I want to destroy BP.
(But before you close this page thinking I’m some kind of nut, I want to take down the entire dirty energy system – so it’s nothing personal.)
For me, it’s not the constant plume of oil being thrust into the ocean, nor the sight of a dying pelican unable to lift it’s own beak out of the oil, nor even the death of eleven hardworking men that really makes me mad. Each of these are tragic, but sadly not unusual in our global energy supply chain. (Though if you haven’t, take a moment and read the names of the men who died. Two of them were my age.)
What makes me so upset and angry about this, is that BP is breaking the law – and getting away with it. They’re bullies, pure and simple.
Others have listed the endless cases of flagrant disregard BP has for legalities, and the absurd amounts of money it continues to make. This exposé in Rolling Stone magazine demonstrates particularly well BP’s criminal record in cutting corners on safety and breaking environmental regulations. Keith Harrington has gone so far as to write a piece describing how BP can be classified as a psychopath. Nice.
We get it, they’ve broken the rules and they’ve hurt people. But it’s nastier than that.
While breaking the law, they project an image which made even me warm to them. The endless ‘beyond petroleum’ farce, the greenwash about clean energy, the sponsorship of artistic events and donations to conservation organisations – despite our better judgement, it works. And continues. When BP writes that, ‘the response to this incident is our top priority‘, that’s simply not true. Their top priority – legally – is to make as much money as possible. Sure, right now it’s in their interest to be seen to be doing everything they can to stop the oil gushing into the ocean, but can we seriously expect for their ‘top priority’ to remain the local communities, wildlife and ocean when the media has moved on? Right.
So what the hell do we do?
The US government is going to take them to court (how’s that for a $3.5 million campaign donation thank-you present?), as are scores of other groups and individuals. We’ve seen a mini-moratorium on offshore-drilling (big whoop), there’s also much discussion in the CSR and PR world on ‘how to handle this type of crisis’ (even bigger whoop). We’ve seen hundreds of candle-lit vigils and more local actions to come, and some great advocacy work by NGOs and pressure groups. But in the face of getting our global economy off fossil fuels, the enormity of what needs to be done can crush any hope this gives us.
Maybe that’s why the @BPGlobalPR twitter account has been so successful. We’re able to laugh at the bully – from a safe distance. We can humiliate them, which makes us feel powerful, when in reality, we’re not.
For something so damaging, that is destroying so much – we need to be able to blame someone to make sense of it. Does that mean we can demonise the individuals involved at the top level of BP? They certainly didn’t want this to happen. As Tony Hayward, BP CEO, indicated, ‘I’d like my life back.’ But if we can’t blame them – who the hell takes responsibility? And not just a Tiger-Woods-style-I’m-sorry-and-I-won’t-be-taking-questions kind of apology. Who is going to pay? Who is going to jail?
This is the central problem with the current corporate structure. Shareholders and top-level employees can reap the reward of financial success, but when the shit hits the fan?
Silence.
Ultimately, BP is just one company at the center of our failed energy system. This disaster is just one disaster. Toxic substances flowing into rivers that should provide clean water, are not ‘disasters’ in the Niger Delta or the Albertan Athabasca river – that’s business as usual. And Chevron, Shell, BP, StatOil and just about every other oil company is part of that.
So I’ve reached a point where I don’t see how we can stop this type of shit happening, without overhauling the corporate system and changing the rules.
And part of that is to stop seeing BP as a company – but as a collection of individuals.
So you know what, BP people – this is personal. How could it not be?
And yeah, I still want to destroy your business.