Fisherman's wife speaks out
EXCERPT:
President Obama goes one-on-one with Larry King Thursday night to talk about the oil spill, economic turmoil and war. Don't miss the president on "Larry King Live," 9 p.m. ET tonight only on CNN.
Venice, Louisiana (CNN) -- Kindra Arnesen's husband often calls while he's out on a shrimping trip, so she wasn't surprised to hear her cell phone ring the night of April 29 while he was on an overnight fishing expedition.
However, this time, her husband, David, wasn't calling to tell her about the day's catch or to wish their children Aleena and David Jr. a good night. He was calling to tell her he was sick, and the strange thing about it, so were men on the seven other shrimping boats working near his.
"I received several calls from him saying, 'This one's hanging over the boat throwing up. This one says he's dizzy, and he's feeling faint. Everybody's loading up their stuff, tying up their rigs and going back to the docks,'" Arnesen remembers.
Cordovan Riki Ott Proposes 28th Amendment: Separation Of Corporation And State
EXCERPT:
Catherine and Daily Musings,November 18, 2008 at 10:11 am
This just in from the network (author unknown) about the marvelous Dr. Riki Ott…
Every so often an idea comes along that rings with such clarity and purpose that it ignites the imaginations of millions of people. That spark of excitement becomes hope, hope becomes action, action becomes community, and that community grows to become a movement. Marine biologist, author, fisherma’am, and Exxon Valdez survivor, Dr. Riki Ott has such an idea.
BP Oil Spill Insider at the Gulf Emergency Summit video inside
EXCERPT:
Ponies And Balloons
posted 25th June 2010 in Environment by The Green Man
Here’s a name you won’t hear from the corporate-sponsored news about the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico: Kindra Arnesan. Here’s a phrase you won’t hear from the corporate-sponsored news about the Gulf oil spill: Ponies and Balloons.
What do Kindra Arnesan and ponies and balloons have to to do with the oil spill? At a gathering organized by the Gulf Emergency Summit, Arnesan, the wife of a fisherman in the Gulf of Mexico, explained that “ponies and balloons” is a code phrase used by BP executives and others in the Deepwater Horizon Unified Command to refer to fake clean-up operations that take place to create a false impression of progress in the cleanup of the oil spill. Here’s how Arnesan explains it, seen in the video below:
“First we gotta understand this phrase: ‘Ponies and balloons.’ Well, the only place I’ve ever seen ponies and balloons is at the circus. Right? At any rate, about a week and half in, I learned what ‘ponies and balloons’ meant. ‘Ponies and balloons’ means that every time an official is headed anywhere near here, they get a heads up.. All assets are deployed into the hardest hit areas. The official comes in, flies over, ‘good job, fellas’, pats ‘em on the back. When that official disappears out of the hardest hit area, so does 75%-80% of the response.
It’s happening. It’s happening every day. I’m watching it. I’ve seen it. I don’t agree with it. Anyone in this room’s not gonna agree with it. Anyone in our great nation’s not gonna agree with it. We are expendable to these people.”
Arnesan claims that she’s seen these things happening firsthand, after gaining security clearance to observe what’s happening on the inside of the Unified Command. So, why can’t you read about Ponies And Balloons in the mainstream press?
Lessons from the Exxon Valdez spill Rikki Ott
EXCERPT:
–Riki Ott, PhD, has written two books on the Exxon Valdez oil spill impacts on people, communities, and wildlife, including the recently released Not One Drop: Betrayal and Courage in the Wake of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Any views expressed here are her own.–
I remember the words, “We’ve had the Big One,” with chilling clarity, spoken just over 21 years ago when a fellow fisherman arrived at my door in the early morning and announced that the Exxon Valdez had run aground in Alaska’s Prince William Sound and was gushing oil.
For the small fishing community of Cordova, Alaska, where I lived and worked as a commercial fisherma’am, it was our worst nightmare.
That nightmare is reoccurring now with BP’s deadly rig blowout off the Gulf Coast – with haunting parallels to the Exxon Valdez.
I was not at all surprised when officials reported zero spillage, then projected modest spillage, and then reported spill amounts five times higher than their earlier estimates.
Oil spill too much for William Allen Kruse skipper who committed suicide
EXCERPT:
(June 24) -- Two weeks after he was hired by BP to help with the oil spill cleanup, William Allen Kruse killed himself.
The 55-year-old charter boat captain shot himself in the head Wednesday morning as he prepared to spend another day skimming oil off the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, clearing the spill that threatened to destroy his livelihood and community.
Kruse left no note, so it's impossible to know why he took his life. But those who knew him say the veteran fisherman and father of four was almost certainly the latest casualty in the gulf oil crisis, and a symbol of the spill's exacting human toll.
Elizabeth Cohen
Elizabeth Cohen is senior medical correspondent for CNN's health and medical unit. During her 17-year tenure at CNN, Cohen has reported award-winning stories and developed the popular "Empowered Patient" column on CNN.com.
During her years at CNN, Cohen has reported from Ground Zero following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; from a military hospital during Hurricane Katrina; from Virginia Tech following the shooting massacre in April 2007; and from California during the wildfires later that year. She reports daily on breaking medical news and consumer tips on CNN and on CNN.com. Her book, What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You, is due for publication in 2010.
Cohen has received several awards for her work, including a National Headliner, a Gracie, a Sigma Delta Chi, a Cine and two "Freddie" awards from the International Health and Medical Media Film Competition. Her stories have also been honored by the Association of Health Care Journalists, the Newswoman's Club of New York, and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She’s been recognized by the Mental Health America, the Arthritis Foundation, the American Academy of Dermatology, and the International Nurses Society on Addictions.
Before joining CNN in 1991, Cohen was associate producer of Green Watch, an environmental show on WLVI-TV in Boston. Before working in television, she was a newspaper reporter for States News Service in Washington, D.C., and for the Times Union in Albany, N.Y., where she won a Hearst Award.
A winner of the outstanding alumna award from Columbia College, Cohen received a bachelor's degree in history. She earned a master's degree in public health from Boston University, which honored her with its Distinguished Alumni Award.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Obama Administration Knew About Deepwater Horizon 35000 Feet Well Bore
Iran deploys homemade radar in PG
Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:37:49 GMT
Font size :
An Iranian radar system
Iran has deployed a domestically-built radar system in the Persian Gulf capable of tracking and destroying enemy ships and fighter jets, says an Iranian army commander.
The Matla-ul-fajr radar system, which covers the entire Persian Gulf region, has replaced "Western-made radars," commander of Iran's southern air defense region General Qanbar-Ali Salahian was quoted by Fars News Agency as saying on Wednesday.
Salahian said Iran's air force is using a variety of defense equipment including long and medium-range radars and missile shield systems to protect the country's air space.
"We always remain fully prepared to counter any possible threats against the country," he added.
The general said the air defense system covers the Persian Gulf and its littoral states.
"The system can be used to track and destroy enemy ships as well as fighter jets," he concluded.
AKM/HGH
Obama Administration Knew About Deepwater Horizon 35,000 Feet Well Bore
Wayne Madsen – Oil Price.com June 22, 2010
President Obama and Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates were informed that BP would drill an unprecedented 35,000 feet well bore at the Macondo site off the coast of Louisiana. In September 2009, the Deepwater Horizon successfully sunk a well bore at a depth of 35,055 below sea level at the Tiber Prospect in the Keathley Canyon block 102 in the Gulf of Mexico, southeast of Houston.
Controlled burn off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf
During the September drilling operations, the Deepwater Horizon drill penetrated a massive undersea oil deposit but BP's priorities changed when the Macondo site in the Mississippi Canyon off the coast of Louisiana was found to contain some 3-4 billion barrels of oil in an underground cavern estimated to be about the size of Mount Everest. It was as a result of another 35,000 feet well bore sank by the Deepwater Horizon at the Macondo site that the catastrophic explosion occurred on April 20.
According to the Wayne Madsen Report (WMR) sources within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Pentagon and Interior and Energy Departments told the Obama Administration that the newly-discovered estimated 3-4 billion barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico would cover America's oil needs for up to eight months if there was a military attack on Iran that resulted in the bottling up of the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic, resulting in a cut-off of oil to the United States from the Persian Gulf.
Obama, Salazar, Chu, and Gates green-lighted the risky Macondo drilling operation from the outset, according to WMR's government sources.
WMR learned that BP was able to have several safety checks waved because of the high-level interest by the White House and Pentagon in tapping the Gulf of Mexico bonanza find in order to plan a military attack on Iran without having to be concerned about an oil and natural gas shortage from the Persian Gulf after an outbreak of hostilities with Iran.
BP still has an ongoing operation to drill down to 40,000 feet below sea level at the Liberty field off the north coast of Alaska.
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Obama-Administration-Knew-About-Deepwater-Horizon-35000-Feet-Well-Bore.html
Comment – June 23, 2010
The above report takes on added significance in the light of an email received Tuesday from a reliable psychic friend. According to our friend:
“The Iran issue right now is a diversionary tactic to take attention away from the gulf oil rupture. And the gulf oil rupture is a diversionary tactic to take away attention from the Iran issue. A double edged sword…
“The war may happen. Iran will be used to divert attention away from the gulf which is the real threat to us all. If they get the oil rupture under control you can expect war with Iran within two months of that “miracle”.
“Watch this space....”
BP Macondo oil revenue wildlife group new fund
EXCERPT:
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
BP PLC (BP, BP.LN) said Tuesday it would donate its net revenue gleaned from oil collected at its broken well in the Gulf of Mexico to a pre-existing wildlife foundation, changing tack from two weeks ago.
Earlier this month, BP said it would put money from the sales of oil it recovers at the Macondo well--the one spilling oil into the Gulf--to a wildlife fund of its own creation.
The company on Tuesday announced fresh plans, saying it would donate the money instead to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a nonprofit created by Congress in 1984 that works to preserve and restore native U.S. wildlife species and habitats.
Iran deploys homemade radar in PG
Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:37:49 GMT
Font size :
An Iranian radar system
Iran has deployed a domestically-built radar system in the Persian Gulf capable of tracking and destroying enemy ships and fighter jets, says an Iranian army commander.
The Matla-ul-fajr radar system, which covers the entire Persian Gulf region, has replaced "Western-made radars," commander of Iran's southern air defense region General Qanbar-Ali Salahian was quoted by Fars News Agency as saying on Wednesday.
Salahian said Iran's air force is using a variety of defense equipment including long and medium-range radars and missile shield systems to protect the country's air space.
"We always remain fully prepared to counter any possible threats against the country," he added.
The general said the air defense system covers the Persian Gulf and its littoral states.
"The system can be used to track and destroy enemy ships as well as fighter jets," he concluded.
AKM/HGH
Obama Administration Knew About Deepwater Horizon 35,000 Feet Well Bore
Wayne Madsen – Oil Price.com June 22, 2010
President Obama and Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates were informed that BP would drill an unprecedented 35,000 feet well bore at the Macondo site off the coast of Louisiana. In September 2009, the Deepwater Horizon successfully sunk a well bore at a depth of 35,055 below sea level at the Tiber Prospect in the Keathley Canyon block 102 in the Gulf of Mexico, southeast of Houston.
Controlled burn off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf
During the September drilling operations, the Deepwater Horizon drill penetrated a massive undersea oil deposit but BP's priorities changed when the Macondo site in the Mississippi Canyon off the coast of Louisiana was found to contain some 3-4 billion barrels of oil in an underground cavern estimated to be about the size of Mount Everest. It was as a result of another 35,000 feet well bore sank by the Deepwater Horizon at the Macondo site that the catastrophic explosion occurred on April 20.
According to the Wayne Madsen Report (WMR) sources within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Pentagon and Interior and Energy Departments told the Obama Administration that the newly-discovered estimated 3-4 billion barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico would cover America's oil needs for up to eight months if there was a military attack on Iran that resulted in the bottling up of the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic, resulting in a cut-off of oil to the United States from the Persian Gulf.
Obama, Salazar, Chu, and Gates green-lighted the risky Macondo drilling operation from the outset, according to WMR's government sources.
WMR learned that BP was able to have several safety checks waved because of the high-level interest by the White House and Pentagon in tapping the Gulf of Mexico bonanza find in order to plan a military attack on Iran without having to be concerned about an oil and natural gas shortage from the Persian Gulf after an outbreak of hostilities with Iran.
BP still has an ongoing operation to drill down to 40,000 feet below sea level at the Liberty field off the north coast of Alaska.
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Obama-Administration-Knew-About-Deepwater-Horizon-35000-Feet-Well-Bore.html
Comment – June 23, 2010
The above report takes on added significance in the light of an email received Tuesday from a reliable psychic friend. According to our friend:
“The Iran issue right now is a diversionary tactic to take attention away from the gulf oil rupture. And the gulf oil rupture is a diversionary tactic to take away attention from the Iran issue. A double edged sword…
“The war may happen. Iran will be used to divert attention away from the gulf which is the real threat to us all. If they get the oil rupture under control you can expect war with Iran within two months of that “miracle”.
“Watch this space....”
BP Macondo oil revenue wildlife group new fund
EXCERPT:
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
BP PLC (BP, BP.LN) said Tuesday it would donate its net revenue gleaned from oil collected at its broken well in the Gulf of Mexico to a pre-existing wildlife foundation, changing tack from two weeks ago.
Earlier this month, BP said it would put money from the sales of oil it recovers at the Macondo well--the one spilling oil into the Gulf--to a wildlife fund of its own creation.
The company on Tuesday announced fresh plans, saying it would donate the money instead to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a nonprofit created by Congress in 1984 that works to preserve and restore native U.S. wildlife species and habitats.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Clinton-Biden Ally makes BILLIONS on so-called "CleanUP:" Oil Spill Looks Intentional
EXCERPT:
Biden-Clinton Ally Makes BILLIONS On So-Called “CleanUp;” Oil Spill Looks Intentional
By: normanb Monday May 17, 2010 9:27 am Tweet Share
Biden-Clinton Ally Makes BILLIONS On So-Called "CleanUp;" Oil Spill Looks Intentional — by NormanB ("Deviations from the Norm")
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Bradley Bell announced his retirement hours ago from DuPont’s shadow company Nalco, maker of Corexit, which so-called "clean-up workers" are now intentionally spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. Corexit is much more toxic than Petroleum, and its use makes the Dispersant spill much more dangerous to Gulf-of-Mexico life and economy than the Oil spill itself. Bell apparently wants to take the money and run before the criminal acts involved are aired.
Nalco President & CEO J. Erik Frywald just came off a multi-city tour urging venture capitalists to invest in Nalco, because, he said, Oil spills are inevitable, and Nalco stands to make many billions of dollars when one happens, especially in the light Pres. Obama’s stated intent to dramatically increase un-inspected offshore Oil drilling.
Bradley Bell
EXCERPT:
57 Years Old
Bradley J. Bell has been the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since joining the Company in November 2003. From 1997 to 2003, Mr. Bell served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Rohm and Haas Company, a $6 billion global specialty chemicals manufacturer. There, Mr. Bell played an active role in the company's strategic portfolio review, including substantial acquisitions, divestitures, and development and implementation of post-transaction cost-elimination programs exceeding $500 million. Prior to that, Mr. Bell served as Vice President and Treasurer of both the Whirlpool Corporation, from 1987 to 1997, and the Bundy Corporation, from 1980 to 1987. Mr. Bell is a director and chairman of the audit committee of IDEX Corporation and a director and chairman of the audit committee of Compass Minerals International, Inc.
Al Gore and Camco
EXCERPT:
Ohio-based banks, on Friday said they agreed to cancel their planned merger, citing worsening market conditions.
Warren-based First Place had on May 7 announced its agreement to buy Cambridge-based Camco for $97.2 million in cash and stock. Shareholders of Camco were to receive $13.58 in cash or 0.97 of a First Place share for each of their shares.
The combined company would have had roughly $4.4 billion of assets and more than 67 retail banking offices. Neither bank will incur termination fees or any claims of liability resulting from the cancellation, the companies said.
Corexit Nalco Al Gore Soros
EXCERPT:
COREXIT, NALCO, ALGORE, SOROS, APOLLO, MAURICE STRONG, GOLDMAN SACHS...... GULF OIL SPILL... AND WHY IT'S NOT BEING STOPPED. FOLLOW THE MONEY!!!
Warren Buffett buys into Nalco
EXCERPT:
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett's company bought 8.7 million shares of Nalco Holding Co. last year.
The investment in the Naperville-based water treatment and processing equipment and services company was worth $100.8 million as of Dec. 31. The purchase was disclosed as part of documents that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Media ignores Goldman Sachs ties to Corexit dispersant
EXCERPT:
But BP’s investment in Nalco is the token diversion. The real players are Goldman Sachs and their fellow Sexually Inadequate Masters of the Universe, the Blackstone Group and Apollo Management.
BP oil spill corexit dispersants suspected in widespread crop damage video inside
EXCERPT:
Just when you thought the damages BP could cause was limited to beaches, marshes, oceans, people’s livelihoods, birds and marine life, there’s more.
BP’s favorite dispersant Corexit 9500 is being sprayed at the oil gusher on the ocean floor. Corexit is also being air sprayed across hundreds of miles of oil slicks all across the gulf. There have been widespread reports of oil cleanup crews reporting various injuries including respiratory distress, dizziness and headaches.
Corexit 9500 is a solvent originally developed by Exxon and now manufactured by the Nalco of Naperville, Illinois. Corexit is is four times more toxic than oil (oil is toxic at 11 ppm (parts per million), Corexit 9500 at only 2.61ppm).
Media ignores Corexit-Goldman Sachs ties
EXCERPT:
Media Ignores Goldman Sachs' Ties to Toxic Corexit Oil Dispersant
Thursday, 20 May 2010
'In a recent New York Times’ article “Less Toxic Dispersants Lose Out in BP Oil Spill Cleanup”, journalist Paula Quinlan questions why BP is using the toxic dispersant Corexit to clean up the oil when twelve other dispersants proved more effective in EPA testing.
Nowhere in the article does it mention that Goldman Sachs, the Blackstone Group and Apollo Management own Nalco, the producer of the 54 % effective, 100% toxic dispersant.'
