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Diane Wilson, from Seadrift, Texas, was arrested after protesting against BP at the entrance to a conference center where the company held its annual general meeting of its shareholders, in London on Thursday.
By Marian Smith, msnbc.com
LONDON - "It's humiliating! They treated us like we were criminals," said Tracy Kuhns, who had traveled from Barataria Bay, La. to attend BP's annual shareholder meeting in London on Thursday.
She and her husband, Michael Roberts, had made the long trip with three other Gulf Coast residents hoping to address BP shareholders about their ongoing plight almost one year after the catastrophic oil spill began on April 20, 2010. But even with their proxy cards in hand, which they believed would allow their participation in the shareholders meeting, all five Gulf Coasters were denied entry.
"They asked us where we were from, we said Louisiana, and they said you can't go in," Kuhns told msnbc.com outside the massive Excel Center convention hall in east London. She described how the guards had lowered a metal security gate to stop them from entering the event.
One woman from their contingent, Diane Wilson from Seadrift, Texas, didn't even get that far – after smearing black paint on herself at the convention center's entrance, she was promptly arrested by police.
For Kuhns and Roberts, however, it wasn't about protesting. "We wanted to tell the shareholders that all is not well in the Gulf of Mexico," explained Roberts, despite what BP says about the clean-up effort being a success. Before the oil spill he made a good living catching shrimp, crabs and fish, but today his family is living off the money he earned from Vessels of Opportunity, the program that paid local boats to help with the clean-up. "And that's about to run out," he said.
Roberts said he was frustrated by BP's claims process, which he says wasn't compensating people adequately. "From my $100,000 claim, they gave me $6,000," he said. "We thought they would take care of us."
Another fisherman in the group of Americans, Byron Encalade, told a similar story. His small oyster fishing business in Pointe a la Hache, La. was devastated by the spill and time and time again BP denied his claims, he said. "I'm not out to destroy BP – they employ a lot of people. But they just need to keep their word," Encalade said.
Victims of the BP oil spill traveled from the Gulf Coast to London on Thursday to drive home the point that almost one year after the country's largest-ever environmental disaster, many people are still dealing with the impact. NBC's Anne Thompson reports.
He had wanted to urge BP to pay the interim claims. "Who are you giving the money to?" he said, addressing the oil company. "We're not getting it."
The group saw their trip to London, paid for by the Gulf Coast Fund charitable organization, as an opportunity to make sure BP's shareholders know that the disaster isn't over. "Everybody is sick, no one is talking about that," Kuhns said. She described the skin rashes people have and the respiratory difficulties – the "BP cough," as locals call it.
"They're scared of us, that's why they didn't let us in," Kuhns said. "The executives are scared to death that the stakeholders are going to find out the truth."
BP spokesman Robert Wine said the four Americans were turned away because they had been seen with Wilson, the woman who was arrested after staging the protest at the convention center's entrance. "The decision [to turn them away] was taken because of safety issues – because of the possible disruption," he said. "We weren't sure what might happen."
The company is entitled under law to turn people away over "appropriate grounds," Wine said, even if they hold proxy votes as the four Americans did.
About an hour into the meeting Kuhns, standing outside with the rest of her group, answered a call from someone inside the meeting. "He wants to know if we want to try to get in," she said to her husband. Roberts held up his proxy sheet, which he had torn into pieces.
He laughed. "Tell him their proxy is in 150 pieces."
Leave a Comment:
Boycott BP!!!!
I luv BP
Boycott Castrol motor oil as well. It's made by BP.
Leanderm - do you consider yourself patriotic? because I say you're a SELL-OUT! I hope BP gas causes your car engine to blow up!
Elite corporation at it's best.
Is that a wig? Hag needs to pack her ass back to the bayou! I guess they turned off the spigot and wouldn't give her anymore money. Back to work slacker payday is over!
Yea slacker keep pulling those dead oil covered oysters out of the gulf. BP doesn't care about the environment why should you? Sven wants his gulf shrip! just don't smoke next to them.
I can't wait until we cut off welfare funding for the slacker poor so we can give more to fine oil companies like BP.
The politicians ,cops ,and big business don't have the same complaints! At least according to an article yesterday I have no reason not to believe. They screwed over everyone!
i really have no symphathy because with all the grief they gave obama the lawmakers in that area were going crazy about a moratorium they seem a little schzoid to me
LOL, if BP lowered their gas price so it was a couple of bucks cheaper than everyone elses you'd all jump right in that gas line. I know I would. It was an accident....get over it!
I think the reported did a poor job who she was covering. Diane Wilson is far from a shrimper. She has been a policitcal activist for years. She is a pretender who wanted her name in the paper. All of you liberals should be ashamed of your free loading attitudes! Get a job! Taking money that isn't yours is stealing.
Jeez, I can't afford to go to England.
BP is going to benefit from all of those corporate tax breaks the republicans are talking about. BP is clearly not doing their part. More government pressure needs to be put on them to pay those in the Gulf what is owed. I cannot see boycotting them however. Those who own service station franchises and their employees had not part in the Gulf disaster.
