Dying for BP
Dying for BP
“Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi spent the anniversary of his return to Libya from a Scottish jail at home, where he was visited by friends and regime figures to mark the occasion”
according to the “Telegraph” newspaper online. This is the man who was convicted in a court of law for blowing up an aircraft over Lockerbie and killing a total 270 people, mostly American citizens and who was released because he was supposed to be at death’s door.
The US Government, whose citizen’s were slaughtered, howled its objections prior to Megrahi’s release but was completely ignored as if it did not even exist. Completely coincidentally, immediately after Megrahi’s release, BP (British Petroleum) signed an agreement with the Libyan Government to drill for oil in the Libyan Gulf, something that they recently had to postpone because of their well known pollution of the Gulf and the American coastline. The USA is BP’s biggest client and greatest source of income, so they do not want to appear too obvious.
And then the British Prime Minister during his recent visit to the US, more or less claimed that Scotland is not really that much a part of Britain and does more or less what it wants to do and so the whole fiasco is really the fault of Scotland and let’s talk about how important a company BP is and how necessary it is to the financial well being of its employees on both sides of the Atlantic. In other words, BP is more important to PM Cameron than Scotland.
Andrew Marr is a well known British journalist and political commentator. He wrote “The History of Modern Britain” and if you are interested in unbiased history, you would do well to read his book or to watch the BBC documentary that was made from this book.
“We fought the war (WWII) with American guns, we survived on American loans, we’ve eaten American food” he says in his documentary. A loan of four billion pounds from the USA immediately after the war, prevented bankruptcy and disgrace, placing “Britain’s future now firmly in American hands” according to Marr. Interestingly, this loan was paid off finally just recently, on December 2006
For a grim period everything Britain produced was exported in order to pay off its debts and rationing become worse than during the war. Meat was being rationed even 1954. This principle of exports irrespective of domestic suffering is what Romania’s Ceausescu operated on, and for which he became so despised.
The Marshall plan, of which Britain got the largest share, was like “a lifeline to sinking men” according to Minister Bevin. “The Americans had saved us from financial disaster at the last minute”
In 1981 there was a 22% inflation in Thatcher’s Britain and in some areas there was a 60% unemployment – “urban Britain was burning”. And then, just one year later in 1982 North Sea Oil from mainly off the coast of Scotland began to flow, providing £8 billion per year to the National Coffers and the situation was reversed.
In short, good fortune, great engineering and Scotland (not really a part of Britain according to Prime Minister Cameron) saved the day for Britain.But until then, the USA was a staunch friend of Great Britain. However, this old friendship and obligation did not seem to count for much when the interest of BP became involved.
Then there is the recent Chilcot inquiry of January 5th 2010, where Gordon Brown’s chief foreign policy adviser Simon McDonald said that British companies had “done pretty well” in a recent auction of oil rights in Iraq and that Britain had “privileged access” to the Government of Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister. He also told those present that “British companies have benefited from the award of oil contracts in Iraq because of the decision to help to overthrow Saddam Hussein.”
What does this really mean? Could it be that British soldiers are dying for the sake of those oil contracts? In other words, dying for someone’s financial gain? Why are not Austrian soldiers dying for example? Sadly, it appears that British children are dying for base coin and not for the principles of freedom that their predecessors died for during WWII.
The saddest part of all is seeing parents of dead soldiers, parents who have buried their children, brainwashed into believing that the babies they raised to manhood died for some higher cause and not for BP or a similar financial institution. And to thank them, their government allows banks to charge them interest of 22% on loans that they need to make ends meet. That’s the same banks that the same parents saved from annihilation, and the same banks which borrow at 1%. It is insane.
A licence to operate a bank is a National Treasure and should be treated as such. The beneficiaries of such a licence should operate within parameters that do not border and/or actually breach the boundary of usury and 22% is, unquestionably in my mind, shameless and inhuman usury.
A circular went out today to customers of one of the main banks in Britain, one of those saved by the tax payer from bankruptcy, unilaterally informing those who already have approved overdrafts that over and above the very high interest rates this bank charges for overdrafts, it will charge an additional £5 per month for any approved overdraft over £10, just because it feels like it and just because this Government allows it to do it. So, on an overdraft of £10.01, over and above the bank’s standard rate, an additional interest of 50% per month, equivalent to 600% per year, will be charged to people who are considered financially solid enough to have a specific approved overdraft.
There is no shame. There is only greed and the taking advantage of the needy without the slightest inkling of pity or compassion. And people’s children are dying for such institutions as these. How could this be possible? How long can this last?
