Exxon Denies Long Term Environmental Damage to Prince William Sound – A Day in Court
~Oil sheen from the Exxon Valdez spill fills a footprint on the beach 21 years later in July of 2010
Tomorrow will be a historic day. After 22 years, the final word will be had on the long-term environmental damage from the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Last summer, I traveled to Knight Island in Prince William Sound. The point of landing was “Diesel Beach.” As you can imagine, this is a post-1989 name. You can read my post Walking With the Ghost of Exxon HERE. The long-term impact on Prince William Sound has been significant. With resident orca populations expected to disappear, the extinction of the herring fishery, the emotional and psychological cost to the human residents of the Sound, and with oil sheen brought to the surface with a simple footprint, Exxon will argue that everything is just fine.
Oh, really.
I give you Exhibit A – a video I took on July 4, 2010.
Mudflats contributor Rick Steiner, whom many of you are familiar with, issued the following press release, and encourages supportive citizens to show up tomorrow at 10am to watch this piece of environmental history play out.
******************************************
The first, and likely only, legal showdown regarding long-term environmental damage from the disastrous 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill will be argued this Friday (3/4/11) in U.S. District Court in Anchorage. In its motion filed just days before the hearing, Exxon argues it owes nothing more, and that the coastal environment is in “good ecological shape.” Exxon’s assertion stands in stark contrast to the extensive government science, which shows that most of the fish and wildlife populations, habitats, and resource services injured by the spill have yet to recover – 22 years later. The government still lists some populations as “not recovering.”
The motion to be considered is an Amicus Curiae filed 12/7/10 by a long-time Alaska marine conservationist, asking the court to order the final payment from Exxon to the government. The government’s demand for payment of $92,240,982 pursuant to the 1991 settlement’s Reopener for Unknown Injury was filed by the State of Alaska and U.S. government on August 31, 2006. Exxon has not paid the demand, and now the company says it does not intend to do so.
In a surprise move, District Court Judge H. Russel Holland – who approved the spill settlement back in 1991 – ordered oral arguments this Friday, March 4, 2011 (10:00 AM). At first not responding to the motion, Exxon finally filed its opposition at close of business last Friday, Feb. 25. This is the first public admission that the company disputes the government claim for unanticipated environmental damage.
Former Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski , whose administration presented the claim in 2006, sent a letter today to the District Court asking that the issue “move from continuing study to resolution.” Governor Murkowski said “Alaska deserves closure on this issue after 22 years.”
The movant will ask the court to order payment of the long-overdue demand ($92,240,982), plus interest since the demand was made in 2006 ($23 million), for a total of over $115 million. There will also be an additional surprise (and highly significant) request of the court on this matter by the movant in oral arguments Friday.
This will be the first, and likely last, time that long-term environmental damage from the world’s most environmentally damaging oil spill will be argued in court.
—
Rick Steiner
Oasis Earth
www.oasis-earth.com
Every Gov. who has supported Exxon since the oil spill was voted in by Alaskans.You get what you pay for.Exxon has unlimited legal advisors thay will never be held accountable,any more than BP will on the Gulf coast.Alaskans will have to be willing to take a pg. out of Wisco’s book.Reality is tough to swallow.Sitting in a fancy bar drinking malt liquor isn’t going to help people in Prince William Sound.
Bob–I get your point. However, if anyone want to make a run for President, they should come up with ideas as to how to fix the country. Tearing down people just doesn’t cut it.
Huckabee and others have no ideas of their own and to spread lies about our President or coming down on women for their life style, is not Presidental material.
I would like to wrap that guitar of his around his neck.
President Obama has his plate full with all that is going on in this country and abroad. It will take a hell of a good canidiate to beat this guy.
Off subject, but needs to be addressed.
http://www.radio-info.com/news/mike-huckabee-creates-radio-controversy-twice-in-one-week
Wonder if he thinks this misinformation will sell his new book?
Get your signs ready when he appears in your state.