I think everyone should boycott British Petroleum for a week. We do have some power over the products we buy. Let's start with them and then work our way around to Halliburton. And then we might want to find out very thing we can about the Koch brothers and GE. I can predict what the loyal BP ist, GE ist and all the rest of the Piped Pipers who defend the rich, will say, Boycotts do not work. If we stick together it will. Look what the middle class in Wisconsin and Ohio are doing by banning together.
As for the shareholders of BP stock, they do not give a tinker's damn about the gulf oil spill. All they want is their profits to be profitable!
How horrible. I've been hearing for months how they've not been paying out what they promised for THEIR FVCK UP!!
How would you like it if some POS came and burned down your business and got away with it. Essentially that is what BP has done and refuses to make things right!!
Remember AIG? All those millions in bonus' for morons who did nothing but destroy their company and rob their customers. Well moronic has a new face. BP. Why don't the execs be forced to eat only Gulf food for a year? Just like our government officals getting paid for less than mediocre service.
I have to ask if any of you are Americans. Here is a foreign corporation making trillions of dollars on our soil. They messed up and have left a major section of that region without the possibility of maintaing a livlihood. Yet you bash these people. Do you honestly believe that the mess is cleaned up? Who are you kidding. This catastophy will have ramifications on the fishing and shellfishing in that region for years, yet the Obama lovers (At least from reading the replies) want to let this corporation off the hook. If our government really had any balls, they would ban BP and all of it's subsidiaries from doing business in the US. Hey if we did that it might actually open up more jobs for US citizens. Just my opinion though...Oh yeah, since when did painting your face become a criminal offense, After all the do celebrate Fasching where everyone dresses up! Whether she's a nut-case or not.
Byl,
Sven's not a real big fan of shrimp period. Wasn't a real big fan of gulf oysters either. Not because they are oysters but because of where they get them - Mississippi river delta. Just think of all the pollutants that come down the river into the gulf. Yuck! No thanks. Now get me some North Atlantic or Pacific oysters = yum yum. Heck old Sven might even eat some of the shrimp from there:)
Just read where this harpy, Diane Wilson, is a founding member of Code Pink. Don't care at all about these protesters or what happens to them and hopefully they will be beaten while in custody switch just turned to the ON position.
The government appointed an independent czar to handle BP's claims. Now, the government wouldn't put someone prejudicial, bias, partial, opinionated, whatever, to handle the claims? Seems to me like BP paid what they agreed to and a lot more before it was over. As for the lady smeared in oil, probably made her look a lot better.
It wasn't an accident, BP knew their were problems and didn't fix them!
Whether your it was an accident or intentional, the one "at fault" in an accident should be responsible for reparations (aka paying for their mistakes), whether paid by that person or their insurance. BP is avoiding paying anything at these people's expense.
Boycotts don't work because there gas sells under other company names.
Picketing around large areas of people or next to several BP Stations around the country at the sametime may bring more attention to what crooks BP are. Set it up on Facebook if it means so much to you. ORGANIZE.............
I am a Democrat - who despises BP and their ilk. "The decision [to turn given to the safety issues and the disruption of lives and livliehoods caused by BP's idiocy. Ban their behinds from US waters. Their new slogan, adopted and adapted from their fan, Sarah Palin? Kill, baby, kill.
YEAH for BP, I feel sorry for the legitimate group that was there to address the stockholders and were not trying to be disruptive, but glad that BP had "Medusa from Midlland" arrested. I for one also think that most of the stockholders are fully aware that the clean up is not over by any stretch. Also they need to realize they are in the United Kingdom, not the U.S. and the laws and customs are different. As stated before I think the legitimate group that were holding proxy's should have been let in, but I also see the point that they were seen with Ms. Wilson who's only motive was to be disruptive so they are guilty by association. I hope that BP in the end does what is right by some of these people and pays what they promised.
Wow, you guys actually believe this @!$%#? I personally know more than 4 people who got checks of around $50,000 apiece. Just because you believe you're entitled to money doesn't make it true, but those who did were paid. And accidents happen, you can't guarantee perfection, but when something goes wrong everyone starts blaming big corporations and oil companies. I almost don't even want to comment because you will still believe the lies perpetuated by the liberal media. If this was reversed in any way, such as the fact that one of the most dangerous thing damaging our envirnment is the battery acid coming from your solar panels and prius' (truth) then you would be up in arms. This is libel pure and simple, I can't believe the ignorance of you people, some people even believe burning wood is better for the environment than say CH4 or any other hydrocarbon which is laughable at best. I hope you hypocrits get whats coming to you.
Yes it WAS an accident, caused by negligence. Now, whoever allowed that negliegence to occur, along with the company, should be charged with 11 counts of manslaughter. People died as a direct result of that ngeligence! Those responsible need to be held accountable! In addition, those who were harmed should be made WHOLE!! Tell those twits in FL that got money from BP even tho they didnt get any damage, and bought nice SUVs for there staffers, that they should give that money to those who REALLY need it!!
