Transparency

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COLUMN: Creeping oil, dishonesty on the BP ship of fools

June 05, 2010 == 9:00 PM

Ron Tate

Brace yourself, Destin. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

As for me, to be wrong is at the top of my daily prayer list. But, we must be vigilant; consciously aware of the possibility, if not the inevitability of the addition of unwanted oil creeping into our way of life.

Already we know of the pervasive dishonesty exhibited by British Petroleum, via its CEO, Tony Hayward. On every count, abject opacity has replaced the obligatory transparency so necessary to a fully honest understanding of the negligent behavior of BP.

While I am not usually one to take sides with media coverage, liberal or otherwise, I must say that CNN is doing a remarkable job of, as Anderson Cooper says, “…keeping them honest.”

The coverage is dogged, and necessary if we are ever to know the real facts embedded in the worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history. Network anchors have been known to express some frustration during the course of probing interviews. In this instance, their frustration appears to be making a valid transition in the direction of out-and-out anger.

BP executives have apparently placed CNN on the off-limits list.

Anderson continues to openly invite Tony Hayward to the table (in the marshes). And Hayward continues to avoid the invitation. He doesn’t want to hear any questions about whether or not protective masks are needed by the cleanup crews. He says they are not.

Fact is, for Hayward to agree with toxicity reports relating to breathing the fumes of nasty surface sludge, would for him be an open admission that toxicity levels are in fact dangerous and could have long-term health consequences. Cleanup crews are even reluctant to talk to media for fear of losing their jobs.

At some point, BP officials must come clean with the public, either by federal intervention, or through the federal indictment process. The latter is certainly up for consideration.

Let us digress for a moment to a sidebar relating perhaps to Hayward’s disdain for any discussion of safety issues or, for that matter, cleanup issues, followed by a brief chronological reminder of what has happened thus far, and what might be expected.

Enough said about the reluctance of Tony Hayward to discuss the current dilemma facing the country; not just the Gulf Coast, but the entire country. The man ranks high among the kings of cover up — a captain on BP’s ship of fools.

Looking back on television coverage of the devastated marshes in southernmost Louisiana’s Plaquemines Parish continues to be so sad, so disturbing… for here is literally the birthplace of birds indigenous to the area and numerous other species of wildlife. Known as one of America’s premier spawning sites for a wide variety of fish, oysters, shrimp, to mention a few, the first bastion of marshland is now virtually dead.

One has only to tour the site to fully understand the consequences of a catastrophic oil spill. Most noticeable is the deafening silence. It is not unlike a first approach to the Grand Canyon. The silence can be heard a mile away. Missing is the chirping of crickets, the hissing of marsh creatures, the presence of singing birds, the flapping of wings, the splash landings of the pelicans.

It is all gone. Gone. Hopefully, to one day return… but probably not for many years.

Next of note came Dauphin Island, just west of downtown Mobile. Creeping oil; where oil has no business being.

Next of note came Pensacola Beach. By this weekend, creeping oil; where oil has no business being.

And God forbid the next of note. Beautiful Destin, Florida. Known far and wide for our gorgeous beaches, desirable lifestyle and friendly atmosphere, we are nevertheless a fragile community; not given to thoughts of a threatened ecosystem. And yet, we could soon face the very negative that could change our lives and the way we live them. On a more positive note, maybe not.

By the grace of God, maybe we’ll live up to our billboard on the west end of Destin Bridge, “Welcome To The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.”

Ron Tate is a former Special Assignments Reporter for The Memphis Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at 850-687-0811