As our colleague Paraglider says, “I think the stranglehold is so strong and resistance (or even awareness) still so weak that fighting the system is not realistic. Our only option is finding ways to exist at least partly independent of it”.
So in conclusion, if the profit of today can COMPLETELY erase the obligations of yesterday (obligation of Britain to USA), then perhaps we should start thinking of moving to the middle of a forest and raising chickens. How sad it all feels.
Dimitris Mita
De Greek
Comments
Your point is poignantly made. Most Americans have known that the invasion of Iraq after 9/11 was for obtaining fossil fuels, rather than the lip service we were paid about it being for defending our ideals. Living on the coastline, I've seen what BP did to the waters of the Gulf. Oil is evil, and the people who traffic in it worse.
A well written and true hub. That Cameron swindled his way in with closing the voting stations in the Midland and North early. Tens of thousands couldn't vote which were mostly Labour. Even with that he had to have a coallition. What a mess. I will write a hub and make a list of what is ''so far''' coming to us. Besides he make blokkers after another. What must the English people feel having that lot again?
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.” Earnest Benn quote
I think you have shown quite clearly that the oil magnets along with the banking industry is and always has been "at the "heart of" or should I say "the evil brain behind" the collapse of national economies and the demise of hard-working citizens and patriots.
Sadly, De Greek, Great Britain's behavior is not all that different from the deference given corporations here in the United States by government. By virtue of the U.S. Supreme Court's rogue decision in the Citizens United case, real "persons" have now become second class citizens while corporations have been deemed supreme. Unlike true citizens, corporations are legally required to put profit over all else. It's little wonder that the same thinking is taking place in Great Britain. President Eisenhower's warning about the military-industrial complex needs to be taken more seriously. The approaching U.S. elections could be the tipping point. Thumbs up!
Excellent Hub Dimitris. Sad and so painful topic. On this world so many greedy ones care only about profit now, no matter the price the others pay for their profit, plus, they do not have any sense that there are future generations to come to inherit polluted Earth.
In addition to that, they have support of majority of people who are naive enough to believe in every stupid ideology or idea somebody else is presenting them as "high ideal" and these high ideals are usually nothing else then ways how minority will profit for somebody else´s blood or sweat.
This world is really strange place to live on thanks to the human society...
So, they exchanged that guy for a drilling contract and BP starts fresh on another gulf. this company shoul have been placed under a close international supervision and not allowed to operate until it proves safe.
DeGreek, I think the world is going full speed the wrong way.
Nail smack bang on the head.....and BP lives on regardless despite all...as do the bankers ! The Life of a young soldier the most expendible commodity above all.......but the value of a terrorist.....priceless.
Sick sad world,alas!
Thank you for this aptly-titled, timely, and well-researched Hub, Bro De Greek.
Neither the laissez-faire model of the West which allows virtually uncontrolled growth of huge corporations who live by profit (and sometimes die by it), nor the Communist model works.
Somewhere, there must be something that will save this ailing world.
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@ - Hi there Jarn – Despite the pollution caused, oil, just like coal, has been instrumental in improving the lives of billions of human beings. We damaged our planet without realising we were doing it. Now that we know better, we should take steps to repair the damage as much as possible. Oil by itself is not evil. It is a treasure that should belong to humanity through the various governments in control. By all means allow private companies access to it through exploration, but within reason and always for the benefit of the controlling country’s people.
@ - Hello, hello, regrettably whichever party is in power, politicians remain the same. As a general rule, they are mediocrities with a firm conviction of their own importance, with a willingness to abase themselves prior to reaching their target and with a determination to prove that importance to themselves that no ordinary sane person is willing to go through. Don’t look just at Cameron, look at Blair and Brown. Need one say more?
@ - MartieCoetser in my opinion, generally politics is the act of the blind leading the blind, only the blind leading can lie better and do not care if the people they are leading will be led over a precipice. The occasional exceptions of truly gifted leaders actually contributing to the common good, only help us to hope and make us more willing to be led.
@ - Green Lotus I have come to realise that small people lead large companies. You have the management of BP demonstrating absolute insensitivity to what they have caused, one referring o “little people” whose lives they ruined and another wanting his “life back”. The bank example I gave about the unilateral overcharge for overdrafts, is a typical example of how PERSONAL greed works in a large corporation. Why do you think they do it? It is a simple way to ensure their bonuses at the end of the year. With this simple ACT OF ROBBERY, they will increase their bank’s income and make themselves appear to be indispensible. But if you have no morals, ro ethics, or compassion, it is not difficult to make money.
@ - William F. Torpey I had great hopes that President Obama would be a truly Great President and World Leader, a man who could leave his stamp on the world through sheer ability and moral leadership. His undoubted abilities in combination with his own personal experience of injustice had the potential to create a great president. I still hope, but it seems that the second four year term as a president seems to be confusing his moral compass. I hope that I am wrong.