Maelstrom7, You need to tell that to BO. He's the one that wanted and got a czar to handle the claims. If he didn't, those folks, like the Exxon Valdez, would be 20 years getting any monies. They were never proven to be at fault YET. They were the leasee of the rig not the owner and there were 2 other companies involved. They paid the claims that the czar approved. These people still have the right to go to court if they choose. If they figure they didn't get enough---sue them. That's all you have to do. With luck, you may get something in your lifetime?
Tom in NH, fully agreed, people seem to bypass the point that people died... It really is a tragedy and those involved in the obvious negligence of the safety of the operation should be held accountable. Although I think we can narrow that down to 2-4 people mostly in management positions. Also, I never said the people I knew actually deserved the money, but it shows that BP are not backing out of that agreement. It's the government and medias fault for the way this was handled. I just don't like the oil industry being bashed for a mishap from a company with a horrible track record. I am a Petroleum Engineer and am very conscious of safety and the environment.
folks, you are missing the real point here,,,your politicans are most happy with BP..why not..they have lobbyist with lots of money. For all the talk by politicans when this spill went down..now..lots of maney has changed hands..the question becomes,,who got it? And does anyone really care...evidently your politicans sure don't.
Disneyana Kid; sometimes outlandish behavior brings attention to the cause, I would have never read about the hearings if not for her. Smart Woman, I think a few hours at a police station is worth it to bring attention back to the faces of the people who still are getting screwed by BP.
Ps; 50.000 is a pittance to what they deserve, but once people were frightened and desperate, who better to take advantage of.
ironically enough, Transocean just handed out big bonuses for their fine safety record for 2010.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110404/ts_yblog_thelookout/transocean-awards-safety-bonuses-to-execs-bp-vies-to-resume-gulf-oil-exploration
As The Lookout reported last week, corporations doled out skyrocketing bonuses to executives in 2010, while the average worker keeps putt-putting along. And now comes news that executives at Transocean—which owned the Deepwater Horizon platform that blew up and claimed the lives of 11 oil workers while touching off the BP oil spill—are collecting safety bonuses for their performance in 2010.
While noting "the tragic loss of life" in the incident that led to last summer's Gulf disaster, the company said in a regulatory filing that it would pay two-thirds of a possible safety bonus to senior managers because—outside of the Deepwater Horizon explosion—the company's 2010 safety record was "exemplary," claiming it was "the best year in safety performance in our company's history."
I'd hate to see what their worst year looks like.
Can you explain to me why you thing they deserve more? Factually with evidence, because if you can convince me of that I will side with you. It just doesn't work though, the amount of money actually lost by these people or companies is minor. Oil first of all is miscible with water, and floats because of its lower specific gravity so it affected nearly none of the fishing exports which people claimed the majority of money on. The effect on the economy was much less than said by the media, the percentage being paid to them is about 500% what they deserve based on actual figures. Look up the economics not from biased news sources like msn or msnbc, cnn etc. This is like suing someone for having any ugly building next to you which turns away customers, it makes no sense.
The lady with the black paint is from Seadrift TX. There were no impacts in Seadrift. NONE.
Other than the local guys who can't make money out on the rigs since the court order defying moratorium was devised by Obama.
Hey, gas is at $4 a gallon - you ready to drill yet?
The shrimp and fish are coming in at record size and quantity. This is the best harvest in years! Face it, people kill many, many times more fish and shellfish by harvesting them. A 6 month break has done wonders for it.
And it's coming back from Gas Chromatography tests CLEAN!
You can't say that about the Chinese seafood you eat blindly. No pollution in Chinese waters? Yeah, right.
There are some areas right at the spill site that are going to take a few years for oysters to come back.
But most of these guys arecomplaining because they are not getting enough interim payments. The interim is over - settle already. They you get the big check.
Look, the US media has hyped you all on this spill. Why did they never once compare it to IXTOC in 1979.
Don't remember IXTOC? Pemex spilled more oil into the Gulf than the BP spill.
So why doesn't the media mention this obvious comparison?
Because just 2 years after IXTOC, there were no measurable environmental impacts.
But let's not let facts get in the way of the hype!
WOW... accidents happen engineer? They didn't lose money engineer? What is wrong with you people standing up for a sh1t company like that? Oh wait, you're not wanting to see any profits go to help those they hurt.
If I was out driving and fvcking around and not paying attention to what I was doing, and I MOWED YOUR @!$%#ING KIDS OVER, and said, well sorry Engineer, accidents happen. This ain't your pay day. How would you take that?
And when was the last time you sat your a$$ down and ate yourself some nice seafood from that area?
Don't bother answering. I supsect your character would allow lying anyway.
