The Bailing-out of BP: Implications for the Upper Great Lakes

By
Elanne Palcich
– 06/07/2010

In his May 27 Press Conference, President Obama stated that BP Oil (British Petroleum) will be totally responsible for all clean up in the Gulf oil spill.

At the same time, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was told that the state would have to pay to construct sand breaks around barrier islands in an attempt to prevent oil contamination.    According to the Federal government, sand breaks might not prove effective and would be considered experimental.

In the meantime, members of Congress who feel obligated to oil interests are seeking legislation to exempt BP from costs.   Why not put another bail out on the taxpayers’ backs?

Recently Kevin Rudd, prime minister of Australia, decided enough was enough.  Australia is now placing a 40% commodity tax on minerals that are being mined in Australia by companies such as Rio Tinto and exported to China.  Australia has become a minerals outpost, feeding China’s appetite for metals in its attempts to industrialize.

So how long will it take Michigan and Minnesota to wake up?  Metallic sulfide mining cannot be done in a wetland environment without polluting the watershed for generations to come.  These metals will be mined by mining conglomerates such as Rio Tinto and shipped to China.

BP’s clean-up efforts, if the problem wasn’t so serious, could be part of a cartoon.  At one point, two robotic machines even bumped heads.   The best technology available is not able to stop the oil leak and the best minds available have not been able to come up with an answer.

What does this portend for the future if metallic sulfide mining is permitted based upon political expediency and company propaganda, rather than the actual record left behind at mine sites?

How can we, as ordinary citizens, produce the change we wish to see?  How can we create a more just society, make our livings based upon right livelihood, and preserve the sacredness and sustainability of our land?  At this season of memorializing, how do we make a stand?


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