@ - Tatjana-Mihaela it is so sad that w allow ourselves to be ruled by mediocrities but regrettably truly competent people do not seem to be willing to demean themselves through dirty political squabbles. We are simply stuck with mediocrities.
@ - cameciob BP is a company that was drilling 4 miles beneath the sea and had no back-up plan in case something went wrong! How is such a thing possible? How is it possible that they were issued with a permit to drill there without being asked to provide proof of such a back up plan???
@ - itakins at the end of the day those sinful profits can buy the politicians who make the rules. Simple. I am astonished at the SYSTEMATIC AND EXPERT corruption that goes on in the UK. Third world countries are amateurs compared to what goes on here so blatantly and skilfully, yet so obviously, and no one wants to do anything about it. Really sad.
@ - Brother sabu singh I must agree with you. I used to be a passionate capitalist and communism is an impossibly insane idea. But I am now beginning to believe that capitalism with certain critical services/industries under Government control might be the only way forward. The supply of electricity, gas, water, communications, train and bus services should be provided by governments. Banks should have a maximum permitted rate of interest. Everything else should belong to the private sector. Perhaps I have now become a socialist in my old age.
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THANK YOU ALL FOR VISITING :-)
Interesting insight about some inner workings I knew nothing about. Great hub De Greek!
BP's bad news and the governments lean towards pay for play intrests are causing a big sweat for debt and to make matters worse they do it ineffeciently to an extreme...
Oil in general is the root of all of it and why we can't seem to move away from our obsession with it is more than I can bear. Meanwhile, we all cut back, drive less, conserve while the government spends more and more here in the good old USA. It makes sense to me.
The points that you bring up about young men and women giving their lives for this cause is so true - and one of the things I become saddest about. If it were my son or daughter, I don't think I could go on to tell you the truth. To die for a cause is one thing or to believe that you have made a 'difference' in the world - but this farce of war just sickens me. All these people are giving their lives for money and making the rich richer.
I wonder when the US will wake up and smell the oil burning? How long can we ignore what is right in front of us and let the world spin? I hope every day that we as a nation and even as world populants, wake up and start to expect more from our governments and make our voices count for something.
Great hub, Dim - right is still right and you would think that some of these fat cats in charge had a conscience but I'm beginning to wonder if they've all had them surgically removed.
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@ - Hi sunflowerbucky, I am glad you learned something :-)))
@ - Brother Mentalist, you always understand me. Thank you for passing by
@ - IP, that is the sad part. They do not have a concience. None....
Great hub, I have been following the various sides of this story for the last several months in the various newspapers. I think Paraglider is right, and I will be looking to find some space somewhere in a forest to raise chickens, but no longer in the UK. I was born there and raised there but I no longer feel like being part of what was once a great country.
Dimi - you spent a lot of time and research on this well-written hub and it shows. If we, the citizens of the U.S. and UK want to see a positive difference, then we have to find alternatives to our devastating dependence on oil. And stop electing representatives who only want to line their own pockets. That's the hard part.
I've, We've always known it's always been about the OIL, Greed is the root of all evil and I doubt it will end as they will be fighting insanely till the end while all the world around them goes about our GREEN business as we have long sense developed successful Wind and Solar Power and Cars that run on SOMETHING ... ANYTHING other than oil. What a stupid and tired lazy fight and the war, UGH makes Vietnam look GOLDEN! Just saying. Peace and thanks for this very timely and thought provoking read, it affirms my thoughts!
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@ - LeanMan I know just how you feel :-))
@ - drbj I fear that it is already too late. Corruption is now all pervasive. There is no honour and no real pride. Everything now is for the mighty dollar.
@ - Katie, It is just too late, I think. We are done for. Onlythe chickens will save us :-)))
I have to disagree that it's about oil - oil is merely the knife held to the throat of the populace. Oil is no more than the current tool being used. It's about money and power for greedy corporations and politicians. If we somehow eliminate oil as a necessity it might become food, or maybe communications, but it will always be there. It will always be something the rich and powerful has or can get and use against the general population.
Considering that, I also do not believe it is too late. Powerful people (or companies) have been brought down before and can be again. It seems worse now because there are more of them, perhaps, but there are also more people. The trick is to motivate and activate the people and no one has really figured out just how to do that this time around yet.
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Hi Wilderness. I hope you are right, but it all feels so depresingly futile when even politicians like Obama will not take the necessary actions to disarm the Vampires of this world. But, I for one am always glad to hear a cheerful, hopeful word word.