I lost what little respect I had for Mike Huckabee when he inserted himself into the Alaska Senate race by pimping for the wacko nut-job Joe Miller… But in all fairness I would take exception to the criticism in the article you referenced where it mentions Huckabee was being hypocritical by not bashing Bristol Palin for being an unwed mother… Huckabee would be stupid if he angered the Sarah Palin supporters by bashing Bristol Palin since he’ll later need their support when he makes his Presidential run… Besides, he can always pull out that ammo if he needs a last ditch desperation move in the primaries… the kind of desperation move that McCain pulled when he plucked our coo-coo Queen out of obscurity as a last ditch effort to try and save his failed Presidential campaign…
Well Huckabee had no qualms bashing Natalie Portman as a bad example for being an unwed mother.
Natalie Portman graduated from high school and has at least one degree from some out of the way liberal arts school named Harvard. She is a successful,30 year-old woman,engaged,has money a strong career and is happily pregnant. In fact she is the anti-thesis of Bristol Palin,who seems to have opportunity shoved in her face every day and can only gripe at her detractors.
Saturday morning and no open thread, so posting here.
Less than a year after the Gulf Oil disaster, but it’s pretty much “out of sight, out of mind.”
Salt Life has become Crude Life…but “life” goes on.
Who will speak for the dolphins?
thatcrowwoman will.
Dead dolphins hit Panhandle shores:
http://tinyurl.com/69gtsaz
In solidarity with EVOS survivors and all who suffer because of corporate greed.
Dodging thunderstorms today, so will check back in after dark:thirty.
L’Shalom,
thatcrowwoman
In some ways,silence on my part,would be the better part of valor, I like stealing old altruisms and making a mess of them. A world without some sense of humor is a lost world. If you can’t see humor in life I feel you are missing the point of being alive. What transpired in PWS all those years ago is still a tragedy that should never have happened. It happened and the people of Alaska will be reminded of it forever. I don’t think the oil will ever go away.There are and will be lessons,some learned,others reinforced. It pretty much boils down to what political party is in charge, With rwnj you are pretty much assured that your own existence is invalid. Corporations rule. If you don’t see that you probably never will. With Dems you trust they do the right thing by smaller people and sometimes you get surprised that they do.Our judicial system is a real crapshoot, Chances are they will side with the big guys and there is always the activist rwnj Supreme Court as the last refuge for corp. scoundrels. To the ‘Pups that are offended by my seeming cold-hearted look at your lives,please don’t take it personally. I am not the enemy. I have seen,through the years,the way the justice system doe not work for the “little people”. I just see things different than others.
Without humor we shall wither and become embittered wraiths of wrath and become non-effective
http://groundswellalaska.com/2010/06/17/ten-suggestions-for-effective-activism-paul-rogat-loeb/
as well as predictably stuck in chapter 5 ( chapter in Plato’s Republic where everyone is moaning about what is wrong)
Rock on Mike-
this walk is one which will take all our skills and determination to stay on track
And laughter will help light our way.
“With Dems you trust they do the right thing by smaller people and sometimes you get surprised that they do.”
As far as classic statements about the Dems go, I think you just about joined the ranks of Will Rogers with that one. 🙂
Totally off topic, but there is no open thread, which is cool because I will be brief. I have had just the tiniest relapse. Back on mongo meds, and all of that junk.
Today has been awfully hard. I wanted to follow this action, but could find nothing.
Don’t know right now what is happening as far as stupid health, but fight this spill. Please. Please. Do not let this get shuffled off to the side of the road and abandoned. DEMAND that the MSM cover it. Flood the big three with emails. I called and called today – and asked different people at those three if they were even aware of this. Can you do the same? Pick a MSM news person and call them. Have your facts written down, and leave a message.
I can, jimzmum, thanks for being an inspiration. I hope you feel better soon, too.
Can someone shine the *Bat Signal*, or the *Maddow Signal* on Gotham City (America)?
(((jimzmum))). Get better soon.
Update on the Exxon case on Friday evening;
http://www.adn.com/2011/03/04/1737066/judge-to-mull-exxon-spill-case.html
A federal judge said at a hearing Friday he wanted another week to consider the question . . .
Oh, no! The judge said Rick Steiner can’t file a brief. I feel terrible, but not as bad as anyone in PWS feels right about now. I am so sick of money ruling everything in this country. Destruction of ecosystems? No prob, Bob! Dying dolphins in the Gulf? All in a day’s work. I want my country forward.
