Rigging Up Controversies

By Pandora Poikilos

As with any catastrophe, the BP oil spill issue is rigging up more than just oily sea waters. Criticisms of all sorts are flowing in from various channels concerning the lack of effort and enthusiasm for the matter from BP and the Obama administration. Some have even gone to the extent of demanding a boycott for BP.

The anger, concern and frustration are understandable as various people are coming to terms with different issues stemming from this tragedy. But why the boycott? Yes, it’s BP’s rig. But neither BP nor the Obama administration willingly allowed this to happen. An accident occurred. Then came its aftermath which unfortunately we are all coming to terms with from the oil slicked shores to all over the world.

Boycotts and pickets wont’s stop the oil from spilling or help those affected to move forward with their families equipped with the necessary support they actually need.

Could all of this have entirely been avoided? Maybe. But we’ll have plenty of time after the spill is cleared to analyse the fault lines and the many lessons that this catastrophe is here to teach us.

Is BP doing enough? They are doing what they can with what they have. We all wish problems that occur, automatically appear at our doorstep with a red ribbon parcel that’s marked “solutions”. With any problem, it just doesn’t work that way. No solution, especially for something this enormous happens overnight.

There is constant speculation that BP scientists are not giving accurate figures and that they are undermining the actual situation. But then again, no one person can provide completely accurate figures all in one go, when something compelled to other exponents such as sea, current and depth are involved.

Instead of analyzing the situation’s mistakes, criticizing those who have claimed responsibility, all energy should be diverted and focused on wildlife preservation, the fishermen whose income is hanging by threads, their families and the families who are mourning for their loved ones who lost their lives at the very beginning of this tragedy. There so many more pressing issues at hand than to go around voicing boycotts and splashing fake oil on BP signs.

While this may be far larger an environmental disaster than the Exxon Valdez spill or the present spill at Singapore, we should be focused on helping where we can, however we can. Accurate findings, judgement and everything else can come once the spill has been cleared and lives of those affected restored.

There are many difficult decisions to be made by BP and the Obama administration. Decisions that you and I, unless appropriately qualified and sitting in their shoes, would never come close to making. Anger and frustration might get you heard and noticed but it doesn’t always get you anywhere near what you need.