Website http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/crisis-comm/The-Oil-Commission-Report-100810.html
This blog focuses on how even though years of careful planning and methods of oil spill prevention have taken place that the Gulf Oil Spill occurred and how it was not handled properly by the federal government by the standards that they themselves created. It goes into how after the Exxon Valdez accident happened, the EPA created plans in 1990 and 1994 for response teams that were to be trained to combat events such as oil spills and other environmental disasters. According to this blog, the teams that were supposed to assist in the Deepwater Horizon spill were hardly used due to errors on both state and federal levels.
I think that the Oil Spill has revealed many things that are wrong within our system of government. The lack of organization and prevention that should have been set in place before hand is disappointing. I think that we need to look at both changing environmental protection and establishing better methods of communication between state and federal officials for when disasters like this one occur.
If the federal government had these plans in place before the Gulf Oil Spill occurred then what happened that they did not use them properly? How do you think the government has handled the situation? What should they have done differently? Was it right to use the resources of BP rather than our own governments?
The article states in a quotation that "At the beginning of the spill, BP and the government would hold joint press conferences"
ReplyDeleteWhy do you suppose they wanted to hold joint press conferences? How would this benefit the government or the BP?
I think that they were trying to benefit each other with the credibility of the government coming along side to let the public know that they were trying to help them with this disaster.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think the mainstream media hasn't published this information to the public?
ReplyDeletein the article they describe one aspect of the contingency plan as 'the use of Regional Response Teams who have a clearly defined role in spills of this magnitude.' but is it honestly believable that anyone could have been prepared for a spill this massive?
ReplyDeleteIn my personal opinion i feel that the government took on the what they had to. IT was BP fault for letting something like this happen so it should be there responsibility to clean it up. However, they porbably don't have all the resources they need to accomplish this so thats when the government shouldstep in and help them out.
ReplyDeleteI think, in agreement with maxx, it'll be good for the government to help. While BP is at least partially responsible, its unlikely they'll be able to clean everything up. If the gov't helps, they'll look better in the eyes of the public and the crisis will be fixed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Max also, I think the government needs to play a role in this. BP can't do it all themselves. With Amy's question, I think that a joint press conference would benefit in some ways because it will show the government is willing to help and they can work along side with BP to better the situation.
ReplyDeleteI loved how the writer wrote the people in power "put political agendas above national interest". I feel like this happens all of the time in every election. Sadly, there is nothing we can do about it. And, I agree with patrick. It seems as if most effort and capital is put into prevention of a spill, rather than having the resources available to clean up a disaster. So it becomes, whether its right or not, the government's job to protect all of us by helping to clean up the spill
ReplyDeleteAgreed with max as well. This is something that is effecting the people in our country and the government should be there for those people. I think that BP needs to do the vast majority of the clean up but they can't do it by themselves. Instead of saying BP is lazy when it comes to cleaning up they should just say that the government is lazy too.
ReplyDeleteBP did make this mess but the government must help them out for allowing bp to experiment with the oil extractions. i think the government has done a pretty good job with the situation but when it comes to our environment believe more can always be done.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Elyse's original argument. I think there are some things that are terribly wrong with our government. I believe and hope that our government will make some drastic changes, especially related to the protection of our government.
ReplyDeleteThe EPA is definitely going to have to step its game up and hopefully, collaboratively with BP, will make a swift clean-up of the Gulf
i agree with stuart. the EPA does need to step it up if anything is going to get done in the Gulf.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maxx.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's a really good point Amanda.
And Stuart, you are right, nothing will be done if the EPA can't step its game up.
I agree with Dan when he was talking about how the author included "put political agendas above national interest". I also feel that this happens in almost every election but like he said there really isnt much we can do about it
ReplyDeleteWow, that's really ridiculous. I don't understand how the Government can have these resources ready and planned out, but then not use them.
ReplyDelete