This is not all bad. Judge Holland has been extremely fair, and the capable plaintiffs have stood up to say yes we need to look at all this. The fact that EVOS Trustees Council may have left an opening for Exxon is a bureaucratic disaster.
Thank you, slipstream.
After all these years, he needs another week to mull it over?! It’s disgusting.
Who is this “federal” judge? Judge my behind… America is lost.
I am of several minds on this and related issues of a similar nature. I am of course thinking specifically about the long term effects of the Macondo blowout. If lessons could be learned by a collective consciousness this would certainly be a good place to start.
Does anyone realize how pathetically small this settlement is? It is a small fraction of one year’s profits for Exxon. Even if the state wins this case, Exxon will simply appeal and start another interminable cycle of expensive litigation. Far cheaper than paying the settlement. We all know these things, the burning question is why can’t we do anything about it? If a person commits an act of negligence they are swiftly brought to justice unless they are so wealthy as to have the status of a corporation. If a corporation, even a modest one like Koch Industries, commits an act of negligence they immediately begin to inflict further harm in the form of litigation, and can for all intents and purposes defer any real responsibility to the point of meaninglessness. What would $90 million be worth if figured as 1989 dollars?
From my personal point of view the greatest folly of this whole episode is that we will never learn from it what was to be learned in the context of actually understanding effects on the environment and how they propagate over time. The resources to really study the disaster have never been adequate to the task. The same applies in spades to BP Macondo because it was a systemic kind of pollution. I have no expertise that would allow me to even suggest how such a problem could be tackled. All I can suggest is that the people who should have been made to pay for a much more thorough and continuing effort were never held accountable. So the effort was anemic and diluted. Even so, there are still those who are apologetic that a corporation should ever be held accountable for their actions. Why do such people exist?
In a just world, the issue before the court today would have been why should not Exxon “continue to pay the state of Alaska $100 million per year for another 22 years adjusted for inflation?” Over and above any class settlement reached prior to now and paid in full, and if any such prior settlement has not been paid in full, what punitive sanctions are available to coerce them?
Mike also said – ” I thought we took care of our environment and these things only happened in poorer countries.” It is not my intention to take you to task over this statement because in context and at the time such a thought would not have been unusual, nor probably is it now. But I must say that we are as a country still pretty myopic about the rest of the world. For example, in terms of carbon dioxide pollution, we were only recently surpassed by China. A country with more than four times our population. Take a look at Ecuador. Virtually any country in Africa. Yes they are all poorer in the strictly monetary sense, than the USA. And yes, probably because of that relative poverty they have all been ravaged by the externalized costs of multi-national banks and corporations. Reminds me of a line from a movie – “If god did not mean them to be sheared he would not have made them sheep!” To reiterate, I am not being critical of Mike here, rather I am trying to point out that the new economic “theory” is not “a rising tide lifts all boats”. It is that poverty for the masses means the ruling rich get to own everything.
All complex strategies to deal with oligarchy and plutocracy require not only a lot of time but a lot of suffering. The easiest thing anyone can do, and that has the earliest effect is to conserve. Starting with oil. If the use of oil was actually a question of supply and demand and price, then the reaction to the increase in price would be lower demand. Use less. Use what you do use as efficiently as possible. Plan your use. Find ways to do without. Find workable substitutes. Get informed, stay informed. Participate in your government. That does not mean just vote when voting time comes around, it means challenge those with delusional world views. Do it gently, do it politely, but do not let a lie stand. It also means make your allies think as well. That is why I make comments here.
And with the Citizens United decision that allows corporations, many of which are unrepentant polluters, to essentially buy legislators, things only promise to get worse. Already the Republicans on the state and federal levels are working to gut, or eliminate altogether, EPA regulations as well as those laws which limit the damage corporations do to the environment, the economy and to their own employees.
Hopefully, the latest heinous actions of the right wing governors and members of Congress will spur people to get to the polls in 2012 so that we can arrest this headlong race the US is in to become a third world country.
Conservation is a great place to begin. Carry shopping bags to the supermarket, and stop using the plastic bags (if people had to pay for them, I’m sure they’d use fewer). If you can’t go vegan because of your tastes or metabolisms, then at least have a meatless meal once in a while (meat production is a higher generator of greenhouse gases than transportation). Garden. Replace your lawn with vegetables, or grow them in pots. Write to your elected officials, and hold them accountable for their votes on the environment. Live as if it matters. It does.
