One month after the Deepwater Horizon explosion, race car driver, environmental activist and National Wildlife Federation Ambassador Leilani Munter talks about her experience visiting the Gulf of Mexico, her thoughts on BP CEO Tony Hayward (who famously said the oil spill was “relatively tiny” in “the very big coean” and said the environmental effects will be “very, very modest”) and what we need to do moving forward. PS. Yes, I realize I that it is the one month anniversary of the explosion, not the sinking – but by the time I caught it, it was too late.
BP’s chairman revealed Friday that the company’s chief executive, Tony Hayward, would be handing oversight of drilling operations in the Gulf to another BP official. This comes after a heavily-criticized appearance before a Congressional hearing Thursday on the disastrous oil spill. The oil company’s chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg told Sky News that the embattled CEO is to have a changed role in dealing with the oil spill, according to a report on the British publication’s website. “He is now handing over the operation to Bob Dudley,” Svanberg to Sky News. Dudley has been the managing director of the oil giant since 2009. More: This comes after a contentious hearing Thursday in which Hayward appeared less-than forthcoming to lawmakers probing the CEO for answers on the nation’s most devastating ecological disaster. Testifying as oil still surged into the Gulf of Mexico and coated ever more coastal land and marshes, Hayward declared during Thursday’s hearing, “I am so devastated with this accident,” “deeply sorry” and “so distraught.” Yet the oil man disclaimed knowledge of any of the myriad problems on and under the Deepwater Horizon rig before the deadly explosion, telling a congressional hearing he had only heard about the well earlier in April, the month of the accident, when the BP drilling team told him it had found oil. “With respect, sir, we drill hundreds of wells a year around the world,” Hayward told Republican Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas. “Yes, I know …
On 20 April 2010, an explosion occurred on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, operated by BP. Eleven people were killed in the blast and oil began to leak from the ocean floor at a rate variously estimated to be between 5000 and 100000 barrels per day. Hayward, and BP in general, initially downplayed the spill, stating on 17 May 2010 that the environmental impact of the Gulf spill would likely be “very very modest” and calling the spill “relatively tiny” in comparison with the size of the ocean. By 27 May, Hayward had apparently changed his assessment, calling the spill an “environmental catastrophe” in an interview with CNN. Hayward has stated that his job might be at risk as a result of the spill, saying “we made a few little mistakes early on.” Hayward received criticism for various statements he has made during the spill, including telling a camera man to “get out of there” during a photo-op on the shores of Louisiana. On 30 May, Hayward told a reporter “we’re sorry for the massive disruption it’s caused to their lives. There’s no one who wants this thing over more than I do, I’d like my life back.” Hayward was widely criticized for the comment and United States Representative Charlie Melancon (D-La.) called on Hayward to resign in the wake of this comment. He later apologized for the comment on BP America’s Facebook Page. On 31 May, Hayward disputed claims of huge underwater plumes of oil suspended in the Gulf, as had been reported by scientists from three universities … Video Rating: 5 / 5
Chairman Ed Markey questions Tony Hayward during a second round. The Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled “The Role of BP in the Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill” on Thursday, June 17, 2010. BP CEO Tony Hayward testified. For more information, visit energycommerce.house.gov
Tony Hayward: “Let Me Be Very Clear: I Fully Grasp The Terrible Reality”
Chairman Stupak, Ranking Member Burgess, members of the Subcommittee. I am Tony Hayward, Chief Executive of BP plc. The explosion and fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon and the resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico never should have happened ─ and I am deeply sorry that they did. Read more on Business Insider
BP CEO Tony Hayward accused of ‘kicking can down the road’ at House subcommittee
BP CEO Tony Hayward insisted Thursday he was “devastated” by the BP oil spill and denied shunning tough questions from a House subcommittee. Read more on The Christian Science Monitor
BP CEO Tony Hayward pilloried by lawmakers
WASHINGTON — Channeling the nation’s anger, lawmakers pilloried BP’s boss in a withering day of judgment Thursday for the oil company at the center of the Gulf calamity. Unflinching, BP chief executive Tony Hayward said he was out of the loop on decisions at the well and coolly asserted… Read more on New York Post
BP oil spill: Tony Hayward to attempt to spread blame for disaster
Tony Hayward will tell US Congress hearing that ‘a number of companies’ are responsible for America’s worst environmental disaster. Read more on Daily Telegraph
Revoke BP’s Corporate Charter: www.facebook.com I’m Davis Fleetwood & This is Independently produced. Individually supported: wp.me FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com Twitter: twitter.com grab my book Keyword: find BP on YouTube, Bp Gulf Oil Ad, Bp Tony Hayward Ad, Bp-Ad, Gulf Oil Spill, Poll, Tony Hayward, Video, Green News Video Rating: 4 / 5
Interesting use of language by the BP chief executive who describes the environmental impact of the Deepwater Horizon rig as “modest?” I would hazard a guess that several NGOs and pressure groups may have a different description as the oil reaches the shoreline? Video Rating: 5 / 5
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