As soon as they announced businesses would be compensated for losses, I said the people that cheated on their income taxes are going to be the true loosers in this because they don't have proof of how much they really make...It's called karma...I'm in Ohio and so I couldn't sue even if it did bother me..I feel like havin some oil-enriched sushi tonight...Maybe , if I'm lucky it will have a nice nuclear glow to it...lol
I have a question....Is there any way of knowing how much oil lies at the bottom of the ocean that was released by ocean floors opening up from earthquakes?...I mean Japan just had a monster offshore quake...How does that impact other ocean waters...oil is a natural element so i don't see how bad it can be....Now nuclear disasters are a different story...When big companies go cheap when it comes to something as dangerous as plutonium or uranium, that pisses me off...oil is a natural thing so drill baybe drill....the ocean luckily is very big.. It's like peeing in a swimming pool...If one person does it , no big deal but when thousands do it , might smell a bit...There's a lot of water out there....
The next time BP wants to drill in the Gulf, we should all get together and tell them no!
"The decision [to turn them away] was taken because of safety issues – because of the possible disruption," he said. "We weren't sure what might happen." Talk about effing safety reasons!!! Look what you did to our Gulf! You BP arses can go stick your oil drill up your own ...
If you did some reserach you'd find out he's not he does hundreds of thousand of Consulting work for BP. The man in charge of the claims has a huge intrest in keeping BP in good shape.
The $4 a gallon gas is brought to you by the same scumbag wallstreet bunch who brought us the housing crisis its all done with futures and hedgefunds there is minimally less supply and less demand than a year ago Make oil commodity futures traders take possesion of the oil and then sell it
The reason many of these fishermen can't get what they feel they should is because they have spent years, if not decades, stealing from the IRS and the rest of us taxpayers. They fail to report large portions of their incomes on their tax returns since they are in a business where many transactions are cash. The people handling the claims for BP then asked them for their tax returns so they could figure out how much money the people were due. The problem is they are trying to claim $80,000 a year incomes when their tax returns only show $30,000. BPs claims administrator pays them based on what they can document which is $30,000 /year. If they had not been tax cheats they would get what they should, but because they are tax cheats, they have effectively screwed themselves. I hope all the taxes they saved were worth it, because neither BP or anyone else is not going to pay a claim that can not be substantiated. This is just a case of a criminal getting his due.
Hmmmm, if these idiots are so bad off how can they afford to fly to London??? I live on the gulf coast and these people that are claiming they did not get paid are the ones that do not want anything but a free hand out. Thousands of people got huge checks that were completely unaffected by the spill but put in claims anyway. BP took care of everyone that HONESTLY DESERVED IT. The ones still crying and losers and want something for nothing, STFU!
A little history of BP and Obama:
During the 2008 campaign, Obama was the largest recipient of BP MONEY...
When the oil was $147+USD bbl it was BP's production platform 'Thunder Horse' in the GOM, that was the primary reason that oil was $36+USD Jan 2009... It was producing 1% of the TOTAL US oil production - 250+thousand bbl oil & 200+Million cu ft NG a day...
After the BP spill 'Thunder Horse', has reduced their production to half of the original quantities... Due to maintenance... Ha! Ha! I'm sure that these numbers will go up after oil reaches $150+USD bbl...
BP also has one of the WORST - SAFETY and Maintenance records in the US Oil Industry... The same Company that Obama was giving Environmental wavers and Safety awards to...
a c robertson....wow you are great at spinning lies....I would stay away from fox and take your meds........lmao. what a freakin sheep you are..............
Joe Barton (R-TX) could have got them in
1. She is not even from an area of the gulf coast that was affected by the spill.
2. they asked for 100,000 and got 6000, looks like another commercial fisherman that did not report all of his income for tax reasons. Claims have been paid based on proof of income lost.
3. Check out the story the other day on how all the local politicians spent the BP money on Ipads and new vehicles for themselfs.
4. Maybe BP should of done like Exxon with Valdez wait for the court to decide who gets paid and how much, then appeal to get all the pay outs lowered.
5. Talk with all the honest people in the area and they feel that they have been treated fair and Bp has lived up to the promises it made during a bad accident. You did not see the drilling company or any of the well partners step up? Guess the media only likes to go after the big bad guys.
6. Has anyone out there heard of the little company that has oil leaking into the gulf and washing up on Grand Isle beaches right now?
Gregg:
I am an American and I am willing to bet a majority, of these posts, are written by Americans. I have to tell you, there is a BP oil company, right near my home, in Ohio. How does one punish the British Petroleum Oil company, without punishing Americans, who work for them? And as another post pointed out, we have forgotten the eleven people who were killed. Why isn't someone in jail? The most important issue and where the United States, should start, with prosecuting those responsible. I realize there has been billions of dollars of damage, to the industries on the coast. Also, the Gulf coast will suffer with the oil pollution for decades, if not, forever.
Someone also, mentioned, he "knew people" who received checks for $50 thousand dollars. Big deal! First that is chump change, for all the loss these industries, have gone through. Come on, someone has to have a viable plan, to get our country, moving, to force BP to pay up.