There are counties and jurisdictions that have imposed a fee for plastic and paper bags. Usually five cents. It adds up and people do change their behaviour. Eventually.
We just don’t clean up our messes… Thousands of people die from poisoning at factories all over the world and nobody notices….nobody is held responsible….they have to be FORCED!
Young Men, start at the beginning:
(Early April, 1989) To the communities, “We will make you whole”. Without understanding those communities one cannot comprehend the betrayal.
If you really want greater understanding visit the history of ANCSA, TAPS and CDFU. There is lots more to this story than has been put together recently (today’s hearing).
“…challenge those with delusional world views…gently, politely– do not let a lie stand”. I just did this with my SIL. When I said I was disappointed in what she said and why…. she said she didn’t really know what she was talking about. (she called Prez. a socialist…. I said maybe to Corporations….)
KN-I don’t pretend to know or really much care to know environmental law,or corporate law or the so-called niceties that accompany a trip through our so-called judicial system. What I do know,and the only thing I am sure of,is what I feel in my heart. I know what happened in PWS all those years ago was not a good thing. Common Sense will tell you that all that pollution in a pristine body of water cannot be a good thing. The stuff is called pollution for a very good reason. If it was good for the environment it would be called chocolate or Nature’s healing balm. Give it a name that fits the occasion.
Our judicial system has the chance to be one of the best in the world. It,like politics in general,is corrupted by money and ideology to the point I doubt our Founding Fathers would recognize it. In my lifetime I have watched as the whole system has shifted from the hope of fairness to one that is skewed in favor of wealth and to the whims of political parties. The symbol for the justice system should be a teeter-totter with stacks of dollar bills on the down side and nothing but air on the upside. Justice is for sale in America, Not only is that contrary to what our Nation was founded on,it is just plain wrong. Why play by the rules,when you know Korporate Amerika won’t? Boycotts and marches are all well and good and legal,they just aren’t enough.
3
mike from iowa – I sense and share your frustration. I like the teeter-totter metaphor as well.
Still, I have to take the approach of positive action even if not direct action. One thing that is abundantly clear to me is that in our current culture it is too easy to become distracted into a race around the mulberry bush rather than keeping a small set of clear goals in mind and working towards them with persistence. Every act that goes counter to the trend towards both more consumption and more complacency is progress. As dreamgirl points out, it won’t always have an obvious and immediate result either.
Sadly, I think the most powerful motivator that will get people to take positive action is going to be a lot more suffering. I have no fear of the native intelligence of most people, whether highly educated or barely educated at all if given the bare realities, they can understand what is going on and they can recognize ideas or policies that will work versus those that will only make things worse.
Tax the rich. Tax the corporations, especially those who operate off shore for tax reasons and who manufacture off shore but sell their products in the US. Conserve, first and foremost anything made from oil. Conserve electricity as well. Energy is the core factor in any economy after the people in the economy. Without people and without their massive collective efforts and needs, there would be no economy.
Frustrated I am. I would dearly love to see American pols stand up for what is good and decent and doesn’t have dollar signs all over. Corporations skate on taxes and responsibility,they are ,in a lot of cases,not good stewards of the only place I know where human life exists. Corporations don’t have to be environmentally friendly because they pay for protection from you and me. I can think of five Supreme Court jokers who should be removed from the bench for clear conflicts and judicial activism. Three of them had a vested interest in seeing dubya installed as Potus. I don’t want to be the dog in the manger on corporations and environmental issues. What is being done now,while I hope for the best,is not happening fast enough. Serious long term damage to our planet has already taken place and I do not know if it can be reversed. Many thanks fpr your insights.
I was going to say Patients….
LOL! Thyme..