BP-Corexit Japanese connection
The BP Corexit Japanese Connection – Why Toxic Solvents Were Used & Covered Up
We knew there was something fishy going on, but couldn’t figure out what it might be. Why did BP and the EPA keep on using Nalco’s Corexit, which is highly toxic to both humans and wildlife? Turns out that Rodney F. Chase, who sits on the board of Nalco, was also a BP board member. Likelihood that he still holds shares in both companies is very high. So it wasn’t JUST nepotism, it was a for-profit choice.
But it runs deeper than that. Corexit’s manufacturer, Nalco Holding Company is owned by the Blackstone Group (along with MANY other holdings, a huge investment conglomerate.) Blackstone has had Japanese investors for many years, but relatively recently doubled that investment; The Japanese now own 20% of Blackstone. What else does Blackstone own? Large hotel chains, Banquet foods, Seaworld, Six Flags… you name it! Most captive dolphins are in amusement parks like Seaworld, Six Flags, etc. Seaworld claims they have no connection to the dolphin slaughters in Japan (which were documented in the Oscar-award-winning movie “The Cove“). That’s simply not true.
With all of the deceptions, all of the many layers of big-money connections, there’s only one thing certain: If BP is saying something, WE MUST QUESTION the validity. If they tell a small truth, it’s to cover up the big picture, a bigger liability.
We’ll give you more about this as we have the time, but for now, know that BP and Corexit are financially intertwined, as are the Japanese, who actively hunt whales and dolphins for meat and to sell to amusement parks. Like their filthy oil, this stinks!
EXCERPT:
Biden-Clinton Ally Makes BILLIONS On So-Called “CleanUp;” Oil Spill Looks Intentional
By: normanb Monday May 17, 2010 9:27 am Tweet Share
Biden-Clinton Ally Makes BILLIONS On So-Called "CleanUp;" Oil Spill Looks Intentional — by NormanB ("Deviations from the Norm")
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Bradley Bell announced his retirement hours ago from DuPont’s shadow company Nalco, maker of Corexit, which so-called "clean-up workers" are now intentionally spilling into the Gulf of Mexico. Corexit is much more toxic than Petroleum, and its use makes the Dispersant spill much more dangerous to Gulf-of-Mexico life and economy than the Oil spill itself. Bell apparently wants to take the money and run before the criminal acts involved are aired.
Nalco President & CEO J. Erik Frywald just came off a multi-city tour urging venture capitalists to invest in Nalco, because, he said, Oil spills are inevitable, and Nalco stands to make many billions of dollars when one happens, especially in the light Pres. Obama’s stated intent to dramatically increase un-inspected offshore Oil drilling.
Bradley Bell
EXCERPT:
57 Years Old
Bradley J. Bell has been the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since joining the Company in November 2003. From 1997 to 2003, Mr. Bell served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Rohm and Haas Company, a $6 billion global specialty chemicals manufacturer. There, Mr. Bell played an active role in the company's strategic portfolio review, including substantial acquisitions, divestitures, and development and implementation of post-transaction cost-elimination programs exceeding $500 million. Prior to that, Mr. Bell served as Vice President and Treasurer of both the Whirlpool Corporation, from 1987 to 1997, and the Bundy Corporation, from 1980 to 1987. Mr. Bell is a director and chairman of the audit committee of IDEX Corporation and a director and chairman of the audit committee of Compass Minerals International, Inc.
Al Gore and Camco
EXCERPT:
Ohio-based banks, on Friday said they agreed to cancel their planned merger, citing worsening market conditions.
Warren-based First Place had on May 7 announced its agreement to buy Cambridge-based Camco for $97.2 million in cash and stock. Shareholders of Camco were to receive $13.58 in cash or 0.97 of a First Place share for each of their shares.
The combined company would have had roughly $4.4 billion of assets and more than 67 retail banking offices. Neither bank will incur termination fees or any claims of liability resulting from the cancellation, the companies said.
Corexit Nalco Al Gore Soros
EXCERPT:
COREXIT, NALCO, ALGORE, SOROS, APOLLO, MAURICE STRONG, GOLDMAN SACHS...... GULF OIL SPILL... AND WHY IT'S NOT BEING STOPPED. FOLLOW THE MONEY!!!
Warren Buffett buys into Nalco
EXCERPT:
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett's company bought 8.7 million shares of Nalco Holding Co. last year.
The investment in the Naperville-based water treatment and processing equipment and services company was worth $100.8 million as of Dec. 31. The purchase was disclosed as part of documents that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Media ignores Goldman Sachs ties to Corexit dispersant
EXCERPT:
But BP’s investment in Nalco is the token diversion. The real players are Goldman Sachs and their fellow Sexually Inadequate Masters of the Universe, the Blackstone Group and Apollo Management.
BP oil spill corexit dispersants suspected in widespread crop damage video inside
EXCERPT:
Just when you thought the damages BP could cause was limited to beaches, marshes, oceans, people’s livelihoods, birds and marine life, there’s more.
BP’s favorite dispersant Corexit 9500 is being sprayed at the oil gusher on the ocean floor. Corexit is also being air sprayed across hundreds of miles of oil slicks all across the gulf. There have been widespread reports of oil cleanup crews reporting various injuries including respiratory distress, dizziness and headaches.
Corexit 9500 is a solvent originally developed by Exxon and now manufactured by the Nalco of Naperville, Illinois. Corexit is is four times more toxic than oil (oil is toxic at 11 ppm (parts per million), Corexit 9500 at only 2.61ppm).
Media ignores Corexit-Goldman Sachs ties
EXCERPT:
Media Ignores Goldman Sachs' Ties to Toxic Corexit Oil Dispersant
Thursday, 20 May 2010
'In a recent New York Times’ article “Less Toxic Dispersants Lose Out in BP Oil Spill Cleanup”, journalist Paula Quinlan questions why BP is using the toxic dispersant Corexit to clean up the oil when twelve other dispersants proved more effective in EPA testing.
Nowhere in the article does it mention that Goldman Sachs, the Blackstone Group and Apollo Management own Nalco, the producer of the 54 % effective, 100% toxic dispersant.'
BP-Corexit Japanese connection
The BP Corexit Japanese Connection – Why Toxic Solvents Were Used & Covered Up
We knew there was something fishy going on, but couldn’t figure out what it might be. Why did BP and the EPA keep on using Nalco’s Corexit, which is highly toxic to both humans and wildlife? Turns out that Rodney F. Chase, who sits on the board of Nalco, was also a BP board member. Likelihood that he still holds shares in both companies is very high. So it wasn’t JUST nepotism, it was a for-profit choice.
But it runs deeper than that. Corexit’s manufacturer, Nalco Holding Company is owned by the Blackstone Group (along with MANY other holdings, a huge investment conglomerate.) Blackstone has had Japanese investors for many years, but relatively recently doubled that investment; The Japanese now own 20% of Blackstone. What else does Blackstone own? Large hotel chains, Banquet foods, Seaworld, Six Flags… you name it! Most captive dolphins are in amusement parks like Seaworld, Six Flags, etc. Seaworld claims they have no connection to the dolphin slaughters in Japan (which were documented in the Oscar-award-winning movie “The Cove“). That’s simply not true.
With all of the deceptions, all of the many layers of big-money connections, there’s only one thing certain: If BP is saying something, WE MUST QUESTION the validity. If they tell a small truth, it’s to cover up the big picture, a bigger liability.
We’ll give you more about this as we have the time, but for now, know that BP and Corexit are financially intertwined, as are the Japanese, who actively hunt whales and dolphins for meat and to sell to amusement parks. Like their filthy oil, this stinks!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Water Fuel research Explosion kills inventor
EXCERPT:
Explosion at California water fuel research company kills inventor
On Thursday afternoon, 28-year-old inventor, Tyson Larson was killed in an explosion that ripped a hole in the roof and blew out the back doors to a Simi Valley building of the family member's company, Realm Industries, which was seeking to develop his water fuel technology.
The explosion was likely a result of an attempt to compress hydroxy gas -- never a good idea. Also, it turns out that two associates of the company were indicted in March for "defrauding 300 investors of $7 million with ploys including a process for creating alternative fuel from water."
by Sterling D. Allan
Pure Energy Systems News
Copyright © 2010
NBC News aerial view
photo credit: http://www.vcstar.com
Simi Valley, CA, USA -- Realm Industries in Ventura County, California, which is working on a water fuel technology, was rocked by an explosion Thursday at 480 E. Easy Street.
According to the Ventura County Star, authorities were told it was a water-based explosion, and that the company's work involved extracting hydrogen from water to make fuel. The company's patent applications relate to equipment and ways to generate energy from fluids such as water that can be used as an alternative fuel source.
Self powered battery inventor dead
EXCERPT:
Free-Energy Battery Inventor Killed at Airport?
Official statement cites "natural causes" but others familiar with the disruptive potential of the inventor's technology to the existing power structure consider it a probable assassination.
by Sterling D. Allan
Pure Energy Systems News
Copyright © 2007
WBTV reported death as "most likely not a homicide."
On Nov. 11, inventor of a revolutionary, affordable, clean energy technology, Arie M. DeGeus of AMDG Scientific Corp was found slumped in his car, totally unresponsive, in the long-term parking lot of the Charlotte Douglass International Airport in North Carolina. He was taken to the hospital and died a short time later. The autopsy suggested heart failure, so officials were saying the death was a result of a medical problem or natural causes, and not likely to be a homicide. (Ref.; ref.)
Those who were involved with his research are doubtful, citing, among other things, that he had been in relatively good health. The timing is also suspicious. He was apparently on his way to Europe where he was to secure major funding for the development and commercialization of his technology, which could make oil obsolete as a fuel source.
EXCERPT:
Explosion at California water fuel research company kills inventor
On Thursday afternoon, 28-year-old inventor, Tyson Larson was killed in an explosion that ripped a hole in the roof and blew out the back doors to a Simi Valley building of the family member's company, Realm Industries, which was seeking to develop his water fuel technology.
The explosion was likely a result of an attempt to compress hydroxy gas -- never a good idea. Also, it turns out that two associates of the company were indicted in March for "defrauding 300 investors of $7 million with ploys including a process for creating alternative fuel from water."
by Sterling D. Allan
Pure Energy Systems News
Copyright © 2010
NBC News aerial view
photo credit: http://www.vcstar.com
Simi Valley, CA, USA -- Realm Industries in Ventura County, California, which is working on a water fuel technology, was rocked by an explosion Thursday at 480 E. Easy Street.
According to the Ventura County Star, authorities were told it was a water-based explosion, and that the company's work involved extracting hydrogen from water to make fuel. The company's patent applications relate to equipment and ways to generate energy from fluids such as water that can be used as an alternative fuel source.
Self powered battery inventor dead
EXCERPT:
Free-Energy Battery Inventor Killed at Airport?
Official statement cites "natural causes" but others familiar with the disruptive potential of the inventor's technology to the existing power structure consider it a probable assassination.
by Sterling D. Allan
Pure Energy Systems News
Copyright © 2007
WBTV reported death as "most likely not a homicide."
On Nov. 11, inventor of a revolutionary, affordable, clean energy technology, Arie M. DeGeus of AMDG Scientific Corp was found slumped in his car, totally unresponsive, in the long-term parking lot of the Charlotte Douglass International Airport in North Carolina. He was taken to the hospital and died a short time later. The autopsy suggested heart failure, so officials were saying the death was a result of a medical problem or natural causes, and not likely to be a homicide. (Ref.; ref.)
Those who were involved with his research are doubtful, citing, among other things, that he had been in relatively good health. The timing is also suspicious. He was apparently on his way to Europe where he was to secure major funding for the development and commercialization of his technology, which could make oil obsolete as a fuel source.
Hurricane Katrina
The Louisiana bayou, hardest working marsh in America, is in big trouble—with dire consequences for residents, the nearby city of New Orleans, and seafood lovers everywhere.
It was a broiling August afternoon in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Big Easy, the City That Care Forgot. Those who ventured outside moved as if they were swimming in tupelo honey. Those inside paid silent homage to the man who invented air-conditioning as they watched TV "storm teams" warn of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. Nothing surprising there: Hurricanes in August are as much a part of life in this town as hangovers on Ash Wednesday.
But the next day the storm gathered steam and drew a bead on the city. As the whirling maelstrom approached the coast, more than a million people evacuated to higher ground. Some 200,000 remained, however—the car-less, the homeless, the aged and infirm, and those die-hard New Orleanians who look for any excuse to throw a party.
The storm hit Breton Sound with the fury of a nuclear warhead, pushing a deadly storm surge into Lake Pontchartrain. The water crept to the top of the massive berm that holds back the lake and then spilled over. Nearly 80 percent of New Orleans lies below sea level—more than eight feet below in places—so the water poured in. A liquid brown wall washed over the brick ranch homes of Gentilly, over the clapboard houses of the Ninth Ward, over the white-columned porches of the Garden District, until it raced through the bars and strip joints on Bourbon Street like the pale rider of the Apocalypse. As it reached 25 feet (eight meters) over parts of the city, people climbed onto roofs to escape it.
Thousands drowned in the murky brew that was soon contaminated by sewage and industrial waste. Thousands more who survived the flood later perished from dehydration and disease as they waited to be rescued. It took two months to pump the city dry, and by then the Big Easy was buried under a blanket of putrid sediment, a million people were homeless, and 50,000 were dead. It was the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States.
When did this calamity happen? It hasn't—yet. But the doomsday scenario is not far-fetched. The Federal Emergency Management Agency lists a hurricane strike on New Orleans as one of the most dire threats to the nation, up there with a large earthquake in California or a terrorist attack on New York City. Even the Red Cross no longer opens hurricane shelters in the city, claiming the risk to its workers is too great.
"The killer for Louisiana is a Category Three storm at 72 hours before landfall that becomes a Category Four at 48 hours and a Category Five at 24 hours—coming from the worst direction," says Joe Suhayda, a retired coastal engineer at Louisiana State University who has spent 30 years studying the coast. Suhayda is sitting in a lakefront restaurant on an actual August afternoon sipping lemonade and talking about the chinks in the city's hurricane armor. "I don't think people realize how precarious we are,"
Suhayda says, watching sailboats glide by. "Our technology is great when it works. But when it fails, it's going to make things much worse."
The Louisiana bayou, hardest working marsh in America, is in big trouble—with dire consequences for residents, the nearby city of New Orleans, and seafood lovers everywhere.
The chances of such a storm hitting New Orleans in any given year are slight, but the danger is growing. Climatologists predict that powerful storms may occur more frequently this century, while rising sea level from global warming is putting low-lying coasts at greater risk. "It's not if it will happen," says University of New Orleans geologist Shea Penland. "It's when."
Yet just as the risks of a killer storm are rising, the city's natural defenses are quietly melting away. From the Mississippi border to the Texas state line, Louisiana is losing its protective fringe of marshes and barrier islands faster than any place in the U.S. Since the 1930s some 1,900 square miles (4,900 square kilometers) of coastal wetlands—a swath nearly the size of Delaware or almost twice that of Luxembourg—have vanished beneath the Gulf of Mexico. Despite nearly half a billion dollars spent over the past decade to stem the tide, the state continues to lose about 25 square miles (65 square kilometers) of land each year, roughly one acre every 33 minutes.
A cocktail of natural and human factors is putting the coast under. Delta soils naturally compact and sink over time, eventually giving way to open water unless fresh layers of sediment offset the subsidence. The Mississippi's spring floods once maintained that balance, but the annual deluges were often disastrous. After a devastating flood in 1927, levees were raised along the river and lined with concrete, effectively funneling the marsh-building sediments to the deep waters of the Gulf. Since the 1950s engineers have also cut more than 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) of canals through the marsh for petroleum exploration and ship traffic. These new ditches sliced the wetlands into a giant jigsaw puzzle, increasing erosion and allowing lethal doses of salt water to infiltrate brackish and freshwater marshes.
While such loss hits every bayou-loving Louisianan right in the heart, it also hits nearly every U.S. citizen right in the wallet. Louisiana has the hardest working wetlands in America, a watery world of bayous, marshes, and barrier islands that either produces or transports more than a third of the nation's oil and a quarter of its natural gas, and ranks second only to Alaska in commercial fish landings. As wildlife habitat, it makes Florida's Everglades look like a petting zoo by comparison.
Such high stakes compelled a host of unlikely bedfellows—scientists, environmental groups, business leaders, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—to forge a radical plan to protect what's left. Drafted by the Corps a year ago, the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) project was initially estimated to cost up to 14 billion dollars over 30 years, almost twice as much as current efforts to save the Everglades. But the Bush Administration balked at the price tag, supporting instead a plan to spend up to two billion dollars over the next ten years to fund the most promising projects. Either way, Congress must authorize the money before work can begin.
To glimpse the urgency of the problem afflicting Louisiana, one need only drive 40 minutes southeast of New Orleans to the tiny bayou village of Shell Beach. Here, for the past 70 years or so, a big, deeply tanned man with hands the size of baseball gloves has been catching fish, shooting ducks, and selling gas and bait to anyone who can find his end-of-the-road marina. Today Frank "Blackie" Campo's ramshackle place hangs off the end of new Shell Beach. The old Shell Beach, where Campo was born in 1918, sits a quarter mile away, five feet beneath the rippling waves. Once home to some 50 families and a naval air station during World War II, the little village is now "ga'an pecan," as Campo says in the local patois. Gone forever.
Life in old Shell Beach had always been a tenuous existence. Hurricanes twice razed the community, sending houses floating through the marsh. But it wasn't until the Corps of Engineers dredged a 500-foot-wide (150-meter-wide) ship channel nearby in 1968 that its fate was sealed. The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, known as "Mr. Go," was supposed to provide a shortcut for freighters bound for New Orleans, but it never caught on. Maybe two ships use the channel on a given day, but wakes from even those few vessels have carved the shoreline a half mile wide in places, consuming old Shell Beach.
Campo settles into a worn recliner, his pale blue eyes the color of a late autumn sky. Our conversation turns from Mr. Go to the bigger issue affecting the entire coast. "What really screwed up the marsh is when they put the levees on the river," Campo says, over the noise of a groaning air-conditioner. "They should take the levees out and let the water run; that's what built the land. But we know they not going to let the river run again, so there's no solution."