I think it's time, the people wearing the suits, should go to jail! And I am not talking tennis prison either!
Ok,
A) this wasnt in America there are different rules there.
B) You had an idiot in your group that was more intreasted in making a statement then getting something accomplished. ( the one that was arrested)
C) Knowing you were with her, I wouldnt of let you in either.
D) Associate with criminals, expect to be treated like one.
Id have to agree. If they had very calmly presented themselves as interested parties with proxy cards they probably would have been let in. I dont know why you would give them an excuse to arrest you. Very different laws in Britain regarding detention and freedom of assembly.
Jeremy-960164 is ABSOLUTELY correct!!!
What Dip S***>
Even so, they should have been given entry. Being proxy to someone who is stupid does not warrant exclusion. They should have been given the oppurtunity under watch. It's not that difficult to stop a disruption of 4 people. And the difference in the placement of the event doesn't matter. Britian is even more loose on thier laws to protesting than we are. People march for thier rights there at the drop of a hat. So that arguement is invalid.
amen
OK,
A. None of them are criminals.
B. None of you have been experiencing the situation they've been experiencing.
C. BP is corrupt as hell and owe those American people their lives back.
D. Jeremy is a DB
you are a jerk. associate with criminals... and be treated like one? shame on you.
Tyler, B. is incorrect. I live it everyday.
I'm surprised nobody on here has screamed "what about freedom of speech?!"
According to a previous articles on MSN, BP has been paying.....it seems though, that local American governments are using and abusing these said funds. Thus again, the little guy loses!
Svenolafson, because freedom of speech is irrelivant in another country for a meeting that is not held in the public. While I totally agree with it. Private meetings have nothing to do with your rights. Hence why bp does not hold "open" shareholder meetings or public press meetings.
Alice, the local american government doesn't have anything to do with a privately controlled company shelling out money in direct correlation to them using it. The only thing our government has done is placed an agent to say yes or no to someones request for funding. The government is not allowed to use it, spend it, or move it. So your comment is ill informed.
If you associate with criminals then you are treated like one, every one in that room was responsible for the oil spill in the gulf. Everyone in that room was responsible for dumping poison on that oil spill so it would sink out of site. Everyone in that room is responsible for US fishermen losing work because all the fish are dead. And all of you oil sympathisers are criminals for associating with BP.
or is that not what you meant?
Tyler,
A) Well obviously at least one of them would be classified as a criminal since she was arrested. Like I said this isnt America. EU have different rules.
B) Since you dont know anything about me... Since I have both immediate and extended family living on the coast, I know EXACTLY what these people are going through..
C) BP is just like any and every other business. Trying to do the right thing, while looking out for their bottom line. Instead of acting like you are owed something why dont you DO something about it. Im making a crapton of money off of BP and the other Oil companies setting up my retirement nicely.
D) Seems im not a " DB" as you said and just know WTH im talking about. Unlike you who seems to like to follow the prescribed canned responses.
Maybe you all have, but I have not forgotten the vast scope of devastation reigned upon the many, many gulf coast American communities and the natural resources they rely on for a living -- due to BP and Transocean's negligence.
What does it take for you all to retain focus or even remember beyond the last 24-hour new cycle? What does it take for you to require accountability for corporations how are profiting from publicly owned US resources?
You try to make a living in the Gulf Coast and then judge the folks doing the best they can with no major financially-backed lobbying support to demand accountablity.
Jeremy-960164
It's amazing how you have the audacity to take a side against people affected by BP's negligence and the environment but instead take the side of a petroleum company! I wish you much success with the shares you have in the company.
You are absolutely correct. I'm not signing onto this board ever again. I wouldn't want anyone to think I have any association with some of you.
Dear Jeremy-960164
I do not know you, however; the fact that you are making boatloads of money off of other's misery really discounts anything that you have to contribute to this discussion. Of course you're going to defend them, they're setting up your retirement! And by the way, I lived in Europe for 5 years and believe it or not, although I realize you have your own agenda, there are no criminal laws prohibiting face painting. Whether she's a nut case or not!
Wow! All I can say is wow! Jeremy, while agree that many businesses do try to do the right thing and protect their bottom lines, this is not the case. And even if it were, the right thing to do should come first, even if has to be forced upon them. BP should be required to return the habitat to the state it was in before their accident, pay every person that has lost and continues to lose money and income because of that accident until the environment and the habitat have been returned to pre-spill levels. If they go broke and have to go out of business because of it, then so be it. And Transocean should be right there beside them the whole way.
I do not believe the people of this region should be receiving anything they haven't earned, but BP destroyed their source of income and they should have to pay for that. These people receive compensation in the mount of money they made the previous year, minus what little they are able to make now, until such time that BP and Transocean have returned the environment to pre-accident levels. That's not freeloading, that's getting what you deserve from those that destroyed your ay of life.
BP is also an employer - and a big one too...don't forget that. They screwed up big time with that disaster, but are paying out the nose for it - in proven retribution, lost profits, and equipment/production loss.