I remember when this disaster first happened. I sat and watched this unfold and heard all the stories about who was responsible for the grounding and whether the ship’s captain was drunk and derelict of duty. I had no idea Valdez,Alaska existed. I knew they had built a long pipeline to carry oil across Alaska,but,I had no idea where it went to from Alaska. I watched as volunteers feverishly tried to save sea otters and birds and watched and listened to people vent their anger and frustrations. How could this have happened in America. I thought we took care of our environment and these things only happened in poorer countries. We as conscientious stewards of the land didn’t allow this to happen. Twenty two years later,Exxon is still in denial and because of the change in political environment,they might just get away relatively scot-free. They have the time,money,lawyers,political clout and enough financial weight to throw at cowardly pols that they make Bonnie and Clyde look like pikers. For the sake of all Alaska’s people and for all of us that deeply care about our world,we have to win this for Prince William Sound and ALL her inhabitants.
nice comment Mike.
Yes, nicely said, mike.
They also pay no taxes, despite the highest profits in corporate history, and they have a complicit Supreme Court. Who was it who said Dems put forth activist judges?
Thank you, Mike…..you are so right…! I’m sending all of the healing vibes I can muster…
Mike, More research for you. Be dilegent.
ALL her inhabitants! If we lose one, we are next on the “short-list”.
Our Corporate LOBBYISTS, politicians and some Supreme Court “justices” are the literal personification of Ponzi and his wonderful world of business to succeed and then lay the real cost’s of a failed business it onto someone else. Oh, and when or IF they’re caught… their wrists might sting for a short while from being slapped (patted) by our “justices”.
Since there is not an open thread, please forgive me for posting this here.
“But Sarah Palin is not impersonating Sarah Palin. She actually is Sarah Palin, which means trademark or not that Sarah Palin should be able to keep her @SarahPalin handle, unless of course Sarah Palin decides to buy @SarahPalin from Sarah Palin once Sarah Palin officially owns the trademark Sarah Palin?”
read here to make sense of the above:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/tech/Will-the-Real-Sarah-Palin-Please-Tweet-Up-117424399.html
This is really too confusing. Thanx for your help, but I really cannot care too much anymore.
AKM, why have you reposted all these old blogs dating back a month or so? Am I missing something here?
Please explain.
Just Me i have a feeling you have missed quite a bit recently. lucky you. i don’t believe this is a good timeto demand explanations from AKM about anything.
Amen, bubbles, amen.
(((PI)))
I’m trying hard to ignore the other, little stuff. Mostly, I’m offended by some of the locals but support our MKR. After all we are the only ones who really ‘know’!
Let’s let it rest. In know I’m way more interested to see the “Idit-a-dogs” this morning and look forward to follow all contenders on the trail to Nome.
Just Me don’t take me wrong. i am smiling at you. all it takes is a minute and all hell breaks lose around here. truly. just take it easy for right now. all will be well. just hold on tight with the rest of her pups. AKM is busy working as always.
On top of all the other chaos happening in our dear AKM’s life and career right now, she has also been in Juneau recently.
Perhaps she is still there or only recently returned home and in the midst of unpacking, snuggling with Buf and taking a well-deserved deep breath.
For as much as we’ve learned about recent events through this blog, I suspect there is much more going on that we’ll never know. She’ll be back with her usual plethora of posts when she can and we’ll just have to be patient until then.
And Buf, if you’re reading this, a few extra doggy kisses might be in order! 🙂
nodding head in agreement.
hope we hear soon about a wonderful book deal.
The posts about the Frank Bailey (and Morris and AKM) book have shown up at the head of the list, and with new dates, a couple of times since they were originally written. I think it’s just a glitch in the system.
I assumed a system glitch.
I am not saying this and you didn’t get this from me; unemployment is down to its lowest level in two(2) years and workers rejoice,you are earning,on average,one cent per hour more now than previous years. Gas is up about a buck a gallon. Save that penny and spend it wisely.
say’s it all Mike even if I am retired and don’t drive much.My kid uses my van and some times I have to fill up.
Opening my shop, I’ve had so many qualified Baristas who just need a second job. Now I’m scared about my cafe.
I actually drive to the suburbs of Chicago to fill my gas tank… it was .50 cents per/gal. cheaper last time I had to fill up. Gas-gouging in Chicago is out of control.
This is encouraging:
http://bit.ly/gTEx7H
WARNING, mudpups. I wouldn’t click on anything he/she puts up here. Who knows what malware lurks at the link smarmily provided by the self-confessed thief known as “HappyPlace”?????????
I’m a bit surprised “Happy” is extended linking privileges given the circumstance.