Denise Reed, however, proposes doing just that—letting the river run. A coastal geomorphologist at the University of New Orleans, Reed is convinced that breaching the levees with a series of gated spillways would pump new life into the dying marshes. Only three such diversions currently operate in the state. I catch up with Reed at the most controversial of the lot—a 26-million-dollar culvert just south of New Orleans named Caernarvon.
"Caernarvon is a prototype, a demonstration of a technique," says Reed as we motor down a muddy canal in a state boat. The diversion isn't filling the marsh with sediments on a grand scale, she says. But the effect of the added river water—loaded as it is with fertilizer from farm runoff—is plain to see. "It turns wetlands hanging on by the fingernails into something quite lush," says Reed.
To prove her point, she points to banks crowded with slender willows, rafts of lily pads, and a wide shallow pond that is no longer land, no longer liquid. More like chocolate pudding. But impressive as the recovering marsh is, its scale seems dwarfed by the size of the problem. "Restoration is not trying to make the coast look like a map of 1956," explains Reed. "That's not even possible. The goal is to restore healthy natural processes, then live with what you get."
Even that will be hard to do. Caernarvon, for instance, became a political land mine when releases of fresh water timed to mimic spring floods wiped out the beds of nearby oyster farmers. The oystermen sued, and last year a sympathetic judge awarded them a staggering 1.3 billion dollars. The case threw a major speed bump into restoration efforts.
Other restoration methods—such as rebuilding marshes with dredge spoil and salt-tolerant plants or trying to stabilize a shoreline that's eroding 30 feet (10 meters) a year—have had limited success. Despite the challenges, the thought of doing nothing is hard for most southern Louisianans to swallow. Computer models that project land loss for the next 50 years show the coast and interior marsh dissolving as if splattered with acid, leaving only skeletal remnants. Outlying towns such as Shell Beach, Venice, Grand Isle, and Cocodrie vanish under a sea of blue pixels.
Those who believe diversions are the key to saving Louisiana's coast often point to the granddaddy of them all: the Atchafalaya River. The major distributary of the Mississippi River, the Atchafalaya, if left alone, would soon be the Mississippi River, capturing most of its flow. But to prevent salt water from creeping farther up the Mississippi and spoiling the water supply of nearby towns and industries, the Corps of Engineers allows only a third of the Mississippi's water to flow down the Atchafalaya. Still, that water and sediment have produced the healthiest wetlands in Louisiana. The Atchafalaya Delta is one of the few places in the state that's actually gaining ground instead of losing it. And if you want to see the delta, you need to go crabbing with Peanut Michel.
"Peanut," it turns out, is a bit of a misnomer. At six foot six and 340 pounds, the 35-year-old commercial fisherman from Morgan City wouldn't look out of place on the offensive line of the New Orleans Saints. We launch his aluminum skiff in the predawn light, and soon we're skimming down the broad, café au lait river toward the newest land in Louisiana. Dense thickets of needlegrass, flag grass, cut grass, and a big-leafed plant Michel calls elephant ear crowd the banks, followed closely by bushy wax myrtles and shaggy willows.
Michel finds his string of crab pots a few miles out in the broad expanse of Atchafalaya Bay. Even this far from shore the water is barely five feet deep. As the sun ignites into a blowtorch on the horizon, Michel begins a well-oiled ritual: grab the bullet-shaped float, shake the wire cube of its clicking, mottled green inhabitants, bait it with a fish carcass, and toss. It's done in fluid motions as the boat circles lazily in the water.
But it's a bad day for crabbing. The wind and water are hot, and only a few crabs dribble in. And yet Michel is happy. Deliriously happy. Because this is what he wants to do. "They call 'em watermen up in Maryland," he says with a slight Cajun accent. "They call us lunatics here. You got to be crazy to be in this business."
Despite Michel's poor haul, Louisiana's wetlands are still a prolific seafood factory, sustaining a commercial fishery that most years lands more than 300 million dollars' worth of finfish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, and other delicacies. How long the stressed marshes can maintain that production is anybody's guess. In the meantime, Michel keeps at it. "My grandfather always told me, Don't live to be rich, live to be happy," he says. And so he does.
After a few hours Michel calls it a day, and we head through the braided delta, where navigation markers that once stood at the edge of the boat channel now peek out of the brush 20 feet (six meters) from shore. At every turn we flush mottled ducks, ibis, and great blue herons. Michel, who works as a hunting guide during duck season, cracks an enormous grin at the sight. "When the ducks come down in the winter," he says, "they'll cover the sun."
To folks like Peanut Michel, the birds, the fish, and the rich coastal culture are reason enough to save Louisiana's shore, whatever the cost. But there is another reason, one readily grasped by every American whose way of life is tethered not to a dock, but to a gas pump: These wetlands protect one of the most extensive petroleum infrastructures in the nation.
The state's first oil well was punched in south Louisiana in 1901, and the world's first offshore rig went into operation in the Gulf of Mexico in 1947. During the boom years in the early 1970s, fully half of the state's budget was derived from petroleum revenues. Though much of the production has moved into deeper waters, oil and gas wells remain a fixture of the coast, as ubiquitous as shrimp boats and brown pelicans.
The deep offshore wells now account for nearly a third of all domestic oil production, while Louisiana's Offshore Oil Port, a series of platforms anchored 18 miles (29 kilometers) offshore, unloads a nonstop line of supertankers that deliver up to 15 percent of the nation's foreign oil. Most of that black gold comes ashore via a maze of pipelines buried in the Louisiana muck. Numerous refineries, the nation's largest natural gas pipeline hub, even the Strategic Petroleum Reserve are all protected from hurricanes and storm surge by Louisiana's vanishing marsh.
You can smell the petrodollars burning at Port Fourchon, the offshore oil industry's sprawling home port on the central Louisiana coast. Brawny helicopters shuttle 6,000 workers to the rigs from here each week, while hundreds of supply boats deliver everything from toilet paper to drinking water to drilling lube. A thousand trucks a day keep the port humming around the clock, yet Louisiana 1, the two-lane highway that connects it to the world, seems to flood every other high tide. During storms the port becomes an island, which is why port officials like Davie Breaux are clamoring for the state to build a 17-mile-long (27-kilometer-long) elevated highway to the port. It's also why Breaux thinks spending 14 billion dollars to save the coast would be a bargain.
"We'll go to war and spend billions of dollars to protect oil and gas interests overseas,"
Breaux says as he drives his truck past platform anchors the size of two-story houses. "But here at home?" He shrugs. "Where else you gonna drill? Not California. Not Florida. Not in ANWR. In Louisiana. I'm third generation in the oil field. We're not afraid of the industry. We just want the infrastructure to handle it."
The oil industry has been good to Louisiana, providing low taxes and high-paying jobs. But such largesse hasn't come without a cost, largely exacted from coastal wetlands. The most startling impact has only recently come to light—the effect of oil and gas withdrawal on subsidence rates. For decades geologists believed that the petroleum deposits were too deep and the geology of the coast too complex for drilling to have any impact on the surface. But two years ago former petroleum geologist Bob Morton, now with the U.S. Geological Survey, noticed that the highest rates of wetland loss occurred during or just after the period of peak oil and gas production in the 1970s and early 1980s. After much study, Morton concluded that the removal of millions of barrels of oil, trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, and tens of millions of barrels of saline formation water lying with the petroleum deposits caused a drop in subsurface pressure—a theory known as regional depressurization. That led nearby underground faults to slip and the land above them to slump.
"When you stick a straw in a soda and suck on it, everything goes down," Morton explains. "That's very simplified, but you get the idea." The phenomenon isn't new: It was first documented in Texas in 1926 and has been reported in other oil-producing areas such as the North Sea and Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. Morton won't speculate on what percentage of wetland loss can be pinned on the oil industry. "What I can tell you is that much of the loss between Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Terrebonne was caused by induced subsidence from oil and gas withdrawal. The wetlands are still there, they're just underwater." The area Morton refers to, part of the Barataria-Terrebonne estuary, has one of the highest rates of wetland loss in the state.
The oil industry and its consultants dispute Morton's theory, but they've been unable to disprove it. The implication for restoration is profound. If production continues to taper off in coastal wetlands, Morton expects subsidence to return to its natural geologic rate, making restoration feasible in places. Currently, however, the high price of natural gas has oil companies swarming over the marshes looking for deep gas reservoirs. If such fields are tapped, Morton expects regional depressurization to continue. The upshot for the coast, he explains, is that the state will have to focus whatever restoration dollars it can muster on areas that can be saved, not waste them on places that are going to sink no matter what.
A few days after talking with Morton, I'm sitting on the levee in the French Quarter, enjoying the deep-fried powdery sweetness of a beignet from the Café du Monde. Joggers lumber by in the torpid heat, while tugs wrestle their barges up and down the big brown river. For all its enticing quirkiness, for all its licentious pleasures, for all its geologic challenges, New Orleans has been luckier than the wetlands that lined its pockets and stocked its renowned tables. The question is how long Lady Luck will shine. It brings back something Joe Suhayda, the LSU engineer, had said during our lunch by Lake Pontchartrain.
"When you look at the broadest perspective, short-term advantages can be gained by exploiting the environment. But in the long term you're going to pay for it. Just like you can spend three days drinking in New Orleans and it'll be fun. But sooner or later you're going to pay."
I finish my beignet and stroll down the levee, succumbing to the hazy, lazy feel of the city that care forgot, but that nature will not.
The Louisiana bayou, hardest working marsh in America, is in big trouble—with dire consequences for residents, the nearby city of New Orleans, and seafood lovers everywhere.
It was a broiling August afternoon in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Big Easy, the City That Care Forgot. Those who ventured outside moved as if they were swimming in tupelo honey. Those inside paid silent homage to the man who invented air-conditioning as they watched TV "storm teams" warn of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. Nothing surprising there: Hurricanes in August are as much a part of life in this town as hangovers on Ash Wednesday.
But the next day the storm gathered steam and drew a bead on the city. As the whirling maelstrom approached the coast, more than a million people evacuated to higher ground. Some 200,000 remained, however—the car-less, the homeless, the aged and infirm, and those die-hard New Orleanians who look for any excuse to throw a party.
The storm hit Breton Sound with the fury of a nuclear warhead, pushing a deadly storm surge into Lake Pontchartrain. The water crept to the top of the massive berm that holds back the lake and then spilled over. Nearly 80 percent of New Orleans lies below sea level—more than eight feet below in places—so the water poured in. A liquid brown wall washed over the brick ranch homes of Gentilly, over the clapboard houses of the Ninth Ward, over the white-columned porches of the Garden District, until it raced through the bars and strip joints on Bourbon Street like the pale rider of the Apocalypse. As it reached 25 feet (eight meters) over parts of the city, people climbed onto roofs to escape it.
Thousands drowned in the murky brew that was soon contaminated by sewage and industrial waste. Thousands more who survived the flood later perished from dehydration and disease as they waited to be rescued. It took two months to pump the city dry, and by then the Big Easy was buried under a blanket of putrid sediment, a million people were homeless, and 50,000 were dead. It was the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States.
When did this calamity happen? It hasn't—yet. But the doomsday scenario is not far-fetched. The Federal Emergency Management Agency lists a hurricane strike on New Orleans as one of the most dire threats to the nation, up there with a large earthquake in California or a terrorist attack on New York City. Even the Red Cross no longer opens hurricane shelters in the city, claiming the risk to its workers is too great.
"The killer for Louisiana is a Category Three storm at 72 hours before landfall that becomes a Category Four at 48 hours and a Category Five at 24 hours—coming from the worst direction," says Joe Suhayda, a retired coastal engineer at Louisiana State University who has spent 30 years studying the coast. Suhayda is sitting in a lakefront restaurant on an actual August afternoon sipping lemonade and talking about the chinks in the city's hurricane armor. "I don't think people realize how precarious we are,"
Suhayda says, watching sailboats glide by. "Our technology is great when it works. But when it fails, it's going to make things much worse."
The Louisiana bayou, hardest working marsh in America, is in big trouble—with dire consequences for residents, the nearby city of New Orleans, and seafood lovers everywhere.
The chances of such a storm hitting New Orleans in any given year are slight, but the danger is growing. Climatologists predict that powerful storms may occur more frequently this century, while rising sea level from global warming is putting low-lying coasts at greater risk. "It's not if it will happen," says University of New Orleans geologist Shea Penland. "It's when."
Yet just as the risks of a killer storm are rising, the city's natural defenses are quietly melting away. From the Mississippi border to the Texas state line, Louisiana is losing its protective fringe of marshes and barrier islands faster than any place in the U.S. Since the 1930s some 1,900 square miles (4,900 square kilometers) of coastal wetlands—a swath nearly the size of Delaware or almost twice that of Luxembourg—have vanished beneath the Gulf of Mexico. Despite nearly half a billion dollars spent over the past decade to stem the tide, the state continues to lose about 25 square miles (65 square kilometers) of land each year, roughly one acre every 33 minutes.
A cocktail of natural and human factors is putting the coast under. Delta soils naturally compact and sink over time, eventually giving way to open water unless fresh layers of sediment offset the subsidence. The Mississippi's spring floods once maintained that balance, but the annual deluges were often disastrous. After a devastating flood in 1927, levees were raised along the river and lined with concrete, effectively funneling the marsh-building sediments to the deep waters of the Gulf. Since the 1950s engineers have also cut more than 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) of canals through the marsh for petroleum exploration and ship traffic. These new ditches sliced the wetlands into a giant jigsaw puzzle, increasing erosion and allowing lethal doses of salt water to infiltrate brackish and freshwater marshes.
While such loss hits every bayou-loving Louisianan right in the heart, it also hits nearly every U.S. citizen right in the wallet. Louisiana has the hardest working wetlands in America, a watery world of bayous, marshes, and barrier islands that either produces or transports more than a third of the nation's oil and a quarter of its natural gas, and ranks second only to Alaska in commercial fish landings. As wildlife habitat, it makes Florida's Everglades look like a petting zoo by comparison.
Such high stakes compelled a host of unlikely bedfellows—scientists, environmental groups, business leaders, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—to forge a radical plan to protect what's left. Drafted by the Corps a year ago, the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) project was initially estimated to cost up to 14 billion dollars over 30 years, almost twice as much as current efforts to save the Everglades. But the Bush Administration balked at the price tag, supporting instead a plan to spend up to two billion dollars over the next ten years to fund the most promising projects. Either way, Congress must authorize the money before work can begin.
To glimpse the urgency of the problem afflicting Louisiana, one need only drive 40 minutes southeast of New Orleans to the tiny bayou village of Shell Beach. Here, for the past 70 years or so, a big, deeply tanned man with hands the size of baseball gloves has been catching fish, shooting ducks, and selling gas and bait to anyone who can find his end-of-the-road marina. Today Frank "Blackie" Campo's ramshackle place hangs off the end of new Shell Beach. The old Shell Beach, where Campo was born in 1918, sits a quarter mile away, five feet beneath the rippling waves. Once home to some 50 families and a naval air station during World War II, the little village is now "ga'an pecan," as Campo says in the local patois. Gone forever.
Life in old Shell Beach had always been a tenuous existence. Hurricanes twice razed the community, sending houses floating through the marsh. But it wasn't until the Corps of Engineers dredged a 500-foot-wide (150-meter-wide) ship channel nearby in 1968 that its fate was sealed. The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, known as "Mr. Go," was supposed to provide a shortcut for freighters bound for New Orleans, but it never caught on. Maybe two ships use the channel on a given day, but wakes from even those few vessels have carved the shoreline a half mile wide in places, consuming old Shell Beach.
Campo settles into a worn recliner, his pale blue eyes the color of a late autumn sky. Our conversation turns from Mr. Go to the bigger issue affecting the entire coast. "What really screwed up the marsh is when they put the levees on the river," Campo says, over the noise of a groaning air-conditioner. "They should take the levees out and let the water run; that's what built the land. But we know they not going to let the river run again, so there's no solution."
Denise Reed, however, proposes doing just that—letting the river run. A coastal geomorphologist at the University of New Orleans, Reed is convinced that breaching the levees with a series of gated spillways would pump new life into the dying marshes. Only three such diversions currently operate in the state. I catch up with Reed at the most controversial of the lot—a 26-million-dollar culvert just south of New Orleans named Caernarvon.
"Caernarvon is a prototype, a demonstration of a technique," says Reed as we motor down a muddy canal in a state boat. The diversion isn't filling the marsh with sediments on a grand scale, she says. But the effect of the added river water—loaded as it is with fertilizer from farm runoff—is plain to see. "It turns wetlands hanging on by the fingernails into something quite lush," says Reed.
To prove her point, she points to banks crowded with slender willows, rafts of lily pads, and a wide shallow pond that is no longer land, no longer liquid. More like chocolate pudding. But impressive as the recovering marsh is, its scale seems dwarfed by the size of the problem. "Restoration is not trying to make the coast look like a map of 1956," explains Reed. "That's not even possible. The goal is to restore healthy natural processes, then live with what you get."
Even that will be hard to do. Caernarvon, for instance, became a political land mine when releases of fresh water timed to mimic spring floods wiped out the beds of nearby oyster farmers. The oystermen sued, and last year a sympathetic judge awarded them a staggering 1.3 billion dollars. The case threw a major speed bump into restoration efforts.
Other restoration methods—such as rebuilding marshes with dredge spoil and salt-tolerant plants or trying to stabilize a shoreline that's eroding 30 feet (10 meters) a year—have had limited success. Despite the challenges, the thought of doing nothing is hard for most southern Louisianans to swallow. Computer models that project land loss for the next 50 years show the coast and interior marsh dissolving as if splattered with acid, leaving only skeletal remnants. Outlying towns such as Shell Beach, Venice, Grand Isle, and Cocodrie vanish under a sea of blue pixels.
Those who believe diversions are the key to saving Louisiana's coast often point to the granddaddy of them all: the Atchafalaya River. The major distributary of the Mississippi River, the Atchafalaya, if left alone, would soon be the Mississippi River, capturing most of its flow. But to prevent salt water from creeping farther up the Mississippi and spoiling the water supply of nearby towns and industries, the Corps of Engineers allows only a third of the Mississippi's water to flow down the Atchafalaya. Still, that water and sediment have produced the healthiest wetlands in Louisiana. The Atchafalaya Delta is one of the few places in the state that's actually gaining ground instead of losing it. And if you want to see the delta, you need to go crabbing with Peanut Michel.