These people are complaining that they didn't get 100K, that they deserved, from BP - for one reason or another. So who am I supposed to believe??!!
NOBODY wanted this to happen, most of all BP. In the meantime, I too am making profits off of their oil exploration and production as a shareholder. You're driving the cars. Get it?
Im not making money off of other peoples misery..
Tell me one thing I PERSONALLY could or can do to affect anything going on in the gulf with the oil companies.. Protest BP Please, the oil industry sells to everyone. One day Im filling up with BP, the next week from Exxon, the next from some Arab Oil Company. They all trade together.
SO that being said.. I have been on the beaches with my family cleaning up have you ?? I highly doubt it, you are one of thoes arm chair liberal tree hugers who will rail on someone else thinking you are better then them. Like just one guy said.. Nobody wanted it to happen....
YES I am making money off the oil companies.. ALL of them, not just BP. Oil is making a ton of money, I dumped my money into it right as Lybia started going up in smokes. I am up a lot of money and I make no appologies for doing it. Call me any name in the book you want. BP has every right to stop anyone from going into their meeting.. The woman wasnt arrested for painting her face, she was arrested for causing a scene. Her friends were not let in because of their association with the nut job.. You are only hearing one side of the story..
Lets ask another question.
Why did the nut job have the paint? IF they expected to get in, and have a peaceful discussion there wouldnt of been any need for the paint. What they were going to do was go in and paint each other up and cause a disruption. there is no other reason to have the paint.
See, it's people like Jeremy that could make me want to physically slug someone for their arrogance and disgusting lack of empathy. Then hope they choke on their shares, well before theyhave any chance to enjoy their retirement. That would be poetic. There is definitely something wrong with someone who would find glee in the misfortune of others and actually stand up for the true criminals in this case.
Karma gonna getcha!
Go, Byl, Go !!! I was a regular BP customer till they wrecked that well, killed people, wrecked the environment. The transcripts of the workers testimony of their bosses telling them to cut corners to save money is the thing. They cut safety, they cut environment protections to save a few hundred thou that day and into the very low millions for the whole job. People died and it cost them billions and still counting. They had hundreds of violations compared to Chevron, Shell and exxon and others who only had one to a half dozen violations. BP top managment runs a scuzzy company. The gubmint comes in and uses Fineberg who paid millions to 9-11 vic families of wall street bankers and pays a few thousand to families of low paid people. all the while saying he " vas only following zee orders". IF that were true they wouldn't have needed Fineberg, they could have programed an ATM Kiosk to dispense claims. Fineberg is at it again, looking out after BP's interests and not the victims. Obama should not have appointed him. There are many Federal Judges he could have tapped for the job. Stay away for BP.
It's naive to believe that these people aren't corrupt. Especially when they know they can be and get away with it. We have Supreme Court Justices that get away with lying about a spouses income and it's known that they follow different rules than the rest of us.
To think they care about righting a very obvious wrong is unfortunately wishful thinking. The only thing they care about is getting as most money as they possibly can now, screw the long term consequences.
Politicians in bed with big oil. What a surprise! As Americans, we should stand together even as our leaders sell us out, and BOYCOTT BP. We still do have free press in this country, and maybe with a little bad publicity, they'll make good on their promises.
I thought BP put a big amount of money into a pot, and President Obama assigned someone to dole out the proceeds based on the claims merit? Isn't that who they should have protested to?
They still have not pay.
Obama appointed Ken Feinberg....he is now an employee of BP. He has denied thousands of legitimate claims with hundreds (sometimes thousands) of pages of documentation ....and has stated that he believes all money not paid out should be returned to BP. AND HE IS GOING TO BE SURE MONEY WILL BE LEFT OVER BY DENY CLAIMS. These people showing up at the meeting was trying to get that info to BP. It's a loss cause....BP knows...it's all a sham....a dog and pony show. Do you get the picture yet?????
Correct, Jeremy.
Jeremy, are you a sill for BP.
The company had no legal right to not allow these people in. They had acted in no way that would be inappropriate.
And as for the one crazy lady, rubbing oil on your face is not a criminal act!
privately controlled company holding a private share holders meeting. They have the right to deny anyone they want. And you have no legal rights to fight it. While I agree with you, this is the reality of it.
BP is a publicly traded company. They had proxy cards. try again.
in BP's eyes and most corporate eyes....we are lazy, serf like, criminals and we should be lucky we have a job......corporations are the only ones in this country that are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.......we certainly can not say that about the citizens in this country.......since 2002 we have become 3rd world.............shameful
Need anymore proof that "we the people" are no more than drones to be used and discarded as big business and the uber rich see fit? Watch the new documentary "Gashole".......it will make you furious. We are going to have to get mad at some point and let them know it.
I don't watch films made by liberals or tree huggers. They spout nothing but lies just like Al Gores An inconvenient truth. Way to many lies.