Scout thank you. i would say to everyone to be careful about clicking on links supplied by anyone you are not very familiar with. just a word to the wise.
Just perxactly how familiar and does getting previous count? I was of the understanding only good and decent people post here,present company(me) excluded.
LOL. everybody! i shall feel free to click on Mike’s links. he may not be good AND decent but he is a cool cat nonetheless.
What?? Slipstream posts here.
But can we trust Ike from Miowa?
But can we trust slipstream?
Hmm, what about Baker’s Dozen and that bubbles…..
Thanks for the warning scout. AKM or Snoks remove this post ?
I usually don’t click posts by strangers.
I live and work in PWS. At lot of my work has involved directly or indirectly the continued impacts of the EVOS.
The oil is here, and it is bio-available. The EVOS Trustee Council cut off funding for the herring research last year. Why? Because the lingering oil studies were finally making a link between residual oil and the collapse of the fishery. During the re-opener clause in 2006 the researchers had to present research proposals to be funded by the reserved $’s (the 92 mill), but the research project had to show a DIRECT link to harm by EVOS. At that time the herring researchers (and crab, shrimp, benthic, etc.) could not show that direct link – but we knew that there IS harm still happening. It is pretty obvious.
While the fisherman think that research into herring collapse and restoration is VERY important, somehow EVOS TC doesn’t think so….hmmmm…
In the period just before the re-opener clause, there were several lingering oil studies being done. The researchers noted to me that they were being shadowed by other vessels (who had Exxon staff onboard) who were “spying” on them and then attempting to “debunk” what the lingering oil studies found. I’ve got some great pictures, as well as actual samples, from those studies as well as very recent collections of oil from N. LaTouche Island and Knight Island that were taken just last fall.
What amazes me is that Frank the Bank has come out of his hole and is pushing for Alaska to receive what was court ordered for us to get. Well, good on him. Makes me almost wish he was our Gov again rather than Capt. Zero.
Hedgewytch, I hope my last post didn’t sound like I was making a joke about the disaster. I mean no disrespect to you or any people involved. There has to be something someone could do to ramp up the economy. As far as establishing a direct connection between massive oil spill and collapsing fisheries-this is a no-brainer. Exxon must think the crude oil is supposed to confess. I am glad this is in Alaska and not Texas,because dubya and rethugs had changed the tort laws to favor defendant corp. and you have to sue them in their home city. In Alaska you have a decent chance to get some relief and it is my sincerest hope that you prevail. It is long past time when common sense should rule the day.
No, that’s o.k. I fully appreciate snark.
Mike……:
I’m late to this conversation, but believe me there is not humor for survivors of EVOS.
From a strictly business perspective(of which I have none), there are numerous places and opportunities to start environmentally compatible businesses. When I see the “oil slick in waiting”Texas guv “Slick” Rick Perry and other Superfund Sites in the Rethug and tea-bag parties,I think someone could offer a day spa and do oil changes on Perry’s head. Siphon off the used stuff for re-refining and plaster a mass of Exxon Valdez crud in its place. You could buy up naming rights for the gunk and do self-styling for a couple grand easy. They will come because its our money they have and brains they lack. I’m fairly certain that a former half-guv of Alaska will want a redo and then she will take credit for the enterprise. Use tyour imaginations and find more ways to make money. Hell they would.
Not funny McGee!
Thank you, Rick.
It just makes me mad as he]] that corporations aren’t held accountable.
A recent economic analysis from the University of Central Florida found that a 50 percent drop in tourism and related spending on Florida’s western coast as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill could result in an economic loss of more than $10 billion and put nearly 195,000 people out of work. I doubt that BP will ever pay what they owe for this debacle.
Alaskans should never forget that Lisa Murkowski voted against raising the Oil Company Liability Cap from $75 million to $10 Billion. She’s like a little “talking pocket square” that sits in the in the front pocket of the suits from Big Oil.
Yes, Lease-A-Murkowski is very much the pocket square. Love that image, too bad it’s true.
I don’t understand the non-accountability for corporations. Their enviornmental destruction is just as bad, or much worse, as staging an unnecessary war. (unnecessary, costly and deadly)
This is another glaring example of capitalism run-amuck. No regulations, no penalties, no foul ….yet again, for our Corporate Kings. Our Supreme Court and politicians are as fouled as these lands and waters.