"Peanut," it turns out, is a bit of a misnomer. At six foot six and 340 pounds, the 35-year-old commercial fisherman from Morgan City wouldn't look out of place on the offensive line of the New Orleans Saints. We launch his aluminum skiff in the predawn light, and soon we're skimming down the broad, café au lait river toward the newest land in Louisiana. Dense thickets of needlegrass, flag grass, cut grass, and a big-leafed plant Michel calls elephant ear crowd the banks, followed closely by bushy wax myrtles and shaggy willows.
Michel finds his string of crab pots a few miles out in the broad expanse of Atchafalaya Bay. Even this far from shore the water is barely five feet deep. As the sun ignites into a blowtorch on the horizon, Michel begins a well-oiled ritual: grab the bullet-shaped float, shake the wire cube of its clicking, mottled green inhabitants, bait it with a fish carcass, and toss. It's done in fluid motions as the boat circles lazily in the water.
But it's a bad day for crabbing. The wind and water are hot, and only a few crabs dribble in. And yet Michel is happy. Deliriously happy. Because this is what he wants to do. "They call 'em watermen up in Maryland," he says with a slight Cajun accent. "They call us lunatics here. You got to be crazy to be in this business."
Despite Michel's poor haul, Louisiana's wetlands are still a prolific seafood factory, sustaining a commercial fishery that most years lands more than 300 million dollars' worth of finfish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, and other delicacies. How long the stressed marshes can maintain that production is anybody's guess. In the meantime, Michel keeps at it. "My grandfather always told me, Don't live to be rich, live to be happy," he says. And so he does.
After a few hours Michel calls it a day, and we head through the braided delta, where navigation markers that once stood at the edge of the boat channel now peek out of the brush 20 feet (six meters) from shore. At every turn we flush mottled ducks, ibis, and great blue herons. Michel, who works as a hunting guide during duck season, cracks an enormous grin at the sight. "When the ducks come down in the winter," he says, "they'll cover the sun."
To folks like Peanut Michel, the birds, the fish, and the rich coastal culture are reason enough to save Louisiana's shore, whatever the cost. But there is another reason, one readily grasped by every American whose way of life is tethered not to a dock, but to a gas pump: These wetlands protect one of the most extensive petroleum infrastructures in the nation.
The state's first oil well was punched in south Louisiana in 1901, and the world's first offshore rig went into operation in the Gulf of Mexico in 1947. During the boom years in the early 1970s, fully half of the state's budget was derived from petroleum revenues. Though much of the production has moved into deeper waters, oil and gas wells remain a fixture of the coast, as ubiquitous as shrimp boats and brown pelicans.
The deep offshore wells now account for nearly a third of all domestic oil production, while Louisiana's Offshore Oil Port, a series of platforms anchored 18 miles (29 kilometers) offshore, unloads a nonstop line of supertankers that deliver up to 15 percent of the nation's foreign oil. Most of that black gold comes ashore via a maze of pipelines buried in the Louisiana muck. Numerous refineries, the nation's largest natural gas pipeline hub, even the Strategic Petroleum Reserve are all protected from hurricanes and storm surge by Louisiana's vanishing marsh.
You can smell the petrodollars burning at Port Fourchon, the offshore oil industry's sprawling home port on the central Louisiana coast. Brawny helicopters shuttle 6,000 workers to the rigs from here each week, while hundreds of supply boats deliver everything from toilet paper to drinking water to drilling lube. A thousand trucks a day keep the port humming around the clock, yet Louisiana 1, the two-lane highway that connects it to the world, seems to flood every other high tide. During storms the port becomes an island, which is why port officials like Davie Breaux are clamoring for the state to build a 17-mile-long (27-kilometer-long) elevated highway to the port. It's also why Breaux thinks spending 14 billion dollars to save the coast would be a bargain.
"We'll go to war and spend billions of dollars to protect oil and gas interests overseas,"
Breaux says as he drives his truck past platform anchors the size of two-story houses. "But here at home?" He shrugs. "Where else you gonna drill? Not California. Not Florida. Not in ANWR. In Louisiana. I'm third generation in the oil field. We're not afraid of the industry. We just want the infrastructure to handle it."
The oil industry has been good to Louisiana, providing low taxes and high-paying jobs. But such largesse hasn't come without a cost, largely exacted from coastal wetlands. The most startling impact has only recently come to light—the effect of oil and gas withdrawal on subsidence rates. For decades geologists believed that the petroleum deposits were too deep and the geology of the coast too complex for drilling to have any impact on the surface. But two years ago former petroleum geologist Bob Morton, now with the U.S. Geological Survey, noticed that the highest rates of wetland loss occurred during or just after the period of peak oil and gas production in the 1970s and early 1980s. After much study, Morton concluded that the removal of millions of barrels of oil, trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, and tens of millions of barrels of saline formation water lying with the petroleum deposits caused a drop in subsurface pressure—a theory known as regional depressurization. That led nearby underground faults to slip and the land above them to slump.
"When you stick a straw in a soda and suck on it, everything goes down," Morton explains. "That's very simplified, but you get the idea." The phenomenon isn't new: It was first documented in Texas in 1926 and has been reported in other oil-producing areas such as the North Sea and Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. Morton won't speculate on what percentage of wetland loss can be pinned on the oil industry. "What I can tell you is that much of the loss between Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Terrebonne was caused by induced subsidence from oil and gas withdrawal. The wetlands are still there, they're just underwater." The area Morton refers to, part of the Barataria-Terrebonne estuary, has one of the highest rates of wetland loss in the state.
The oil industry and its consultants dispute Morton's theory, but they've been unable to disprove it. The implication for restoration is profound. If production continues to taper off in coastal wetlands, Morton expects subsidence to return to its natural geologic rate, making restoration feasible in places. Currently, however, the high price of natural gas has oil companies swarming over the marshes looking for deep gas reservoirs. If such fields are tapped, Morton expects regional depressurization to continue. The upshot for the coast, he explains, is that the state will have to focus whatever restoration dollars it can muster on areas that can be saved, not waste them on places that are going to sink no matter what.
A few days after talking with Morton, I'm sitting on the levee in the French Quarter, enjoying the deep-fried powdery sweetness of a beignet from the Café du Monde. Joggers lumber by in the torpid heat, while tugs wrestle their barges up and down the big brown river. For all its enticing quirkiness, for all its licentious pleasures, for all its geologic challenges, New Orleans has been luckier than the wetlands that lined its pockets and stocked its renowned tables. The question is how long Lady Luck will shine. It brings back something Joe Suhayda, the LSU engineer, had said during our lunch by Lake Pontchartrain.
"When you look at the broadest perspective, short-term advantages can be gained by exploiting the environment. But in the long term you're going to pay for it. Just like you can spend three days drinking in New Orleans and it'll be fun. But sooner or later you're going to pay."
I finish my beignet and stroll down the levee, succumbing to the hazy, lazy feel of the city that care forgot, but that nature will not.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
I'm Not Ready to make Nice Dixie Chicks youtube
Dear Mr. President please pass this on to your handlers PINKyoutube
Good onya Phoenix New Times..... In 3 or 4 places the following video/audio didn't work. I finally found it at New Times.
Pearl Jam Don't Go BP Amoco audio click here.
EXCERPT"
Song: Pearl Jam, "Don't GO: BP Amoco"
Context: A great video of the Band Oh Horses frontman singing Temple of the Dog's "Hunger Strike with Pearl Jam in New York posted by So Much Silence led me to turn up this little ditty. You have to sit through a speech, but the pay off is a catchy little protest song reminding you which gas station not to frequent.
Nashville skyline songs about oil spills and BP
1) EXCERPT:
We're pumpin' out petrol, no matter what cost
And now that 11 men's lives have been lost
The price is as high as rig workers can pay
Payin' the price for the U.S. of A.
A deepwater rig called Horizon went down
No way to seal off its pipe has been found
So south Louisianans all wait for to see
Just what the landfall of this spill will be
Forbert's chorus finishes the saga tidily:
An' it's oil
Creepin' in the sea
Don't buy it at the station
You can get it now for free
Just come on down to the shoreline
Where the water used to be
2) EXCERPT:
But there actually are a couple of BP and oil spill songs I have heard, written by composers who have the moxie to tackle the issue head-on. Three years ago, Pearl Jam were moved to write an actual "boycott BP" song, called "Don't Go: BP/Amoco," when they were outraged by a BP sludge dumpage into Lake Michigan. The band debuted the song at Lollapalooza, and videos of it are still running on some websites. It's pretty much just a chant, but it's also very effective.
It's Ecocide (song about BP Deepwater Oil Spill)
my2cents regarding the following......
Do these people really think that handing this stuff over to the UN will help? If they do and are not simply diverters, then they need to be educated...... THE UN are as evil as the rest of these SOBs.
UN and Oil for Food Scandal
EXCERPT:
A new FOX News poll finds that 54 percent of the U.S. public believes the United Nations does not reflect the values of average Americans. Only 29 percent say that U.N. policies reflect said values.
“I believe the U.N., parts of it, have been corrupt for years. But this went to a whole new level,” said Rep. Christopher Shays (search), R-Conn., chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations.
Shays is leading one of several Oil-for-Food probes by the federal government. The General Accountability Office has already pegged Saddam’s Oil-for-Food take at $10.1 billion. It could end up being a lot more.
Shays says Iraqis aren't the only victims -- Americans are too.
Adding ecocide to list of major international crimes listen to the audio
Genocide and war crimes are ghastly offenses that be tried before the International Criminal Court. But if one lawyer in Britain has her way, so-called "ecocide" against nature could be added as a new major crime against the world. According to the UK's Guardian newspaper, this radical idea, if approved by the U.N., could be used to prosecute industries alleged to be damaging the environment through things like fossil fuels, mining, agriculture, chemicals and forestry. Supporter say the charge of ecocide could even be leveled against "climate deniers" who try to prevent action on alleged man-made global warming. A vote on this measure isn't expected until 2012, but could actually pass if 2/3rds of nations vote "yes" on this outrageous concept.
This guy mentions the BP fools going back to their yachts in this song. He must be psychic, eh?
The BOB
EXCERPT:
When I heard earlier today that Tony Hayward, the under pressure boss of BP, was spending his Saturday with 'Bob', I assumed it meant that he was working alongside Robert Dudley, the executive taking of day-to-day operations in the Gulf of Mexico, on the company's ongoing operation there.
But no. The Bob that Hayward has this afternoon been spotted with is the name of a boat he jointly owns and which has been taking part in today's Round the Island yacht race
...............
Video........ WE CARE ABOUT THE SMALL PEOPLE........ hmmmmmm, getting the language right? What about his comment about US and our patience? I'm outta patience, how bout you? How dare he say that BP cares about the small people! Hayward is out on a yacht....... and what's he doing? Is he crying over cavier and champagne?
HE'S RUBBING OUR NOSES IN IT!!!
Oh yeah, he also mentions legitimate responsibilities?????? Who is deciding this? Is it BP, Halliburton and Transocean? It seems these SOB's MO is .......... The Fox guarding the henhouse, eh?
Carl Henric Svanberg's small people matter video
Royal concert and wedding attendees
EXCERPT:
Big royal turnout expected for wedding
Published: 16 Jun 10 13:28 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/27262/20100616/
Dictionary tool Double click on a word to get a translation
Sweden’s royal wedding is set to attract one of largest gathering of kings and queens seen in Europe for years, a guest list for Friday’s pre-wedding concert has revealed.
•'Thank you for giving me my Prince' (19 Jun 10)
•Royal wedding brings out the magic (19 Jun 10)
•Party underway in Daniel’s home town (19 Jun 10)
The guest list for the wedding itself is a closely-guarded secret, but the foreign royals and heads of state attending the concert are thought certain to also attend the wedding.
BP CEO Hayward Yacht The Bob
Maritime news: BP CEO Hayward goes yachting at posh JP Morgan race, while partner in damaged oil well jumps ship, says “BP’s behavior and actions likely represent gross negligence or willful misconduct.”
June 19, 2010
AP: BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward, centre, sits aboard his yacht Bob, during the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, Saturday June 19, 2010.
The most out-of-touch CEO on the planet, BP CEO Tony Hayward got his “life back” for a day at “glitzy yacht race.” Some reports said he merely attended the event, but AP reports (with photo above) that he was aship while his company — and its oil — runs aground.
Why oh why hasn’t Hayward been fired yet??? I suppose it’s because the guy who could fire him, Board Chair Carl-Henric “We care about the small people” Svanberg is equally tone deaf.
While Hayward was yachting, BP’s “main partner in the damaged exploration well,” Anadarko Petroleum, was fleeing BP like … well, like the kind of creatures who are known to flee a sinking ship. In a damning statement, chief executive, Jim Hackett said:
“The mounting evidence clearly demonstrates that this tragedy was preventable and the direct result of BP’s reckless decisions and actions. Frankly, we are shocked by the publicly available information that has been disclosed in recent investigations and during this week’s testimony that, among other things, indicates BP operated unsafely and failed to monitor and react to several critical warning signs during the drilling of the Macondo well. BP’s behavior and actions likely represent gross negligence or willful misconduct and thus affect the obligations of the parties under the operating agreement.“
Is there no honor among oil companies? Not when real money is at stake, as the WashPost reports today:
Hackett’s comments have huge financial implications. As a 25 percent partner in the well, Anadarko would ordinarily be responsible for a quarter of all cleanup and damage costs. But, Hackett said, “BP’s behavior and actions likely represent gross negligence or willful misconduct and thus affect the obligations of the parties under the operating agreement.” He said Anadarko would donate to charity and civic groups any proceeds it receives from the sale of oil collected during the cleanup.
What a guy! Looks like there’s one oil company CEO talking to public relations experts.
It seems increasingly likely that BP will be found guilty of gross negligence or worse:
The three causes of BP’s Titanic oil disaster: Recklessness, Arrogance, and Hubris
Stupak stunner: Oil well’s blowout preventer had leaks, dead battery, design flaws, “How can a device that has 260 failure modes be considered fail-safe?”
Is BP the Goldman Sachs of Big Oil? CEO Hayward says to fellow executives: “What the hell did we do to deserve this?”
E-mail from BP engineer called Deepwater Horizon rig a ‘nightmare well’ six days before explosion
Time to fire BP CEO Tony Hayward
Dear Mr. President please pass this on to your handlers PINKyoutube
Good onya Phoenix New Times..... In 3 or 4 places the following video/audio didn't work. I finally found it at New Times.
Pearl Jam Don't Go BP Amoco audio click here.
EXCERPT"
Song: Pearl Jam, "Don't GO: BP Amoco"
Context: A great video of the Band Oh Horses frontman singing Temple of the Dog's "Hunger Strike with Pearl Jam in New York posted by So Much Silence led me to turn up this little ditty. You have to sit through a speech, but the pay off is a catchy little protest song reminding you which gas station not to frequent.
Nashville skyline songs about oil spills and BP
1) EXCERPT:
We're pumpin' out petrol, no matter what cost
And now that 11 men's lives have been lost
The price is as high as rig workers can pay
Payin' the price for the U.S. of A.
A deepwater rig called Horizon went down
No way to seal off its pipe has been found
So south Louisianans all wait for to see
Just what the landfall of this spill will be
Forbert's chorus finishes the saga tidily:
An' it's oil
Creepin' in the sea
Don't buy it at the station
You can get it now for free
Just come on down to the shoreline
Where the water used to be
2) EXCERPT:
But there actually are a couple of BP and oil spill songs I have heard, written by composers who have the moxie to tackle the issue head-on. Three years ago, Pearl Jam were moved to write an actual "boycott BP" song, called "Don't Go: BP/Amoco," when they were outraged by a BP sludge dumpage into Lake Michigan. The band debuted the song at Lollapalooza, and videos of it are still running on some websites. It's pretty much just a chant, but it's also very effective.
It's Ecocide (song about BP Deepwater Oil Spill)
my2cents regarding the following......
Do these people really think that handing this stuff over to the UN will help? If they do and are not simply diverters, then they need to be educated...... THE UN are as evil as the rest of these SOBs.
UN and Oil for Food Scandal
EXCERPT:
A new FOX News poll finds that 54 percent of the U.S. public believes the United Nations does not reflect the values of average Americans. Only 29 percent say that U.N. policies reflect said values.
“I believe the U.N., parts of it, have been corrupt for years. But this went to a whole new level,” said Rep. Christopher Shays (search), R-Conn., chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations.
Shays is leading one of several Oil-for-Food probes by the federal government. The General Accountability Office has already pegged Saddam’s Oil-for-Food take at $10.1 billion. It could end up being a lot more.
Shays says Iraqis aren't the only victims -- Americans are too.
Adding ecocide to list of major international crimes listen to the audio
Genocide and war crimes are ghastly offenses that be tried before the International Criminal Court. But if one lawyer in Britain has her way, so-called "ecocide" against nature could be added as a new major crime against the world. According to the UK's Guardian newspaper, this radical idea, if approved by the U.N., could be used to prosecute industries alleged to be damaging the environment through things like fossil fuels, mining, agriculture, chemicals and forestry. Supporter say the charge of ecocide could even be leveled against "climate deniers" who try to prevent action on alleged man-made global warming. A vote on this measure isn't expected until 2012, but could actually pass if 2/3rds of nations vote "yes" on this outrageous concept.
This guy mentions the BP fools going back to their yachts in this song. He must be psychic, eh?
The BOB
EXCERPT:
When I heard earlier today that Tony Hayward, the under pressure boss of BP, was spending his Saturday with 'Bob', I assumed it meant that he was working alongside Robert Dudley, the executive taking of day-to-day operations in the Gulf of Mexico, on the company's ongoing operation there.
But no. The Bob that Hayward has this afternoon been spotted with is the name of a boat he jointly owns and which has been taking part in today's Round the Island yacht race
...............
Video........ WE CARE ABOUT THE SMALL PEOPLE........ hmmmmmm, getting the language right? What about his comment about US and our patience? I'm outta patience, how bout you? How dare he say that BP cares about the small people! Hayward is out on a yacht....... and what's he doing? Is he crying over cavier and champagne?
HE'S RUBBING OUR NOSES IN IT!!!