That's right bustem, there is no climate change due to what people are doing. Dumping deep well drilled oil into the gulf for days has no environmental effect. There is no such thing as the environment the lefty limp wrist left made that up to scare you. Good thing you are here to shed some light.
My pleasure to enlighten you.
Bustem the only thing enlightened anywhere in the vicinity of your comments is the little light on top of your tin hat. Have another cup of tea and make sure you brew it with gulf coast water.
His religious faith has nothing to do with his ignorance. I'll bet you believe nothing happened to nothing then nothing blew up and made everything. Perfect logic right there.
But try to have an open mind Bustem.
Nice way to treat not only citizens suffering under their poor management but SHAREHOLDERS in their company. I would think all shareholders should rethink their investment.
Why should they? There getting rich from BP, the shareholders won't turn their backs on the money pot, are you serious? BP should be shut down , untill they are made to be accountable like they promised , they have literally shut down those peoples way of earning a living .
They should rethink their investment because:
1. They destroyed the marine ecosystem in that area.
2. the litigation process isn't complete yet, and there could be more damages to come that would devalue BP's stock.
3. BP was unscrupulous, incompetent, and corrupt by blatantly ignoring safety concerns.
4. There are plenty of other oil companies to invest in that offer dividends.
5. BP IS EVIL!
what you fail to realize as well is that many of the Brits retirement funds are tied up in BP
You're not going to see any sort of shut down or really any punishment of BP. About 45% of all british pensions are invested in BP stock. You can bet there has been some back room dealing going on as the british government didn't want BP fined or held responsible in the first place. They even propped up BP's stock right after the disaster happened so their pensioners would not loose anything due to stock collapse.
you mean to tell me their are pensions still around....oh yeah that's right...only in other countries.
Hopefully, the U.S. Coast Guard is maintaing a constant presence near ANY BP rigs that are in the Gulf of Mexico. The BP Gul F disaster (and LACK of clean-up/adequate compensation and destruction of our environment) should give them ample reason for follow-up and boarding, if possible.
Obama got 20 Billion to compensate. Let the Dumbocraps cough up their claims.
Dumbocraps? And you expect anyone to remotety take anything you post seriously? Same for those calling people Rethuglicans.
Proof positive that maturity doesn't happen naturally. Some people just never acheive it.
NYMike - Thank you! Same with calling people 'Libtards' or 'Tea Baggers'. The name calling does not make anyone sound more intelligent, folks, and they don't get any funnier after the 100th time I've heard them. It's as if you are saying you are a complete and total idiot, and your best counter-argument is to call somebody a schoolyard name.
What do you want. These vines are infested with out-of-work 20 somethings with that high quality public education. This is as good as it gets folks. It's how they sell people that cutting taxes for wealthy people and fighting wars for oil is going to bring down the deficits caused by ...... cutting taxes for wealthy people and fighting wars for oil....
Are you joking? Correct Jeremy??? what is wrong with you people???
They didnt do a single thing wrong. And they got alot more than what they were hoping for, so screw all you stupid people on here, they were a bigger success then they hoped for with a world wide news article now showing BP repressing concerned citizens honest feedback.
The woman was a fool. If you're going to pull a stunt like that, wait until AFTER you're in the room, not before. Course you're not going to be taken seriously after pulling such a stunt so she would have been better off keeping her face clean and presenting her case inside. Now all she is, is the crazy american.
Feel for the folks down there, BP does need to step and do right by them. But 15 seconds of fame won't help them.
Everyone knew that BP would never pay up for there mistakes, nor treat the regular people correctly, if you are not in the government forget it. Your pockets will remain empty. Laws of the USA say BP must pay up but no one will enforce them.
Yawn....we have short attention spans here in the US....next.
BP is the criminal who will probably never face charges for the biggest environmental disaster of all time
ya it hasn't cost them a cent /eyeroll
Where were you and the rest of the liberals when Mexico sent 140 millions barrels of oil into the Pacific. They just let it leak for months until it played out.
interesting how folks always blame the u.s. government for high gasoline prices despite the fact it is traded globally. Even if we leased out every square inch of BLM and Wildlife Range to the highest bidder what makes you think the oil producers want to fill your tank for $1.50 a gallon???? You think BP is your buddy?
Easy to judge when your life, family, land, income and business weren't devastated by big oil who will now not pay what is rightfully due. Maybe her antics will bring the attention to this that it deserves. Who are the people defending this oil company? The people who flew there did nothing wrong. They had a right to attend the meeting. I hardly consider smearing black paint on your own body a criminal activity.
Unfortunately what you or anyone else besides BP considers criminal doesn't exactly count for anything. BP has the right to refuse access to these meetings to anyone that they deem necessary..
On the other hand, if a lot of those people who experienced losses had been filing honest tax returns so that they could prove their income and hence their losses they would not be having such a hard time getting paid. Granted BP hasn't really stepped up. This guy they hired to administer the money is a complete fraud but from some of the things I've read coming out of there lots of people can't produce tax returns that reflect the amount of money they now say they earned. I think BP should give them what they say they earned and there should be an IRS agent standing right there to collect the back tax complete with fines and penalties.