Oil makes this world go round and round. Greed for the almighty green back has been the soul purpose for so many disasters since the beginning of time. It won't stop as there will always be power hungry corporations and governments ready to stamp out the middle and poor classes to continue to fill their deep pockets and they prove that time and time again.
Greed for toys make man the ultimate predator who will stop at nothing to fulfill their desires. The Roman Empire was a prime example and look where they ended up.
America is heading for the same ending barring a miracle.
That miracle will be fought on the front lines by people who are willing to stand up in huge numbers to fight for what is right. Organizations like Greenpeace have to surface in huge numbers to fight the maga giants of industry that are set on destroying our world and everything on it.
BP and others like them need to be taught a lesson and be brought down to their knees.
I for one pray that the world finds a better way and our fossil fuels cease to be raped and pillaged by greedy destroying governments who share the beds with these corporations like BP.
Thanks for the share DG..it was well said. peace
We are now living in a world of global commercialism, De Greek, and unfortunately the big international companies like BP (which is mainly US/British owned) have too much financial clout and influence for govenments to be willing to take them on. Also with rising populations and dwindling resource, unless new technology can dig us out of the hole we are in, these wars started on trumped up reasons just to get hold of commodities like oil and water are just going to get nastier and more frequent.
But despite all of the rubbish that goes on and the mediocrity of some (ok most of our politicians)there are still far worse places to live than Britain, and those of us who live here should try and change what we can for the better rather than just being negative all the time.
Do you mean that gay rooster? Your so right I feel the same way there's just no stopping the GREED! It is the root of all evil. Just keep your house in order!
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- @ - Hi Ken. Greed has always been there, but now it seems to be shamelessly accepted by the populace. The principles of fair play have somehow disappeared.
- @ - CMHypno you are right. There are worse places to live at than Britain. And I also agree that those of us who live here should try and change the bad things. That is the purpose of this article :-)
- @ - Katie, I have already started looking for my place to raise chickens at. It shall be done in three years, if I am still alive :-)
Raising chickens in a forest sounds just great to me! Thanks for a fantastic Hub and also the heads-up about Andrew Marr's book, for which I shall definitely look out!
Love and peace
Tony
Great story. I get so discouraged at the deliberate deceit from government and corporation. Being a statehouse, investigative reporter causes me to see everyday the atrocities committed by the higher ups onto the common, hard working, gulable, trusting American. I have sources that work in high government positions and corporations that give me inside information as to what is really going on and it blows the mind. It makes me sad to know that most of our economical and ecological diasters are planned for financial gain, not caring about how it will affect the common man and his family. I get called Un American because I will not hate our current president for not being quick to fix the problems that the Bush Administration left him with. God himself could not fix the devastation that Bush and Cheney left for Americans and Obama to clean up. I am so fed up with everyone hating everyone else because of different political views and different religious beliefs. I am fed up with wars and more so than wars, the mindset of Americans loving the idea of war, thinking that it is a good thing. I am fed up with government and corporation teaming up to make billions together, not caring about the safety of the citizens or this planet. Loosened regulations by the Bush Administration for Oil Companies. Allowing the off shore drilling. Oil men sticking togehter to get rich together. Buddies. Never mind the fact that we could lose our planet because of it. These greedy men could never spend the money they have in 3 lifetimes, so why do they continue with the pursuit of more at any cost to humans, animals and total destruction of the planet? I don't understand these things. I am called Un American because I want to hang on to the values that this country was founded upon. I find that odd. I find so many things odd these days.
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My sweet Lisa, I understand fully what you are saying. Regrettably, we live in new times and these are times without reins – and I use the term deliberately.
In the past the few in power needed to have ways and means in place by which to be able to control those beneath them. One of the methods invented was the concept of honor and of accepted behavior (which of course was not meant to apply to themselves – think of kings here). Because the concept was good if it applied to everyone, the rest of the populace accepted the idea willingly and for centuries we have lived under this.
Now the power has spread to more and more corporations and it is the corporations who now control the kings – politicians in our case. Consequently, the corporations do not think that the rules apply to them, just as the kings of old did not think they applied in their case.
I fear that it may now too late to do anything about it. I hope that I am wrong.
So in conclusion, if the profit of today can COMPLETELY erase the obligations of yesterday (obligation of Britain to USA), then perhaps we should start thinking of moving to the middle of a forest and raising chickens. How sad it all feels.
Thank you, a message imperative to be brought to the forefront!
Kimberly
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Thanks for passing by kimberlyslyrics :-)
Great Hub. Very informative.
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Thank you :-)
Interesting information. Thanks for sharing. Voted up
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Thanks, Joe :-)
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