Oh yeah, he also mentions legitimate responsibilities?????? Who is deciding this? Is it BP, Halliburton and Transocean? It seems these SOB's MO is .......... The Fox guarding the henhouse, eh?
Carl Henric Svanberg's small people matter video
Royal concert and wedding attendees
EXCERPT:
Big royal turnout expected for wedding
Published: 16 Jun 10 13:28 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/27262/20100616/
Dictionary tool Double click on a word to get a translation
Sweden’s royal wedding is set to attract one of largest gathering of kings and queens seen in Europe for years, a guest list for Friday’s pre-wedding concert has revealed.
•'Thank you for giving me my Prince' (19 Jun 10)
•Royal wedding brings out the magic (19 Jun 10)
•Party underway in Daniel’s home town (19 Jun 10)
The guest list for the wedding itself is a closely-guarded secret, but the foreign royals and heads of state attending the concert are thought certain to also attend the wedding.
BP CEO Hayward Yacht The Bob
Maritime news: BP CEO Hayward goes yachting at posh JP Morgan race, while partner in damaged oil well jumps ship, says “BP’s behavior and actions likely represent gross negligence or willful misconduct.”
June 19, 2010
AP: BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward, centre, sits aboard his yacht Bob, during the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, Saturday June 19, 2010.
The most out-of-touch CEO on the planet, BP CEO Tony Hayward got his “life back” for a day at “glitzy yacht race.” Some reports said he merely attended the event, but AP reports (with photo above) that he was aship while his company — and its oil — runs aground.
Why oh why hasn’t Hayward been fired yet??? I suppose it’s because the guy who could fire him, Board Chair Carl-Henric “We care about the small people” Svanberg is equally tone deaf.
While Hayward was yachting, BP’s “main partner in the damaged exploration well,” Anadarko Petroleum, was fleeing BP like … well, like the kind of creatures who are known to flee a sinking ship. In a damning statement, chief executive, Jim Hackett said:
“The mounting evidence clearly demonstrates that this tragedy was preventable and the direct result of BP’s reckless decisions and actions. Frankly, we are shocked by the publicly available information that has been disclosed in recent investigations and during this week’s testimony that, among other things, indicates BP operated unsafely and failed to monitor and react to several critical warning signs during the drilling of the Macondo well. BP’s behavior and actions likely represent gross negligence or willful misconduct and thus affect the obligations of the parties under the operating agreement.“
Is there no honor among oil companies? Not when real money is at stake, as the WashPost reports today:
Hackett’s comments have huge financial implications. As a 25 percent partner in the well, Anadarko would ordinarily be responsible for a quarter of all cleanup and damage costs. But, Hackett said, “BP’s behavior and actions likely represent gross negligence or willful misconduct and thus affect the obligations of the parties under the operating agreement.” He said Anadarko would donate to charity and civic groups any proceeds it receives from the sale of oil collected during the cleanup.
What a guy! Looks like there’s one oil company CEO talking to public relations experts.
It seems increasingly likely that BP will be found guilty of gross negligence or worse:
The three causes of BP’s Titanic oil disaster: Recklessness, Arrogance, and Hubris
Stupak stunner: Oil well’s blowout preventer had leaks, dead battery, design flaws, “How can a device that has 260 failure modes be considered fail-safe?”
Is BP the Goldman Sachs of Big Oil? CEO Hayward says to fellow executives: “What the hell did we do to deserve this?”
E-mail from BP engineer called Deepwater Horizon rig a ‘nightmare well’ six days before explosion
Time to fire BP CEO Tony Hayward
Friday, June 18, 2010
Alltell and Goldman Sachs (Diane Feinstein's husband Richard Blum involved somehow
EXCERPT:
2007 Alltel agrees to be acquired by TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners, the private equity division of Goldman Sachs for $27.5 billion.[11]
Simple Freedom Wireless merges with Alltel "U Prepaid" to form Alltel U Personalized Prepaid.
Feinstein's husband connection here
EXCERPT:
Jeffrey W. Ubben Director
Mr. Ubben has been a director of Seitel since February 2007. Mr. Ubben is a founding member and Managing Partner of ValueAct Capital. Prior to founding ValueAct Capital in 2000, Mr. Ubben was a Managing Partner at Blum Capital Partners (“Blum”) for more than five years. During his tenure at Blum, the actively managed assets under management grew more than five-fold, from $336 million to approximately $1.8 billion. Previously, Mr. Ubben spent eight years at Fidelity Management and Research where he managed two multi-billion-dollar mutual funds, including the Fidelity Value Fund, and served as a research analyst for a variety of industry sectors. Mr. Ubben is also a director of Acxiom Corp., Gartner Group, Inc., Misys, plc, and former chairman and director of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., a former director of Catalina Marketing Corp., Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., Mentor Corporation, Per-Se Technologies, Inc. and several other public and private companies. In addition, Mr. Ubben serves on the national board of the Posse Foundation and the board of the American Conservatory Theater.
Feinstein's husband (Richard Blum) and Al Gore's Current TV
EXCERPT:
Member of the Board of Current TV (2004-)
Current TV, Richard Blum and Goldman Sachs
EXCERPT:
(Their investment partners included former Goldman Sachs senior director Philip Murphy, who is now the Democratic finance committee chair; Richard Blum, husband of California Senator Dianne Feinstein; Sun Microsystems cofounder Bill Joy; and Bob Pittman, former chief operating officer of AOL Time Warner.)
Phillip Murphy
EXCERPT:
Another is Phil Murphy, a Goldman Sachs executive who served as the Democratic Party’s national finance chairman, tapped to represent the United States in Berlin. The Murphy appointment so troubled German leaders that they held up agrément–the diplomatic process under which the receiving nation agrees to accept the ambassadorial designee–so that Chancellor Angela Merkel could press the case for a career diplomat or serious political figure. Merkel made her appeal at the G-8 meeting at L’Aquila, but Obama was unswayed. The Germans finally relented and grudgingly accepted the appointment.
GS Capital is Goldman Sachs
EXCERPT:
A global leader in corporate equity investing, Goldman Sachs is currently investing its GS Capital Partners VI fund, our sixth global diversified fund.
Hillary's connection to Robert Maxwell and PROMIS software
EXCERPTS:
1) Since RFE’s article about Robert Maxwell money
laundering funds out of Bulgaria with the former prime
minister Andrei Lukanov, a trial in Bulgaria had begun
for the murder of prime minister Lukanov, killed in
1996. Three Bulgarians and two Ukrainians (Alexei
Kichatov and Alexander Rusov) were the defendants
for the murder of Lukanov. The Ukrainians were
allegedly the guns hired by the Bulgarians. The court
has found them guilty. One of the witnesses in the
trial, Iliya Pavlov, a billionaire mafia oligarch and the
president of the MG Corp, (MultiGroup), was shot dead
one day after he testified at the trial. (Pavlov's wife was
a financial contributor to Hillary Clinton's election
campaign).
2) Pavlov’s wife, Toni Chergelanova, was the daughter
of Chergelanov, the chief of the Bulgarian Intelligence
Service, according to the Nova Makedonija (2Nov95),
which also points out Multigroup’s links to the KGB
and mafia, as well as expansion into Macedonia and
Serbia.
[http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/mils/95-11-02.mils.html ]
3) The Maxwell book has other themes. One is Robert
Maxwell’s global marketing of the PROMIS software
containing an Israeli-engineered backdoor with an
undetectable electronic Trojan horse. The controversial
PROMIS software was at the center of the “Inslaw
Affair”. Maxwell sold the software to many government
intelligence agencies and financial institutions allowing
the Mossad secret and untraceable access into sensitive
and very confidential files. For example, the authors
write that Mossad official Rafi Eitan used PROMIS to
uncover bank deposits made at Credit Suisse in
Switzerland by Israeli millionaires illegally while
circumventing Israeli financial controls. By threatening
their exposure, the Mossad made the millionaires an
unrefusable offer to make donations to Israel. No one
apparently refused the Mossad’s offer.
Robert Maxwell and Pension funds scandal
EXCERPT:
Maxwell
More bad news about pensions came when it was revealed that the Mirror Group Pension fund had been plundered illegally by the business "tycoon" Robert Maxwell.
Workers who saved for years have got reduced pensions as a result and several years on, none of the highly paid professionals who were supposed to be taking responsibility for the security of the pension fund has been significantly punished.
Robert Maxwell and PROMIS software
EXCERPT:
Mossad had stolen from America the most important piece of software in the US arsenal. Maxwell was given the job of marketing the stolen software, called Promis.
Mossad had reconstructed the software and inserted into it a device which enabled them to track the use any purchaser made of the it. Sitting in Israel, Mossad would know exactly what was going on inside all the intelligence services that bought it. In all, Maxwell sold it to 42 countries, including China and Soviet Bloc nations. But his greatest triumph was selling it to Los Alamos, the very heart of the US nuclear defence system.
Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell was a British publishing baron of the 1980s and for a short time one of the world's most prominent media moguls. Born to poor Jewish parents in the Czech Republic, Maxwell fought in the British Army in World War II and then settled in Britain, changing his name and becoming head of Permagon Publishing. In the 1970s Maxwell began building a media empire by borrowing and spending lavishly, acquiring among other properties the Daily Mirror, the book publisher MacMillan, and (in 1991) the New York Daily News. His rivalry with Australian mogul Rupert Murdoch was much publicized. In 1991, facing financial difficulties, Maxwell drowned while yachting off the Canary Islands. (The exact circumstances of his demise were unclear; a Spanish judge ruled out foul play, but did not determine how the death occurred.) After his death investigators discovered that Maxwell had propped up his empire by diverting hundreds of millions of pounds from pension funds and other sources. It was a major financial fiasco, and Maxwell's empire was dissolved and sold off in the following years.
Gideons Spies Secret History Mossad
EXCERPT:
Amazon.com Review
The Mossad was formed in 1951 to coordinate the intelligence-gathering efforts of the still-young nation of Israel. In the nearly half century since, it has become a force to be reckoned with, boasting an impressive track record of counterterrorist actions and assassinations. Gideon's Spies is loaded with anecdotes of their greatest exploits (and a few colossal blunders). Among the most interesting sections are the suggestions that Mossad agents killed media tycoon Robert Maxwell in 1991, that the agency's attempted recruitment of Henri Paul, the driver of Princess Diana's car that fateful night, may have caused sufficient emotional distress to be a contributing factor in the accident, and that Mossad operatives in America had tapes of the phone-sex conversations between President Bill Clinton and his lover Monica Lewinsky. There's also some extensive material on the links between the Israelis and the Vatican, including the Mossad's role in the investigation into the attempted 1981 assassination of Pope John Paul II and the agency's constant battles against the PLO. An interesting nonfiction read for fans of international spy thrillers. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Murder Mossad-style: Spy expert on Dubai cloak-and-dagger story youtube
Tehran scientist assassinated Iran blames CIA and Mossad
NEWS: Tehran scientist assassinated; Iran blames CIA & Mossad but opposition suspects regime
Wednesday, 13 January 2010 08:34 Randy Talbot Massoud Ali Mohammadi, a professor of physics and nuclear energy at Tehran University, was killed at 7:30 a.m. by a device hidden inside a motorcycle outside his home in northern Tehran, the third Iranian nuclear scientist known to have died or disappeared since 2007, the Financial Times of London reported Tuesday.[1] -- AFP said the speaker of Iran's Majlis, Ali Larijani, said Tuesday that "We had received clear information a few days before [the assassination] that the [intelligence] service of the Zionist regime, with the cooperation of the CIA, were seeking to carry out a terrorist act in Tehran."[2] -- While the U.S. denied the charge, Israel had nothing to say, Haaretz reported Wednesday.[3] -- The Washington Post reported that Ali Mohammadi "specialized in particle and theoretical physics and had no apparent connection with nuclear physics."[4] -- "The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, which controls the country's nuclear program, said he was not affiliated with the agency," said Thomas Erdbrink and William Branigin. -- "Colleagues who worked closely with Ali-Mohammadi said he was a serious scientist who had no interest in politics. Yet both the government and the opposition claimed him as a supporter." -- But the London Independent reported with some confidence that "Dr. Mohammadi, it later emerged, lent support to the campaign of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi in last June's presidential elections and complained publicly about the treatment of students in the protest movement. The disclosure fed speculation that his death was carried out internally as a lesson to intimidate critics of the regime."[5] -- Katherine Butler raised the possibility that its purpose was to intimidate Iranian academics, and noted that such murders have taken place before in the Islamic Republic....
Was Arthur Anderson worse than ENRON? AA advised Monsanto
EXCERPT:
At a biotech industry conference in January 1999, a representative from Arthur Anderson, LLP explained how they had helped Monsanto design their strategic plan. First, his team asked Monsanto executives what their ideal future looked like in 15 to 20 years. The executives described a world with 100% of all commercial seeds genetically modified and patented. Anderson consultants then worked backwards from that goal, and developed the strategy and tactics to achieve it. They presented Monsanto with the steps and procedures needed to obtain a place of industry dominance in a world in which natural seeds were virtually extinct.
ENRON International
EXCERPT:
India
Enron is well known for its actions in India. Around 1992 India came to the United States to find energy investors to help India with its energy shortage problems. Many countries were wary of doing business with India; Enron was not. In December 1993, Enron inked a 20-year power-purchase contract with the Maharashtra State Electricity Board. The contract allowed Enron to construct a massive 2,015 megawatt power plant. Construction would be completed in two phases and Enron would form its own power company to help manage the plant, the Dabhol Power Company. The power project was the first step in a $20 billion scheme to help rebuild and stabilize India's power grid. Enron, GE (who was selling turbines to the project),and Bechtel (who was actually constructing the plant), each put up 10 percent equity.
Jackson Stephens, Clintons, PTECH, PROMIS and much much more
EXCERPT:
Ptech, though known by FBI Bin Laden Unit Chief (later whistleblower) Robert Wright to be headed by a major Al Qaeda financier, and funded by Stephens’ former BCCI colleagues, was placed in charge of software management at every critical US Government agency- Defense, State, Justice, Energy, Transportation, the White House itself.
Ptech and a quasi government entity named MITRE, utilized PROMIS software to create the FAA’s National Airspace System, in control of operations on 911.
Arthur Andersen case overturned
EXCERPT:
JAN CRAWFORD GREENBURG: Right. Obstruction of justice is what the government charged and ultimately convicted Arthur Andersen of doing.
GWEN IFILL: So that was a huge conviction, highly symbolic in a time when corporate scandals were all the rage and everyone was talking about them. Today, big reversal. Why?
JAN CRAWFORD GREENBURG: The court today rejected the government's interpretation of this witness tampering law, and said that the jury instructions in the case were just -- misstated the law and were wrong. And throughout this conviction it was nine to nothing. The decision was short. It came about very swiftly, and showed that the legal issues for these Justices were so clear that the case had to be reversed.
Now keep in mind that this was a conviction in 2002 that brought down this once-proud accounting company, one of the world's leading accounting companies, 28,000 employees on board. Now it has about 200. So the reversal of this conviction in many ways is just an astonishing end to this story.
EXCERPT:
2007 Alltel agrees to be acquired by TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners, the private equity division of Goldman Sachs for $27.5 billion.[11]
Simple Freedom Wireless merges with Alltel "U Prepaid" to form Alltel U Personalized Prepaid.
Feinstein's husband connection here
EXCERPT:
Jeffrey W. Ubben Director
Mr. Ubben has been a director of Seitel since February 2007. Mr. Ubben is a founding member and Managing Partner of ValueAct Capital. Prior to founding ValueAct Capital in 2000, Mr. Ubben was a Managing Partner at Blum Capital Partners (“Blum”) for more than five years. During his tenure at Blum, the actively managed assets under management grew more than five-fold, from $336 million to approximately $1.8 billion. Previously, Mr. Ubben spent eight years at Fidelity Management and Research where he managed two multi-billion-dollar mutual funds, including the Fidelity Value Fund, and served as a research analyst for a variety of industry sectors. Mr. Ubben is also a director of Acxiom Corp., Gartner Group, Inc., Misys, plc, and former chairman and director of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., a former director of Catalina Marketing Corp., Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., Mentor Corporation, Per-Se Technologies, Inc. and several other public and private companies. In addition, Mr. Ubben serves on the national board of the Posse Foundation and the board of the American Conservatory Theater.
Feinstein's husband (Richard Blum) and Al Gore's Current TV
EXCERPT:
Member of the Board of Current TV (2004-)
Current TV, Richard Blum and Goldman Sachs
EXCERPT:
(Their investment partners included former Goldman Sachs senior director Philip Murphy, who is now the Democratic finance committee chair; Richard Blum, husband of California Senator Dianne Feinstein; Sun Microsystems cofounder Bill Joy; and Bob Pittman, former chief operating officer of AOL Time Warner.)
Phillip Murphy
EXCERPT:
Another is Phil Murphy, a Goldman Sachs executive who served as the Democratic Party’s national finance chairman, tapped to represent the United States in Berlin. The Murphy appointment so troubled German leaders that they held up agrément–the diplomatic process under which the receiving nation agrees to accept the ambassadorial designee–so that Chancellor Angela Merkel could press the case for a career diplomat or serious political figure. Merkel made her appeal at the G-8 meeting at L’Aquila, but Obama was unswayed. The Germans finally relented and grudgingly accepted the appointment.
GS Capital is Goldman Sachs
EXCERPT:
A global leader in corporate equity investing, Goldman Sachs is currently investing its GS Capital Partners VI fund, our sixth global diversified fund.
Hillary's connection to Robert Maxwell and PROMIS software
EXCERPTS:
1) Since RFE’s article about Robert Maxwell money
laundering funds out of Bulgaria with the former prime
minister Andrei Lukanov, a trial in Bulgaria had begun
for the murder of prime minister Lukanov, killed in
1996. Three Bulgarians and two Ukrainians (Alexei
Kichatov and Alexander Rusov) were the defendants
for the murder of Lukanov. The Ukrainians were
allegedly the guns hired by the Bulgarians. The court
has found them guilty. One of the witnesses in the
trial, Iliya Pavlov, a billionaire mafia oligarch and the
president of the MG Corp, (MultiGroup), was shot dead
one day after he testified at the trial. (Pavlov's wife was
a financial contributor to Hillary Clinton's election
campaign).