Sean, the BP defenders are all the "patriotic, flag waving , bible thumping, constitution loving Americans" who will defend BP to the death but demand they have access to your bedroom at all times.
Actually, the activist that poison our country are Liberals. Blame the working if you wish and turn your head away from the real loonies, you included Shellie
Who was prosecuted for the death (being burned alive) of the 11 workers on the rig or the damage to the thousands of residents of the states on the Gulf ?
NOBODY.
But the executives at BP and Transocean are rewarded for an "exemplary safety track record".
How long can you milk it? give it a rest
You ignorant pompous ass. Have you ever seen what that oil has done. I'm not talking about what the show on the news either. Milking it my ass!
Those people that worked for the Vessels Of Opportunity made a minimum of 1500.00 A DAY!! plus 150 per man on the boat. They made so much freaking money its pathetic! Thats a vessel under 24 ft!!! 25 to 34 made 2500.00 a day, 35 to 44 made 3500.00 a day and 45 and up made 4500.00 a day!
BP has done everything possible. You just can't make people that don't work for money happy!! Everyone wants everything for FREE!!! Suck it up and move on..
I agree-----Boycott BP----use social networking to get people to sell their BP stock, dont buy BP products, boycott all imports from England----send a message. In the U.S. pickett every place BP is --or is represented at. Dont expect the U.S. government to help----it wont!
I have been doing that since the accident. My only fear is that it discourages BP from compensating Gulf Coast claims even more because their profit margins will shrink.
The only way you can truely boycott them, is to never buy another petroleum product again. Just like the rest, they sell their oil on the global market. You are using BP products and don't even know it it seems.
After the calamity BP caused in the Gulf, I would never frequent one of their service stations. They should be ashamed of themselves for the destruction they caused to both the environment and most of all the livelihood of the people in the affected area. The American government, in addition, should ashamed of handling this situation with kid gloves and not putting BP's feet to the fire sooner and holding them accountable until the citizens of this country are satisfied. Blame it on Obama who said everyone would be "made whole" again. Typical lawyer BS with no substance.
Everyone seems so surprised, you deal with a crook and they screw you, what is new, the oil companies are crooks and will continue to be until they are out of business and that depends on US.
How dare anyone try to bring the truth to light during a shareholders meeting. Come on - how do you expect them to justify their bonuses for the "safest year ever" if you were able to present the facts. Guess maybe some of us are starting to get it - we are cannon fodder!! if not in the front lines of Afghanistan, then definitely in the front line against the profits of big business. And it shouldn't take an Einstein to figure out who will win that war!!
Where did they think they were? In the left wing USA? Not. In the rest of the world you get a beatdown for acting like a left wing loon.
Don't keep up much do ya theelviscreator. In the UK they take the heads of companies hostage when they protest. I'd hardly call BP hiding like sissy's from a lady with paint on her face a beat down. Telling though that you do.
It's like the 1950's. Yuh try to hold a meeting and the "Greasers" show up!
By the way, was the Cher????
I have not bought gas from them since the spill If that is what it was. Something is not right. I think it was a drown well. Can you say cover up? Of course our government did not know what to do. So they got away with it.
Yes you have, unless you don't drive a car at all. Bp supplies gas products to 85% of your local stations. So if you have gotten gasoline from bp, 7-11, shell, circle k, super america, valero, qt, race trac. What most people do not realize is the amount of gasoline we consume. These companies (including shell) equally trade with each other to meet demands and keep up profits. So before touting that shell has it's own blah blah. yes they do, and they also buy from other suppliers to keep up thier sales.
I know that to be true. I do not go and ask the owner were the gas came from.
To me that is not the real point. That is all you see? The plastics you use are from them. And many other things.
and I buy from them all the time. We own over 65 trucks and everyone of the drivers carry a BP card. So in my case you don't matter. Obama squeezed them for 20 billion dollarss for compensation. Send the jerk a bill.
Theendisnear1, gasoline and petrolium products was just easier to use than including all of bp's bi-products. Please, if you are going to try and argue a point on a national website for news. At least have some intellectual tact to your arguement rather than being literal.
You Are sill missing the point. The first statement was to get your attention. Read between the lines.
Oh Bustem. I do not care if you have a million trucks. And use all that BP refines. You just have a big ego.
Take that back. couldn't have said it any better!!!! As consumers, we DO have influence on the NYSE AND the well-being of those affected by it!....just because it's a political commodity doesn't mean that there is or shouldn't be restitution...BP?.....BS!!!!
BP wasted money on local governments, and that doesn't help the case here. These people may very well be totally justified. Probably are. But they would have looked better before last week's press release.
It's been my experience that the people who feel they need to tell you what they have "We own over 65 trucks and all the drivers have BP cards" are usually the ones who don't have a pot to piss in.