Three US transnational companies are sucking the life out of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico due to negligence in operating the Deepwater Horizon Platform which caused a catastrophe that is threatening several states in the region.
There are three to blame for the explosion that has provoked the oil spill in the Gulf: BP (former British Petroleum) owner of the oil deposit; Transocean, a firm that has the rights over the deep water platform where the accident took place; and Halliburton, which has a sub-contract to operate the complex installation.
AFP reported that the one mile long pipeline is extracting a fifth of the oil that emanates, but the report does not mention the damages inflicted by the other four-fifths of the oil on the Gulf of Mexico´s flora and fauna whose extension is still unknown.
The three firms, summoned by the US Congress, evaded their individual responsibilities blaming each other for the disaster. However, everyone believes that drastic measures will not be taken against any, despite recognizing the violation of a number of federal regulations for the operation in the Gulf region.
We will have to wait for law suits from those affected on the coast, fishermen and environmental institutions.
These are three powerful capitalist entities, with hundreds of ties with politicians in Capitol Hill that are regular receptors of large monetary donations from these oil firms.
What is incredible is that BP´s chief of operations, Doug Sutiles, told the press that he is satisfied with being able to remove a fifth of the death affecting that part of the Gulf of Mexico whose currents are moving towards Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Experts coincide that the catastrophe is worse than the one suffered in Alaska by Banker Exxon Valdez, and whose company only received a fine of 500 million dollars despite the enormous destruction inflicted on the environment and serious violations that were committed.
If that accident was less damaging, what will happen with this one?
Thousands of the region´s animal and vegetable species died intoxicated and problems related with the spill: kilometers of beaches were covered by oil slicks and serious damages to the fishing industry were incalculable.
The expansion of the oil reached 120 kilometers of coasts and affected fish, wild animal refuge and national parks in one of the regions in the United States with most natural resources.
The oil spill was so serious that the fishing industry´s food chain was in danger. How will it be now with this major catastrophe?
Will the United States continue to ignore those that inflict natural disasters of such magnitude?
From Prensa Latina
Photo: US Coast Guard