2) Pavlov’s wife, Toni Chergelanova, was the daughter
of Chergelanov, the chief of the Bulgarian Intelligence
Service, according to the Nova Makedonija (2Nov95),
which also points out Multigroup’s links to the KGB
and mafia, as well as expansion into Macedonia and
Serbia.
[http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/mils/95-11-02.mils.html ]
3) The Maxwell book has other themes. One is Robert
Maxwell’s global marketing of the PROMIS software
containing an Israeli-engineered backdoor with an
undetectable electronic Trojan horse. The controversial
PROMIS software was at the center of the “Inslaw
Affair”. Maxwell sold the software to many government
intelligence agencies and financial institutions allowing
the Mossad secret and untraceable access into sensitive
and very confidential files. For example, the authors
write that Mossad official Rafi Eitan used PROMIS to
uncover bank deposits made at Credit Suisse in
Switzerland by Israeli millionaires illegally while
circumventing Israeli financial controls. By threatening
their exposure, the Mossad made the millionaires an
unrefusable offer to make donations to Israel. No one
apparently refused the Mossad’s offer.
Robert Maxwell and Pension funds scandal
EXCERPT:
Maxwell
More bad news about pensions came when it was revealed that the Mirror Group Pension fund had been plundered illegally by the business "tycoon" Robert Maxwell.
Workers who saved for years have got reduced pensions as a result and several years on, none of the highly paid professionals who were supposed to be taking responsibility for the security of the pension fund has been significantly punished.
Robert Maxwell and PROMIS software
EXCERPT:
Mossad had stolen from America the most important piece of software in the US arsenal. Maxwell was given the job of marketing the stolen software, called Promis.
Mossad had reconstructed the software and inserted into it a device which enabled them to track the use any purchaser made of the it. Sitting in Israel, Mossad would know exactly what was going on inside all the intelligence services that bought it. In all, Maxwell sold it to 42 countries, including China and Soviet Bloc nations. But his greatest triumph was selling it to Los Alamos, the very heart of the US nuclear defence system.
Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell was a British publishing baron of the 1980s and for a short time one of the world's most prominent media moguls. Born to poor Jewish parents in the Czech Republic, Maxwell fought in the British Army in World War II and then settled in Britain, changing his name and becoming head of Permagon Publishing. In the 1970s Maxwell began building a media empire by borrowing and spending lavishly, acquiring among other properties the Daily Mirror, the book publisher MacMillan, and (in 1991) the New York Daily News. His rivalry with Australian mogul Rupert Murdoch was much publicized. In 1991, facing financial difficulties, Maxwell drowned while yachting off the Canary Islands. (The exact circumstances of his demise were unclear; a Spanish judge ruled out foul play, but did not determine how the death occurred.) After his death investigators discovered that Maxwell had propped up his empire by diverting hundreds of millions of pounds from pension funds and other sources. It was a major financial fiasco, and Maxwell's empire was dissolved and sold off in the following years.
Gideons Spies Secret History Mossad
EXCERPT:
Amazon.com Review
The Mossad was formed in 1951 to coordinate the intelligence-gathering efforts of the still-young nation of Israel. In the nearly half century since, it has become a force to be reckoned with, boasting an impressive track record of counterterrorist actions and assassinations. Gideon's Spies is loaded with anecdotes of their greatest exploits (and a few colossal blunders). Among the most interesting sections are the suggestions that Mossad agents killed media tycoon Robert Maxwell in 1991, that the agency's attempted recruitment of Henri Paul, the driver of Princess Diana's car that fateful night, may have caused sufficient emotional distress to be a contributing factor in the accident, and that Mossad operatives in America had tapes of the phone-sex conversations between President Bill Clinton and his lover Monica Lewinsky. There's also some extensive material on the links between the Israelis and the Vatican, including the Mossad's role in the investigation into the attempted 1981 assassination of Pope John Paul II and the agency's constant battles against the PLO. An interesting nonfiction read for fans of international spy thrillers. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Murder Mossad-style: Spy expert on Dubai cloak-and-dagger story youtube
Tehran scientist assassinated Iran blames CIA and Mossad
NEWS: Tehran scientist assassinated; Iran blames CIA & Mossad but opposition suspects regime
Wednesday, 13 January 2010 08:34 Randy Talbot Massoud Ali Mohammadi, a professor of physics and nuclear energy at Tehran University, was killed at 7:30 a.m. by a device hidden inside a motorcycle outside his home in northern Tehran, the third Iranian nuclear scientist known to have died or disappeared since 2007, the Financial Times of London reported Tuesday.[1] -- AFP said the speaker of Iran's Majlis, Ali Larijani, said Tuesday that "We had received clear information a few days before [the assassination] that the [intelligence] service of the Zionist regime, with the cooperation of the CIA, were seeking to carry out a terrorist act in Tehran."[2] -- While the U.S. denied the charge, Israel had nothing to say, Haaretz reported Wednesday.[3] -- The Washington Post reported that Ali Mohammadi "specialized in particle and theoretical physics and had no apparent connection with nuclear physics."[4] -- "The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, which controls the country's nuclear program, said he was not affiliated with the agency," said Thomas Erdbrink and William Branigin. -- "Colleagues who worked closely with Ali-Mohammadi said he was a serious scientist who had no interest in politics. Yet both the government and the opposition claimed him as a supporter." -- But the London Independent reported with some confidence that "Dr. Mohammadi, it later emerged, lent support to the campaign of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi in last June's presidential elections and complained publicly about the treatment of students in the protest movement. The disclosure fed speculation that his death was carried out internally as a lesson to intimidate critics of the regime."[5] -- Katherine Butler raised the possibility that its purpose was to intimidate Iranian academics, and noted that such murders have taken place before in the Islamic Republic....
Was Arthur Anderson worse than ENRON? AA advised Monsanto
EXCERPT:
At a biotech industry conference in January 1999, a representative from Arthur Anderson, LLP explained how they had helped Monsanto design their strategic plan. First, his team asked Monsanto executives what their ideal future looked like in 15 to 20 years. The executives described a world with 100% of all commercial seeds genetically modified and patented. Anderson consultants then worked backwards from that goal, and developed the strategy and tactics to achieve it. They presented Monsanto with the steps and procedures needed to obtain a place of industry dominance in a world in which natural seeds were virtually extinct.
ENRON International
EXCERPT:
India
Enron is well known for its actions in India. Around 1992 India came to the United States to find energy investors to help India with its energy shortage problems. Many countries were wary of doing business with India; Enron was not. In December 1993, Enron inked a 20-year power-purchase contract with the Maharashtra State Electricity Board. The contract allowed Enron to construct a massive 2,015 megawatt power plant. Construction would be completed in two phases and Enron would form its own power company to help manage the plant, the Dabhol Power Company. The power project was the first step in a $20 billion scheme to help rebuild and stabilize India's power grid. Enron, GE (who was selling turbines to the project),and Bechtel (who was actually constructing the plant), each put up 10 percent equity.
Jackson Stephens, Clintons, PTECH, PROMIS and much much more
EXCERPT:
Ptech, though known by FBI Bin Laden Unit Chief (later whistleblower) Robert Wright to be headed by a major Al Qaeda financier, and funded by Stephens’ former BCCI colleagues, was placed in charge of software management at every critical US Government agency- Defense, State, Justice, Energy, Transportation, the White House itself.
Ptech and a quasi government entity named MITRE, utilized PROMIS software to create the FAA’s National Airspace System, in control of operations on 911.
Arthur Andersen case overturned
EXCERPT:
JAN CRAWFORD GREENBURG: Right. Obstruction of justice is what the government charged and ultimately convicted Arthur Andersen of doing.
GWEN IFILL: So that was a huge conviction, highly symbolic in a time when corporate scandals were all the rage and everyone was talking about them. Today, big reversal. Why?
JAN CRAWFORD GREENBURG: The court today rejected the government's interpretation of this witness tampering law, and said that the jury instructions in the case were just -- misstated the law and were wrong. And throughout this conviction it was nine to nothing. The decision was short. It came about very swiftly, and showed that the legal issues for these Justices were so clear that the case had to be reversed.
Now keep in mind that this was a conviction in 2002 that brought down this once-proud accounting company, one of the world's leading accounting companies, 28,000 employees on board. Now it has about 200. So the reversal of this conviction in many ways is just an astonishing end to this story.
Mystuffs.......... I thought this over for a bit and decided this was the perfect place and time to share this. It's simple and maybe when you first read it, it won't make much sense why I did it now but think you'll get it.... (don't ever give up, k?)
I had a beautiful RED blouse that I simply loved from the very first moment I bought it. Not only was it pretty, it was economical, I paid 10$ for it. It simply WAS me. It had no collar and it had long sleeves.
I was working at Hologix at the time and I was going to wear it to work. It usually didn't need ironing as the material was such that it simply could be put in the dryer and if gotten out immediately was fine..... HOWEVER, I didn't get it out of the dryer this day in time and I needed to iron it.
OMG, for whatever reason I left the iron on the material too long and I'll be damned if I didn't burn a hole in the sleeve. Cry,cry, cry. Anyways, I didn't have time to cut and sew on that dreadful morning and in fact didn't know I would save my beautiful RED blouse.
I wore something else that day........duh!!! ........when I got home that night I decided to try and save my beloved RED blouse. I cut the RED sleeves and sewed them up and voila, it was perfect. (If fact be known, I think I liked the RED blouse much better with short RED sleeves.)
Time passed and I wore the RED blouse at least once a week for quite some time. OMG, you aren't gonna believe this but one morning I got up and put on my beautiful RED, short sleeved blouse and off popped one of the RED buttons. hmmmmm, ok already then, I got out my needle and had to find the RED thread. I found the RED thread finally and (as I'm getting a little older I noticed I couldn't thread the damn needle as my eyes are not as young as they used to be) tried, in vain, to thread the needle. My eyes get blood shot RED too if I'm not sensitive to the strain.
I don't know if yaw'll are aware but on occasion I do have a bit of a temper and not much patience. (I saw RED) I threw the RED blouse on the floor and stomped on it and lost the needle in the process. I wore something else that day.... duh!!!
I got home from work that Tuesday and picked that damned RED blouse up off the floor and got out my needle and once again, couldn't RED thread the needle. It was hopeless and I put the blouse, RED thread, and needle up.
One day when I had a little extra time on my hands I took out my 'precious' RED blouse and with loving care tried to thread the needle with RED thread only to be frustrated once again. (I didn't have a temper tantrum this time though and simply gave up for the time being.)
I looked in the mirror and I decided right then and there to take a different approach. I decided this was something I needed to figure out. I decided to put my faith in my God. I glanced in the mirror, picked up the RED blouse, went into the living room and sat down.
I had it all figured out....... (hey, I could have got a needle with a bigger eye but that wasn't considered at the time.) God was in charge and maybe I'm over simplifying it but damn it that's what happened and I knew it....... HE/SHE was teaching me a lesson and for whatever reason I realized it right away.
I picked up the needle and RED thread and voila, I was able successfully to RED thread the needle and it was easy. I sewed the button on and I wore the RED blouse for another 2 or 3 years.
I had other things in my life that were similar. I think I was a drunk at one point in my life. One day I woke up and decided I was gonna quit and I did just that. (I didn't know at that time though and would learn all of this a bit later with my RED blouse.......)I still on occasion have a drink but I am not addicted like I was and when talking to others........ Well, when talking to others, they have their own opinion and experiences and it often isn't like mine at all.
Sometimes it simply takes an inner God and self talk but I think .......... better yet, I know that there is a God and He/She is full of love and wonder and miracles (my RED blouse after all proves that, right?)....... and sometimes He/She works in strange ways but for now, IT'S ABOUT TIME.
I think the moral of the above story is don't give up on things you love..... I love the world and I love the folks in it and damn it all anyways....... temper tantrums and all, I can't give up........ one day the RED blouse had seen it's time and I was able to simply throw it in the trash but till it was time I loved it and kept it through thick and thin. (I have learned to deal with my temper a little better with help from some of my online friends. Thanks Theresa, thanks Michelle and most of all thanks to my SOULMATE, you know who you are. (I take a nice hot bath, I light candles and I have a spot of sleepytime tea and it always seems to do the trick.)
It's About Time Theme youtube Must Watch
It's About Time this one reminds me of Abu Ghairib in comical fashion youtube
1966 Promo for "It's About Time" (1967-1968) (1960's Classic Television youtube)
An Iranian woman sued the US Treasury
EXCERPT:
Lawsuit Against the United States:
Ebadi sued the U.S. Treasury Department in 2004 for blocking U.S. publication of her memoir, Iran Awakening, under anti-Iranian embargo laws. Her lawsuit was ultimately successful, and the book was published by Random House in 2006.
Awards and Recognition:
Although her work has long been recognized in Iran, Ebadi achieved global fame when she was awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. She is also the recipient of at least thirteen honorary doctorates, the French Legion of Honor, and numerous awards from international human rights groups.
Persecution in 2009:
In May 2009, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was "reelected" as president of Iran using vote tallies that were obviously spurious in nature. Thousands of Iranians protested, and the Iranian government responded by targeting reformers and their families. The government threatened to prosecute Ebadi for capital offenses in a June 2009 newspaper editorial, froze her financial accounts, and detained and beat her husband several months later. In November 2009, international journalists learned that the Iranian government had stolen Ebadi's Nobel Prize diploma and medallion from her safe deposit box.
Current Status:
Although Ebadi has criticized many policies of the Iranian government, she believes that nonviolent internal reform is possible and is a leading voice against U.S. conservatives' proposed invasion of Iran. Although the Khamenei/Ahmadinejad regime has harassed Ebadi and her family, and has taken an increasingly hostile tone towards her work, she appears to be safe, in good spirits, and actively carrying on her human rights advocacy work within Iran.
Ahmadinejad's Zimbabwe visit a colossal scandal
EXCERPT:
April 23, 2010, 4:52 AM EDT
(Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change said a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the country is a “colossal scandal.”
Ahmadinejad was invited to open Zimbabwe’s annual trade fair in the second-largest city, Bulawayo. The MDC, which shares power with President Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, “was not consulted about Ahmadinejad’s visit,” party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said.
Chavez and Clinton face OAS general assembly meeting
EXCERPT:
Hugo Chavez is a Bright and Shining Star in the political sky over Latin America, willing to insult Kings and Presidents, take on and take out Multinational Corporations, consolidating power and crushing opposition, all to further his Bolivarian Revolution. However, he has not been able to rise by himself. The alliances Chavez has formed have fueled his power, influence and support, but alliances come at a price and the price has not yet been paid.
Hugo’s strategy to unify Latin American and Caribbean Countries within ALBA (trans. “Dawn”) (The Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) and his success in doing so has impressed his Masters and every step he takes forward on his plan; they are becoming more and more visible.
Iran-Japan relations
EXCERPT:
Japan's foreign policy towards and investments in Iran have historically been dominated by the desire to secure reliable energy supplies; Iran is Japan's third-largest oil supplier after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.[6]
The balance of trade between Iran and Japan is heavily weighed in favor of Iran, with Japan exporting automobiles and electrical products and importing petroleum and petrochemical products. As of 2010, Japan cooperates with Iran on several major projects; the annual trade volume of the two states exceeds $11 billion.[7]
The leaders of Venezuela and Iran boasted they would be victorious over US
EXCERPT:
TEHRAN, Iran — The leaders of Venezuela and Iran on Monday boasted that together they would be victorious over the United States, saying the fall of the U.S. dollar was a prelude to the end of American dominance in the world.
Shirin Ebabi
I had a beautiful RED blouse that I simply loved from the very first moment I bought it. Not only was it pretty, it was economical, I paid 10$ for it. It simply WAS me. It had no collar and it had long sleeves.
I was working at Hologix at the time and I was going to wear it to work. It usually didn't need ironing as the material was such that it simply could be put in the dryer and if gotten out immediately was fine..... HOWEVER, I didn't get it out of the dryer this day in time and I needed to iron it.
OMG, for whatever reason I left the iron on the material too long and I'll be damned if I didn't burn a hole in the sleeve. Cry,cry, cry. Anyways, I didn't have time to cut and sew on that dreadful morning and in fact didn't know I would save my beautiful RED blouse.
I wore something else that day........duh!!! ........when I got home that night I decided to try and save my beloved RED blouse. I cut the RED sleeves and sewed them up and voila, it was perfect. (If fact be known, I think I liked the RED blouse much better with short RED sleeves.)
Time passed and I wore the RED blouse at least once a week for quite some time. OMG, you aren't gonna believe this but one morning I got up and put on my beautiful RED, short sleeved blouse and off popped one of the RED buttons. hmmmmm, ok already then, I got out my needle and had to find the RED thread. I found the RED thread finally and (as I'm getting a little older I noticed I couldn't thread the damn needle as my eyes are not as young as they used to be) tried, in vain, to thread the needle. My eyes get blood shot RED too if I'm not sensitive to the strain.
I don't know if yaw'll are aware but on occasion I do have a bit of a temper and not much patience. (I saw RED) I threw the RED blouse on the floor and stomped on it and lost the needle in the process. I wore something else that day.... duh!!!
I got home from work that Tuesday and picked that damned RED blouse up off the floor and got out my needle and once again, couldn't RED thread the needle. It was hopeless and I put the blouse, RED thread, and needle up.
One day when I had a little extra time on my hands I took out my 'precious' RED blouse and with loving care tried to thread the needle with RED thread only to be frustrated once again. (I didn't have a temper tantrum this time though and simply gave up for the time being.)
I looked in the mirror and I decided right then and there to take a different approach. I decided this was something I needed to figure out. I decided to put my faith in my God. I glanced in the mirror, picked up the RED blouse, went into the living room and sat down.
I had it all figured out....... (hey, I could have got a needle with a bigger eye but that wasn't considered at the time.) God was in charge and maybe I'm over simplifying it but damn it that's what happened and I knew it....... HE/SHE was teaching me a lesson and for whatever reason I realized it right away.
I picked up the needle and RED thread and voila, I was able successfully to RED thread the needle and it was easy. I sewed the button on and I wore the RED blouse for another 2 or 3 years.
