $2.50 a gallon. I'm positive that the oil companies are manipulating the prices so that there isn't a firestorm of protest across America.

I think that every employee of BP here from maintenance to top managers should be required to spend time in the Gulf on the beaches and in the marshes cleaning up their mess. If business goes to hell, oh well.

 

To make things fair for all the execs of the oil companies and those helping to assist them such as Palin, Beck and Limbaugh should receive a truckload of tarballs and sludge every week delivered in their driveways until the entire mess is cleaned up.

 

Are you kidding me? I've never spent a dime of my own money at an Exxon or ExxonMobil station ever since the Alaska disaster. That boycott is fully in effect for me. I know more than one person who is like me and will never forget.

BP/Amoco is now on the same list. Never a dime again. I'm all in favor of BP eating a massive multi-$Billion loss thus bankrupting the company and forcing the shareholders to lose $Billions in the process. The CEO is a deadman walking.

 

DeadPhish, why don't you also boycott [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixtoc_I_oil_spill"]Pemex[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeview_Gusher"]Union oil[/ame], for a start ? Then, use [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oil_spills"]this list[/ame] to include in the greatest offenders list.

 

"...entirely on drivers..." would be silly if that was said. It wasn't. Any person who chooses a lifestyle that involves driving a car is partially responsible for the damage done by private automobiles. No more, no less. I could live in the neighborhood near my work and take public transportation everywhere I go. So could you. I don't and you may not either. If you do, then your share of responsibility is less than mine. You could refuse to work anywhere that requires a car.
I'm not judging you. I drive car, after all. Just stating a fact.

 

your comment is beyond comprehension.

on the one hand, Exxon had a ship captain that made a mistake.

BP however, time and time again, made decision based on cost, that created additional risk. they killed 40+ workers because of a refinery that had a laundry list of safety violations. that was nearly 4 years ago. at last report, the same refinery has not corrected hardly any of the things they were cited for.

the paid a record 100+ million dollar fine, but that refinery still runs.

BP has been cited for 980 major operational and safety violations according to the ABC News report last week. during the same time period, the 2nd highest violator had EIGHT violations., Exxon was best with only one.

 

That logic only works if you see the world entirely as polarized opposites. It only makes sense if the only options are drill recklessly without doing environmental studies and multiple fail safes or live like Tarzan in the jungle. However, that's not how the world works.

People can make choices to bring reusable shopping bags to the grocery store and buy more fuel efficient cars to reduce the demand for fuel. That reduced demand will in turn lower the need for oil. Just because I use a car does not mean I also want oil companies to skip replacing dead batteries in their safety devices. Boycotting BP products as much as possible is the only way to directly convey that message in a capitalism based society. People who knowingly provide funding to companies spoiling the environment like BP or Exxon when other options are available definitely have more responsibility that people who do not. Even if the person buying BP gasoline is driving a prius and the person buying from companies that don't create giant oil spills are driving a hummer.

To say otherwise is like claiming someone who buys shoes from a company that uses child slave and someone else who does not are equally responsible for the child slavery. Both people want to cover their feet right?

 

Wow! This thread got long quickly...no surprise.

BP has the ultimate responsibility. Even if the other firms involved are to "share" the blame, BP hired them. US Government regulators were certainly lax.

The extent of this environmental disaster is SO much bigger than Exxon Valdez that comparisons are useless. The coastlines of LA, MS, AL, and FL will be scarred (possibly for decades). The spill could enter the Gulf stream and be carried around the Keys and up the east coast.

Solutions? I'm at a loss...

 

I hope that you're joking.

 

Bottom line is,

Unless we are carbon free as individuals, we all share the blame, to a greater or lesser extent. (This of course doesn't diminish BP's responsibility however). We must use this opportunity to make a fundamental in the way we use energy. Only by doing so, will be make the changes that are needed in the way we get and burn energy. A 70% reduction in our use of energy is not only possible, but it is in keeping with good economic policy as well. The fact that we waste so much energy by inefficient practices is insane. I just read a report on a energy retro fit on a typical (real) suburban home. By spending ~$10,000 on the house, the owner was able to reduce his total energy consumption by 71%, all while maintaining lifestyle. Simply moving towards MUCH greater efficiencies (that come quite cheaply!)reduces consumption to the point that drilling in the deep water, or ANWR becomes unneeded. Couple that with Solar, wind, tidal, EV technology etc, and the energy future and the CO2 future look much more promising.

I just returned from a (carbon intensive, I know) trip to the UK. With fuel prices ~$8 USD/Gallon the behavior is VERY different. Much smaller cars are the norm, public transport is available nearly everywhere on a regular, predictable basis. It is simply moronic (and selfish) that we would support BP (and big energy in general) for the sake of $.30/gallon! Wake up people,, As Pogo said,, "I have met the enemy, and he is us!"

 

As a brit I suppose I am biased, however I do think BP could have had an emergency plan in place. I really hope that this terrible disaster is solved quickly and some fantastic efforts are made to clean the mess up. I think BP's actions over the next few months will make or brake them. I suppose all oil companies need to get their act together and be more ready for major incidents. Most of them are driven by profit and it appears that not a lot of the profit is going back into preventative maintenance.