Environmental Karma

By Tom deMers

As you read these words, oil is gushing into the ocean a mile down in the Gulf of Mexico. Although I am writing this in mid June, I can predict that with some certainty. Let’s call it what it is, murder. Oil and water don’t mix. The ocean is a living organism. Healthy molecules of water are like healthy molecules of air; they carry and support life. So as we poison their “air,” killing creatures large and small, we long for someone to blame. The need is almost visceral. But while it satisfies, blame may do more harm than good.

Tony Hayward? He’s the CEO of British Petroleum, the company “responsible” for the blowout on April 20. He wants to end the spill not to end the murder, but to “get my life back.” He will surely get it back before Louisiana shrimp and oyster fishermen get their lives back. Deep water fishing will be down too. Then there are birds and fish that will never get their lives back.

Tony is a classic example of how this circus works.

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