I had other things in my life that were similar. I think I was a drunk at one point in my life. One day I woke up and decided I was gonna quit and I did just that. (I didn't know at that time though and would learn all of this a bit later with my RED blouse.......)I still on occasion have a drink but I am not addicted like I was and when talking to others........ Well, when talking to others, they have their own opinion and experiences and it often isn't like mine at all.
Sometimes it simply takes an inner God and self talk but I think .......... better yet, I know that there is a God and He/She is full of love and wonder and miracles (my RED blouse after all proves that, right?)....... and sometimes He/She works in strange ways but for now, IT'S ABOUT TIME.
I think the moral of the above story is don't give up on things you love..... I love the world and I love the folks in it and damn it all anyways....... temper tantrums and all, I can't give up........ one day the RED blouse had seen it's time and I was able to simply throw it in the trash but till it was time I loved it and kept it through thick and thin. (I have learned to deal with my temper a little better with help from some of my online friends. Thanks Theresa, thanks Michelle and most of all thanks to my SOULMATE, you know who you are. (I take a nice hot bath, I light candles and I have a spot of sleepytime tea and it always seems to do the trick.)
It's About Time Theme youtube Must Watch
It's About Time this one reminds me of Abu Ghairib in comical fashion youtube
1966 Promo for "It's About Time" (1967-1968) (1960's Classic Television youtube)
An Iranian woman sued the US Treasury
EXCERPT:
Lawsuit Against the United States:
Ebadi sued the U.S. Treasury Department in 2004 for blocking U.S. publication of her memoir, Iran Awakening, under anti-Iranian embargo laws. Her lawsuit was ultimately successful, and the book was published by Random House in 2006.
Awards and Recognition:
Although her work has long been recognized in Iran, Ebadi achieved global fame when she was awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. She is also the recipient of at least thirteen honorary doctorates, the French Legion of Honor, and numerous awards from international human rights groups.
Persecution in 2009:
In May 2009, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was "reelected" as president of Iran using vote tallies that were obviously spurious in nature. Thousands of Iranians protested, and the Iranian government responded by targeting reformers and their families. The government threatened to prosecute Ebadi for capital offenses in a June 2009 newspaper editorial, froze her financial accounts, and detained and beat her husband several months later. In November 2009, international journalists learned that the Iranian government had stolen Ebadi's Nobel Prize diploma and medallion from her safe deposit box.
Current Status:
Although Ebadi has criticized many policies of the Iranian government, she believes that nonviolent internal reform is possible and is a leading voice against U.S. conservatives' proposed invasion of Iran. Although the Khamenei/Ahmadinejad regime has harassed Ebadi and her family, and has taken an increasingly hostile tone towards her work, she appears to be safe, in good spirits, and actively carrying on her human rights advocacy work within Iran.
Ahmadinejad's Zimbabwe visit a colossal scandal
EXCERPT:
April 23, 2010, 4:52 AM EDT
(Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change said a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the country is a “colossal scandal.”
Ahmadinejad was invited to open Zimbabwe’s annual trade fair in the second-largest city, Bulawayo. The MDC, which shares power with President Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, “was not consulted about Ahmadinejad’s visit,” party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said.
Chavez and Clinton face OAS general assembly meeting
EXCERPT:
Hugo Chavez is a Bright and Shining Star in the political sky over Latin America, willing to insult Kings and Presidents, take on and take out Multinational Corporations, consolidating power and crushing opposition, all to further his Bolivarian Revolution. However, he has not been able to rise by himself. The alliances Chavez has formed have fueled his power, influence and support, but alliances come at a price and the price has not yet been paid.
Hugo’s strategy to unify Latin American and Caribbean Countries within ALBA (trans. “Dawn”) (The Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) and his success in doing so has impressed his Masters and every step he takes forward on his plan; they are becoming more and more visible.
Iran-Japan relations
EXCERPT:
Japan's foreign policy towards and investments in Iran have historically been dominated by the desire to secure reliable energy supplies; Iran is Japan's third-largest oil supplier after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.[6]
The balance of trade between Iran and Japan is heavily weighed in favor of Iran, with Japan exporting automobiles and electrical products and importing petroleum and petrochemical products. As of 2010, Japan cooperates with Iran on several major projects; the annual trade volume of the two states exceeds $11 billion.[7]
The leaders of Venezuela and Iran boasted they would be victorious over US
EXCERPT:
TEHRAN, Iran — The leaders of Venezuela and Iran on Monday boasted that together they would be victorious over the United States, saying the fall of the U.S. dollar was a prelude to the end of American dominance in the world.
Shirin Ebabi
Thursday, June 17, 2010
BP Ceo should commit Hari Kari video
Did BP cronies sell stock early due to insider info?
EXCERPT:
The Deepwater Horizon blew up on April 20th, and sank a couple of days later. BP has been criticized for failing to report on the seriousness of the blow out for several weeks.
However, as a whistleblower previously told 60 Minutes, there was an accident at the rig a month or more prior to the April 20th explosion:
[Mike Williams, the chief electronics technician on the Deepwater Horizon, and one of the last workers to leave the doomed rig] said they were told it would take 21 days; according to him, it actually took six weeks.
Japan defies US 2001 signs oil deal with Iran, defies US warning
EXCERPT:
TEHRAN, July 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Despite U.S. pressure on its allies to refrain from making oil and gas deals with Iran, Japan has signed a letter of intent with the country, agreeing to pay $10 million to participate in a seismic study of the southwestern Azadegan oilfield, which holds a 26-billion barrel oil reserve.
The agreement came in a joint statement issued Sunday evening, following a meeting between visiting Japanese Trade Minister Takeo Hiranuma, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, news agencies reported Monday.
"Japan is not affected by U.S. pressure," Hiranuma said during the signing ceremony in Tehran.
Hugo Chavez seizes land owned by Irish tycoon
EXCERPT:
His government announced it had taken control of 3,700 acres owned by the Dublin-based Smurfit Kappa Group.
Socialist leader Chavez said he was making the move because the land was being used to grow eucalyptus, a cardboard component, instead of food in violation of Venezuelan law.
Earlier this week Chavez ordered the takeover of a Venezuelan unit of US agriculture giant Cargill.
Venezuela moves to seize US owned telecom
EXCERPT:
Jan. 21, 2007, 9:03 p.m. EST
Venezuela moves to seize U.S.-owned telecom
Chavez orders takeover of Verizon property without prior compensation
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez moved Sunday to take over Compania Anonima Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela, known as CANTV, without first compensating its U.S. owner, Verizon Communications Inc., and said the government won't pay market price for the telecom, according to media reports.
Chavez to seize more companies
EXCERPT:
Chavez also expressed concern about "water that transnational companies have privatised", and he mentioned Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
"That must be reviewed quickly," he said. "That water in the first place belongs to the people. Water is social property."
Hugo Chavez v Monsanto
EXCERPT:
VENEZUELA: Chavez dumps Monsanto
Wednesday, November 17, 1993 - 11:00
Jason Tockman, Caracas
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias has announced that the cultivation of genetically modified crops will be prohibited on Venezuelan soil, possibly establishing the most sweeping restrictions on transgenic crops in the western hemisphere.
Though full details of the administration's policy on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are still forthcoming, the statement by President Hugo Chavez will lead most immediately to the cancellation of a contract that Venezuela had negotiated with the US-based Monsanto Corporation.
Before a recent international gathering of supporters in Caracas, Chavez admonished genetically engineered crops as contrary to interests and needs of the nation's farmers and farmworkers. He then zeroed in on Monsanto's plans to plant up to 500,000 acres of transgenic soybeans in Venezuela.
"I ordered an end to the project", said Chavez, upon learning that transgenic crops were involved. "This project is terminated."
Chavez seizes food
EXCERPT:
In addition to assets belonging to Polar, the government has been seizing control of plants belonging to US food giant Cargill, Mexican bread maker Gruma and taken almost full control of the nation's coffee industry with the seizure of the country's two largest coffee processors, Fama de America and Café Madrid. In 2010 the process has taken a new turn with Chávez turning his attention to the retail sector and taking control of the Exito retail network controlled by French grocery giant Casino. This move followed a devaluation of the bolivar, with Venezuela obliged to cut the value of its currency to improve the financial position of state oil firm PdVSA - one of the main sources of government revenues. However, the move is expected to stoke inflation, which is already the highest in Latin America and we are currently forecasting headline inflation to reach 40% by year-end - clearly a dangerous situation for a government which derives much of its popularity from pledges to increase standards of living.
Cargill v Hugo Chavez
EXCERPT:
"Begin the expropriation process with Cargill," he said in a nationally televised speech in which he accused the company of growing specialized forms of rice in an attempt to evade price controls.
The leftist president called the company's practices "a flagrant violation of everything that we have been doing."
Chavez: Venezuela looks to seize banker's assets
EXCERPT:
Chavez says government to seize assets of Venezuelan opponent after bank shutdown
JORGE RUEDA
AP News
Jun 17, 2010 00:04 EDT
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday said his government is looking to seize the assets of an opponent whose bank was taken over by regulators, and warned that might include his minority ownership stake in an anti-government television channel.
Chavez suggested that bank owner Nelson Mezerhane, who is in the United States, will owe the government to recoup losses after officials took over management of Banco Federal, which he said is broke.
"Now I'm finding out about all the businesses these people own," Chavez said in a speech to graduating doctors, saying that the government is to start seizing more properties such as apartments or other properties "if the owners of the bank don't show up."
He mentioned that among Mezerhane's assets are shares in Globovision — the country's only TV channel that takes an anti-Chavez line.
"He should get on a plane to come show his face," Chavez said of Mezerhane, who was in Florida at the time banking regulators seized control of his bank on Monday.
Mezerhane has said he has no plans to return to Venezuela for now. He has condemned the bank takeover as political retribution against him and Globovision, saying the bank was in sound financial shape but the government had been pressuring him and had withdrawn large deposits to try to undermine the bank.
Targeting Toyota US economic war directed against Japan
EXCERPT:
Targeting Toyota: US Economic War Directed Against Japan
by TheTotalCollapse.com on February 26, 2010
Targeting Toyota: US Economic War Directed Against Japan
Feb 26, 2010 11:47 AM
from http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=17804
Does anyone really believe that Toyota is being pilloried in the media for a few highway fatalities?
Nonsense. If Congress is so worried about innocent people getting killed, then why haven’t they indicted US commander Stanley McChrystal for blowing up another 27 Afghan civilians on Sunday?
Business
EXCERPT:
2/25/2010
Toyota's Problems Shift into New Gear
Grueling Congressional Hearings Over, but Slew of Federal Investigations on Horizon
The Japanese government often allows Japanese corporations to tackle their problems in private. But the uproar over Toyota has the Japanese government listening. Celia Hatton reports.
Toyota President and CEO Akio Toyoda (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
(AP) Even as Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda wrapped up a grueling appearance before Congress, the head of the world's largest automaker wasn't leaving his problems behind.
Toyota faces a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors in New York. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the company. Its beleaguered U.S. dealerships are facing repairs to potentially millions of customer vehicles that have been recalled. The company is offering customers new reimbursements for rental cars and other expenses.
European Roundtable of industrialists
EXCERPT:
Michael Smurfit - Smurfit Kappa Group (Jefferson Smurfit) 1995 - 2006
Did BP cronies sell stock early due to insider info?
EXCERPT:
The Deepwater Horizon blew up on April 20th, and sank a couple of days later. BP has been criticized for failing to report on the seriousness of the blow out for several weeks.
However, as a whistleblower previously told 60 Minutes, there was an accident at the rig a month or more prior to the April 20th explosion:
[Mike Williams, the chief electronics technician on the Deepwater Horizon, and one of the last workers to leave the doomed rig] said they were told it would take 21 days; according to him, it actually took six weeks.
Japan defies US 2001 signs oil deal with Iran, defies US warning
EXCERPT:
TEHRAN, July 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Despite U.S. pressure on its allies to refrain from making oil and gas deals with Iran, Japan has signed a letter of intent with the country, agreeing to pay $10 million to participate in a seismic study of the southwestern Azadegan oilfield, which holds a 26-billion barrel oil reserve.
The agreement came in a joint statement issued Sunday evening, following a meeting between visiting Japanese Trade Minister Takeo Hiranuma, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, news agencies reported Monday.
"Japan is not affected by U.S. pressure," Hiranuma said during the signing ceremony in Tehran.
Hugo Chavez seizes land owned by Irish tycoon
EXCERPT:
His government announced it had taken control of 3,700 acres owned by the Dublin-based Smurfit Kappa Group.
Socialist leader Chavez said he was making the move because the land was being used to grow eucalyptus, a cardboard component, instead of food in violation of Venezuelan law.
Earlier this week Chavez ordered the takeover of a Venezuelan unit of US agriculture giant Cargill.
Venezuela moves to seize US owned telecom
EXCERPT:
Jan. 21, 2007, 9:03 p.m. EST
Venezuela moves to seize U.S.-owned telecom
Chavez orders takeover of Verizon property without prior compensation
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez moved Sunday to take over Compania Anonima Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela, known as CANTV, without first compensating its U.S. owner, Verizon Communications Inc., and said the government won't pay market price for the telecom, according to media reports.
Chavez to seize more companies
EXCERPT:
Chavez also expressed concern about "water that transnational companies have privatised", and he mentioned Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
"That must be reviewed quickly," he said. "That water in the first place belongs to the people. Water is social property."
Hugo Chavez v Monsanto
EXCERPT:
VENEZUELA: Chavez dumps Monsanto
Wednesday, November 17, 1993 - 11:00
Jason Tockman, Caracas
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias has announced that the cultivation of genetically modified crops will be prohibited on Venezuelan soil, possibly establishing the most sweeping restrictions on transgenic crops in the western hemisphere.
Though full details of the administration's policy on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are still forthcoming, the statement by President Hugo Chavez will lead most immediately to the cancellation of a contract that Venezuela had negotiated with the US-based Monsanto Corporation.
Before a recent international gathering of supporters in Caracas, Chavez admonished genetically engineered crops as contrary to interests and needs of the nation's farmers and farmworkers. He then zeroed in on Monsanto's plans to plant up to 500,000 acres of transgenic soybeans in Venezuela.
"I ordered an end to the project", said Chavez, upon learning that transgenic crops were involved. "This project is terminated."
Chavez seizes food
EXCERPT:
In addition to assets belonging to Polar, the government has been seizing control of plants belonging to US food giant Cargill, Mexican bread maker Gruma and taken almost full control of the nation's coffee industry with the seizure of the country's two largest coffee processors, Fama de America and Café Madrid. In 2010 the process has taken a new turn with Chávez turning his attention to the retail sector and taking control of the Exito retail network controlled by French grocery giant Casino. This move followed a devaluation of the bolivar, with Venezuela obliged to cut the value of its currency to improve the financial position of state oil firm PdVSA - one of the main sources of government revenues. However, the move is expected to stoke inflation, which is already the highest in Latin America and we are currently forecasting headline inflation to reach 40% by year-end - clearly a dangerous situation for a government which derives much of its popularity from pledges to increase standards of living.
Cargill v Hugo Chavez
EXCERPT:
"Begin the expropriation process with Cargill," he said in a nationally televised speech in which he accused the company of growing specialized forms of rice in an attempt to evade price controls.
The leftist president called the company's practices "a flagrant violation of everything that we have been doing."
Chavez: Venezuela looks to seize banker's assets
EXCERPT:
Chavez says government to seize assets of Venezuelan opponent after bank shutdown
JORGE RUEDA
AP News
Jun 17, 2010 00:04 EDT
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday said his government is looking to seize the assets of an opponent whose bank was taken over by regulators, and warned that might include his minority ownership stake in an anti-government television channel.
Chavez suggested that bank owner Nelson Mezerhane, who is in the United States, will owe the government to recoup losses after officials took over management of Banco Federal, which he said is broke.
"Now I'm finding out about all the businesses these people own," Chavez said in a speech to graduating doctors, saying that the government is to start seizing more properties such as apartments or other properties "if the owners of the bank don't show up."
He mentioned that among Mezerhane's assets are shares in Globovision — the country's only TV channel that takes an anti-Chavez line.
"He should get on a plane to come show his face," Chavez said of Mezerhane, who was in Florida at the time banking regulators seized control of his bank on Monday.
Mezerhane has said he has no plans to return to Venezuela for now. He has condemned the bank takeover as political retribution against him and Globovision, saying the bank was in sound financial shape but the government had been pressuring him and had withdrawn large deposits to try to undermine the bank.
Targeting Toyota US economic war directed against Japan
EXCERPT:
Targeting Toyota: US Economic War Directed Against Japan
by TheTotalCollapse.com on February 26, 2010
Targeting Toyota: US Economic War Directed Against Japan
Feb 26, 2010 11:47 AM
from http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=17804
Does anyone really believe that Toyota is being pilloried in the media for a few highway fatalities?
Nonsense. If Congress is so worried about innocent people getting killed, then why haven’t they indicted US commander Stanley McChrystal for blowing up another 27 Afghan civilians on Sunday?
Business
EXCERPT:
2/25/2010
Toyota's Problems Shift into New Gear
Grueling Congressional Hearings Over, but Slew of Federal Investigations on Horizon
The Japanese government often allows Japanese corporations to tackle their problems in private. But the uproar over Toyota has the Japanese government listening. Celia Hatton reports.
Toyota President and CEO Akio Toyoda (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
(AP) Even as Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda wrapped up a grueling appearance before Congress, the head of the world's largest automaker wasn't leaving his problems behind.
Toyota faces a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors in New York. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the company. Its beleaguered U.S. dealerships are facing repairs to potentially millions of customer vehicles that have been recalled. The company is offering customers new reimbursements for rental cars and other expenses.
European Roundtable of industrialists
EXCERPT:
Michael Smurfit - Smurfit Kappa Group (Jefferson Smurfit) 1995 - 2006
David James Elliott "Live with Regis and Kelly" on his trip to the Amazon youtube
Chevron Oil Spill, Salt Lake City - 21,000 Gallons of Oil Now In Sat Lake City Waterway youtube
June 13, 2010 — SALT LAKE CITY -- A massive effort is underway to clean up the damage left behind when a Chevron pipeline leaked...
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 1
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 2
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 3
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 4
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 5
Chevron Texaco: Ecuador's Black Plague youtube
Ecuador's Texaco Disaster worse than BP gulf spill
EXCERPT:
5 June 2010 :: Carmen Visna
The environmental catastrophe resulting from BP’s blown-out deepwater oil well in the Gulf of Mexico is the worst seen in the US, but Ecuador’s ongoing battle with pervasive, persistent toxic contamination relating to Texaco’s operations in the remote Amazon is the worst oil-related environmental disaster the world has ever seen. In a once-pristine corner of the Ecuadoran Amazon rainforest, Texaco dumped billions of gallons of petroleum waste byproduct, contaminating groundwater and ruining the local environment irreparably.
Chevron Oil Spill, Salt Lake City - 21,000 Gallons of Oil Now In Sat Lake City Waterway youtube
June 13, 2010 — SALT LAKE CITY -- A massive effort is underway to clean up the damage left behind when a Chevron pipeline leaked...
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 1
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 2
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 3
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 4
ECUADOR TEXACO CONTAMINATION 5
Chevron Texaco: Ecuador's Black Plague youtube
Ecuador's Texaco Disaster worse than BP gulf spill
EXCERPT:
5 June 2010 :: Carmen Visna
The environmental catastrophe resulting from BP’s blown-out deepwater oil well in the Gulf of Mexico is the worst seen in the US, but Ecuador’s ongoing battle with pervasive, persistent toxic contamination relating to Texaco’s operations in the remote Amazon is the worst oil-related environmental disaster the world has ever seen. In a once-pristine corner of the Ecuadoran Amazon rainforest, Texaco dumped billions of gallons of petroleum waste byproduct, contaminating groundwater and ruining the local environment irreparably.
Eisenhower and the secret society youtube
Anglo Persian Oil Company Iran
EXCERPT:
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) was founded in 1908 following the discovery of a large oil field in Masjed Soleiman, Iran. It was the first company to extract oil from the Middle East. In 1935 APOC was renamed the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) and in 1954 became the British Petroleum Company (BP), one of the antecedents of the modern BP Plc.
1953 Iranian coup with Nazi-like men involved
EXCERPT:
Iranian fascists and Nazis played prominent roles in the coup regime. Gen. Fazlollah Zahedi, who had been arrested and imprisoned by the British during World War II for his attempt to establish a pro-Nazi government, was made Prime Minister on August 19, 1953. The CIA gave Zahedi about $100,000 before the coup and an additional $5 million the day after the coup to help consolidate support for the coup. Bahram Shahrokh, a trainee of Joseph Goebbels and Berlin Radio's Persian-language program announcer during the Nazi rule, became director of propaganda. Mr. Sharif-Emami, who also had spent some time in jail for his pro-Nazi activities in the 1940s, assumed several positions after 1953 coup, including Secretary General of the Oil Industry, President of the Senate, and Prime Minister (twice). [69
US and Nazi connections
EXCERPT:
8. 1953: Operation Ajax
The CIA overthrew Premier Mohammed Mossadegh in Iran, complaining of his neutralism in the Cold War, and installed in his place General Fazlollah Zahedi, a wartime Nazi collaborator. Zahedi showed his gratitude by giving 25-year leases on forty percent of Iran's oil to three American arms. One of these firms, Gulf Oil, was fortunate enough a few years later to hire as a vice president the CIA agent Kermit Roosevelt, who had run Operation Ajax. Did this coup set the clock ticking on the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-80?[7]
Tom Harley
EXCERPT:
Tom Harley is President Corporate Development at BHP Billiton and is active at the top levels of the Liberal Party of Australia. He is a key facilitator of a "1996 wheat "donation" to Iraq and the illegal recouping of an associated "debt" six years later by a mysterious BHP-linked company". [1]
BP in China
BP in Russia
Tom Harley and wheat for oil scandal
EXCERPT:
by Marian Wilkinson and David Marr, The Sydney Morning Herald
April 17th, 2006
THE Tigris affair began as a sharp bit of business disguised as a great humanitarian gesture that morphed into a loan repaid as a secret commission after the fall of Baghdad. It was the filthiest of all AWB's deals with Iraq.
The donor was BHP, back in 1996 when it was still the big Australian. But a decade on, the Cole inquiry is trying to untangle a web of intrigue that draws together big oil, big wheat, big names, a very big scandal and high stakes - the Halfayah oilfield, one of the richest in Iraq, with reserves the size of Bass Strait.
Tom Harley's family in politics for a long time-He is great g'son of Alfred Deakin
EXCERPT:
The great grandson of Alfred Deakin, a founding father of Federation and Australia's second prime minister, Harley was front and centre of some of the Big Australian's greatest adventures during his 24 years at the firm.
BHP owns 44 percent of the BP-operated Atlantis project in the Gulf and is a partner in the Mad Dog field operated by BP
EXCERPT:
BHP, also the world’s largest mining company, is focusing on “delivering projects in some of the world’s deepest waters,” the Melbourne-based company said in its 2009 annual report. BHP owns 44 percent of the BP-operated Atlantis project in the Gulf and is a partner in the Mad Dog field operated by BP. Production at BHP’s Shenzi project in the Gulf began last year.
“The deepwater Gulf of Mexico continues to be a very vital part of the business,” Yeager said.
Exemption for Mad Dog even after Gulf disaster
EXCERPT:
BP's latest bid for exemption
BP has made similar assertions -- even since its blowout -- to obtain an exemption from environmental review for another project.
The exploration plan for a 4,468-foot-deep well in its "Mad Dog" field, approved May 6, doesn't claim to have "proven equipment and technology," but it does assert that it had the capability to respond to a worst-case scenario of a 184,000-barrel-a-day spill.
In the section of the "initial exploration plan" for explaining the Mad Dog operation's "blowout scenario," BP states: "information not required."
BP top U.S. executive McKay told a Senate committee that requesting and receiving such categorical exclusions are "industry standard" because extensive environmental reviews have already been done at an earlier stage in the process.
As with many of the plans, BP's Mad Dog assertions are "summarized from" the 2002 EIS that deemed spills highly unlikely. Besides "proven equipment and technology," the exploration plans offer a potpourri of reasons spills won't happen, or how easily they can be dealt with. Some are eyebrow-raising in the wake of the BP blowout, the oil washing ashore in Louisiana, and reports of coziness between MMS inspectors and oil company managers.
Fears BP Spill Could Hit BHP Billiton Petroleum
EXCERPT:
However, MF Global argued the scenario could worsen for BHP Billiton, which sees the Gulf of Mexico is a major development region for the group's petroleum business. "Atlantis and Mad Dog [oil fields] are operated by BP and the concern is that the two operations might even be closed down if certain politicians get their way," said analysts at MF Global. They concluded: "Further exploration and drilling could be severely curtailed by the government wishing to protect the natural habitat."
BHP Billiton caught in US climate change scandal
EXCERPT:
MARIAN WILKINSON ENVIRONMENT EDITOR
August 13, 2009
BHP BILLITON and two other leading US energy companies operating in Australia have been caught up in a lobbying scandal that was aimed at defeating the landmark US climate change bill but is now under investigation by a congressional committee.
BHP Billiton involved in Oil For Food Scandal
EXCERPT:
The Guardian, Monday 23 January 2006
BHP Billiton, the world's biggest miner, has been dragged into an Iraqi corruption scandal amid revelations that United Nations contracts were inflated by $8m (£4.5m) to recover a debt the previous Iraqi regime owed the London-listed group. An Australian inquiry into local involvement in the abuse of the UN's oil-for-food programme has revealed that BHP provided $5m worth of wheat on credit to Iraq in the 1990s to secure oil exploration rights.
BP's other business in Gulf - Atlantis
EXCERPT:
Considered one of BP's most technically challenging projects ever, the Atlantis platform is currently the deepest moored floating dual oil and gas production facility in the world and weighing in at 58,700t, it is also one of the largest. BP is operator of Atlantis with 56% ownership with its partner in the venture, BHP Billiton, having a 44% working interest.
BP spills coffee (joke) video
Cracks show BP battled well 2 months before blast
EXCERPT:
Cracks Show BP Battled Well Two Months Before Blast (Update1)
June 17, 2010, 10:58 AM EDT
(Adds Waxman comment starting in the 10th paragraph. See {SPILL} for more on the oil spill.)
By Alison Fitzgerald and Joe Carroll
June 17 (Bloomberg) -- BP Plc was struggling to seal cracks in its Macondo well as far back as February, more than two months before an explosion killed 11 and spewed oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
Tony Hayward sold shares weeks before oil spill
EXCERPT:
BP chief Tony Hayward sold shares weeks before oil spill
The chief executive of BP sold £1.4 million of his shares in the fuel giant weeks before the Gulf of Mexico oil spill caused its value to collapse.
By Jon Swaine and Robert Winnett
Published: 12:10AM BST 05 Jun 2010
Tony Hayward: 'This won't stop deepwater drilling. It will transform it'
Tony Hayward cashed in about a third of his holding in the company one month before a well on the Deepwater Horizon rig burst, causing an environmental disaster.
Atlantis rig problem could lead to oil spill
EXCERPT:
The Associated Press has learned an independent firm hired by BP substantiated the complaints in 2009 and found BP was violating its own policies by not having completed engineering documents on board the Atlantis when it began operating in 2007.
Australia BHP Billiton Rio Tinto
EXCERPT:
Australia BHP Billiton Rio Tinto
AP News 2010-05-20 13:41:27
In this undated photo released by BHP Billiton, the BHP Billiton Atlantis oil and gas rig in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, approximately 130 miles (208 kilometers) off the coast of Louisiana. Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. said it was looking for other takeover targets during the current global financial turmoil, after abandoning its US$68 billion hostile bid for Rio Tinto citing risky conditions, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/BHP Billiton, HO)
BHP is one of top Goldman Sachs clients.
EXCERPT:
The move will leave Goldman Sachs to concentrate primarily on investment banking, where it rates in the top four across each of the major categories and league tables.
The bank is known for being an aggressive competitor against its rivals, especially in the lucrative mergers and acquisition advisory business. BHP Billiton is one of its main clients.
Anglo Persian Oil Company Iran
EXCERPT:
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC) was founded in 1908 following the discovery of a large oil field in Masjed Soleiman, Iran. It was the first company to extract oil from the Middle East. In 1935 APOC was renamed the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) and in 1954 became the British Petroleum Company (BP), one of the antecedents of the modern BP Plc.
1953 Iranian coup with Nazi-like men involved
EXCERPT:
Iranian fascists and Nazis played prominent roles in the coup regime. Gen. Fazlollah Zahedi, who had been arrested and imprisoned by the British during World War II for his attempt to establish a pro-Nazi government, was made Prime Minister on August 19, 1953. The CIA gave Zahedi about $100,000 before the coup and an additional $5 million the day after the coup to help consolidate support for the coup. Bahram Shahrokh, a trainee of Joseph Goebbels and Berlin Radio's Persian-language program announcer during the Nazi rule, became director of propaganda. Mr. Sharif-Emami, who also had spent some time in jail for his pro-Nazi activities in the 1940s, assumed several positions after 1953 coup, including Secretary General of the Oil Industry, President of the Senate, and Prime Minister (twice). [69
US and Nazi connections
EXCERPT:
8. 1953: Operation Ajax
The CIA overthrew Premier Mohammed Mossadegh in Iran, complaining of his neutralism in the Cold War, and installed in his place General Fazlollah Zahedi, a wartime Nazi collaborator. Zahedi showed his gratitude by giving 25-year leases on forty percent of Iran's oil to three American arms. One of these firms, Gulf Oil, was fortunate enough a few years later to hire as a vice president the CIA agent Kermit Roosevelt, who had run Operation Ajax. Did this coup set the clock ticking on the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-80?[7]
Tom Harley
EXCERPT:
Tom Harley is President Corporate Development at BHP Billiton and is active at the top levels of the Liberal Party of Australia. He is a key facilitator of a "1996 wheat "donation" to Iraq and the illegal recouping of an associated "debt" six years later by a mysterious BHP-linked company". [1]
BP in China
BP in Russia
Tom Harley and wheat for oil scandal
EXCERPT:
by Marian Wilkinson and David Marr, The Sydney Morning Herald
April 17th, 2006
THE Tigris affair began as a sharp bit of business disguised as a great humanitarian gesture that morphed into a loan repaid as a secret commission after the fall of Baghdad. It was the filthiest of all AWB's deals with Iraq.
The donor was BHP, back in 1996 when it was still the big Australian. But a decade on, the Cole inquiry is trying to untangle a web of intrigue that draws together big oil, big wheat, big names, a very big scandal and high stakes - the Halfayah oilfield, one of the richest in Iraq, with reserves the size of Bass Strait.
Tom Harley's family in politics for a long time-He is great g'son of Alfred Deakin
EXCERPT:
The great grandson of Alfred Deakin, a founding father of Federation and Australia's second prime minister, Harley was front and centre of some of the Big Australian's greatest adventures during his 24 years at the firm.
BHP owns 44 percent of the BP-operated Atlantis project in the Gulf and is a partner in the Mad Dog field operated by BP
EXCERPT:
BHP, also the world’s largest mining company, is focusing on “delivering projects in some of the world’s deepest waters,” the Melbourne-based company said in its 2009 annual report. BHP owns 44 percent of the BP-operated Atlantis project in the Gulf and is a partner in the Mad Dog field operated by BP. Production at BHP’s Shenzi project in the Gulf began last year.
“The deepwater Gulf of Mexico continues to be a very vital part of the business,” Yeager said.
Exemption for Mad Dog even after Gulf disaster
EXCERPT:
BP's latest bid for exemption
BP has made similar assertions -- even since its blowout -- to obtain an exemption from environmental review for another project.
The exploration plan for a 4,468-foot-deep well in its "Mad Dog" field, approved May 6, doesn't claim to have "proven equipment and technology," but it does assert that it had the capability to respond to a worst-case scenario of a 184,000-barrel-a-day spill.
In the section of the "initial exploration plan" for explaining the Mad Dog operation's "blowout scenario," BP states: "information not required."
BP top U.S. executive McKay told a Senate committee that requesting and receiving such categorical exclusions are "industry standard" because extensive environmental reviews have already been done at an earlier stage in the process.
As with many of the plans, BP's Mad Dog assertions are "summarized from" the 2002 EIS that deemed spills highly unlikely. Besides "proven equipment and technology," the exploration plans offer a potpourri of reasons spills won't happen, or how easily they can be dealt with. Some are eyebrow-raising in the wake of the BP blowout, the oil washing ashore in Louisiana, and reports of coziness between MMS inspectors and oil company managers.
Fears BP Spill Could Hit BHP Billiton Petroleum
EXCERPT:
However, MF Global argued the scenario could worsen for BHP Billiton, which sees the Gulf of Mexico is a major development region for the group's petroleum business. "Atlantis and Mad Dog [oil fields] are operated by BP and the concern is that the two operations might even be closed down if certain politicians get their way," said analysts at MF Global. They concluded: "Further exploration and drilling could be severely curtailed by the government wishing to protect the natural habitat."
BHP Billiton caught in US climate change scandal
EXCERPT:
MARIAN WILKINSON ENVIRONMENT EDITOR
August 13, 2009
BHP BILLITON and two other leading US energy companies operating in Australia have been caught up in a lobbying scandal that was aimed at defeating the landmark US climate change bill but is now under investigation by a congressional committee.
BHP Billiton involved in Oil For Food Scandal
EXCERPT:
The Guardian, Monday 23 January 2006
BHP Billiton, the world's biggest miner, has been dragged into an Iraqi corruption scandal amid revelations that United Nations contracts were inflated by $8m (£4.5m) to recover a debt the previous Iraqi regime owed the London-listed group. An Australian inquiry into local involvement in the abuse of the UN's oil-for-food programme has revealed that BHP provided $5m worth of wheat on credit to Iraq in the 1990s to secure oil exploration rights.
BP's other business in Gulf - Atlantis
EXCERPT:
Considered one of BP's most technically challenging projects ever, the Atlantis platform is currently the deepest moored floating dual oil and gas production facility in the world and weighing in at 58,700t, it is also one of the largest. BP is operator of Atlantis with 56% ownership with its partner in the venture, BHP Billiton, having a 44% working interest.
BP spills coffee (joke) video
Cracks show BP battled well 2 months before blast
EXCERPT:
Cracks Show BP Battled Well Two Months Before Blast (Update1)
June 17, 2010, 10:58 AM EDT
(Adds Waxman comment starting in the 10th paragraph. See {SPILL
By Alison Fitzgerald and Joe Carroll
June 17 (Bloomberg) -- BP Plc was struggling to seal cracks in its Macondo well as far back as February, more than two months before an explosion killed 11 and spewed oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
Tony Hayward sold shares weeks before oil spill
EXCERPT:
BP chief Tony Hayward sold shares weeks before oil spill
The chief executive of BP sold £1.4 million of his shares in the fuel giant weeks before the Gulf of Mexico oil spill caused its value to collapse.
By Jon Swaine and Robert Winnett
Published: 12:10AM BST 05 Jun 2010
Tony Hayward: 'This won't stop deepwater drilling. It will transform it'
Tony Hayward cashed in about a third of his holding in the company one month before a well on the Deepwater Horizon rig burst, causing an environmental disaster.
Atlantis rig problem could lead to oil spill
EXCERPT:
The Associated Press has learned an independent firm hired by BP substantiated the complaints in 2009 and found BP was violating its own policies by not having completed engineering documents on board the Atlantis when it began operating in 2007.
Australia BHP Billiton Rio Tinto
EXCERPT:
Australia BHP Billiton Rio Tinto
AP News 2010-05-20 13:41:27
In this undated photo released by BHP Billiton, the BHP Billiton Atlantis oil and gas rig in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, approximately 130 miles (208 kilometers) off the coast of Louisiana. Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. said it was looking for other takeover targets during the current global financial turmoil, after abandoning its US$68 billion hostile bid for Rio Tinto citing risky conditions, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/BHP Billiton, HO)
BHP is one of top Goldman Sachs clients.
EXCERPT:
The move will leave Goldman Sachs to concentrate primarily on investment banking, where it rates in the top four across each of the major categories and league tables.
The bank is known for being an aggressive competitor against its rivals, especially in the lucrative mergers and acquisition advisory business. BHP Billiton is one of its main clients.
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