These lands, waters and animals can not just resurrect themselves three days after being killed like Jesus. I mean for Christ’s sake, when will corporations stop mimicking termites, cockroaches and Bernie Madoff? Our politicians keep turning a blind eye to this Ponzi-scheme of non-accountability for Corp.s and heap the destruction and responsibility on the shoulders of the almost non-exsistent middleclass and nature.
Koch-roaches, laughing all the way to the bank so their grandkids will one day not be able to eat or breathe. Do the Kock-roaches of this world understand that even a cockroach needs to eat no matter how much $ he has?
wow did you ever hit it right, well spoken and the truth just look at the history of what was and look where we are going we have corruption at the highest levels and we the people can weed this out if we get informed and active we can turn this around and thats our power and it scares the dickens out of them and they cant stop us. thanks for putting it so well, so vote the kock roaches out of office. and replace them with eagles.
Your Honor- My client-Exxon-Mobil Corp.LTD,POS,SOB,ETC. is a small family owned oil company struggling to survive in these harsh times of $100 a barrel crude and they barely break even,after you subtract subsidies and humongous bonuses for the genteel personage that are responsible for environmental disasters. We refer to these disasters ,in the boardroom, as jobs well and truly done. It’s bonus time. To the matter at hand. My client respectfully argues that the people who live and earn their living from Prince William Sound are so much better off unemployed. They obviously like it so well that many have passed this veil of tears and assorted others still remain out of work. This has worked well for all considered. To allow the plaintiffs to show any evidence of oil residue or oil”sheen” will unfairly prejudice the court against my client. We , therefore.respectfully suggest you do this our way and you might be surprised what you find in your Christm…….er,excuse me,your holiday sock. You may thank us for our patronage later. We will hope to see you soon,in the Bahamas. Have a nice day,your Honor.
Mike:
To us in Alaska’s coastal communities impacted by EVOS we just don’t laugh about it.
You have some of this correct. Late breaking news from Alaska Federal Court, H. Russell Holland, (presiding judge of the original case ‘Baker vs Exxon’), Steiner has no standing, however, State of Alaska and US Government do. He will respond to today’s arguments next week sometime.
Mike, The tongue-in-check attitide only works if your life has been fishing in PWS, the Gulf of Alaska, thru Kodiak, out the chain and into the Bering Sea. Mike in Iowa, visualize an underwater asphalt highway from Montaque Strait thru the Shumigain Islands at least.
Today’s hearing would not have happened if it weren’t for Rick Steiner. Consider the concept that no legitimate plaintiff would have done anything if it weren’t for Dr. Steiner. SOA and USA really want this to go away probably. After all they do have alot going on right now. Steiner seems to have thrown the necessary and considerable light on the responsibility of the State of Alaska and US Government to press for adequate reparations.
The other side of the arguement seems somewhat valid. According to Exxon there remains several hundred million dollars unspent by EVOS Trustees Council. These are the folks who were to do the science, contracted to preserve environments, ensure restoration of bird populations throughtout the spill desecration, figure out the impact on sea otters and seals. But the herring is wild and it was destroyed.
My own cynicism challenges the concept the the Trustees Council left any money on the table. The ‘Council’ was a black hole into which lots and lots of money was sunk with little apparent positive result. The purchase of land, subcontracts to international platforms, really did nothing for the survivors of EVOS in Prince William Sound.
Mike in Iowa, come to Alaska and walk in our shoes.
Thank you, Rick and AKM.
Here on the Gulf of Mexico, dolphins are dying. Is oil to blame? Gee, ya think!?!
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/25/134053912/gulf-spill-investigated-as-cause-of-dolphin-deaths
in solidarity
from Salt Life turned Crude Life,
thatcrowwoman
and to add insult to injury, Say it ain’t so, O!
Our president will meet with Jeb Bush (shudder) in Miami today, while teachers and public employees are struggling like our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin and across the country. JEB?! Really?!
http://tinyurl.com/4w6mh3w
I can only hope that this is a strategy to get photos of the two together that will show the “base” that Jeb is NOT really Red; he pals around with ….
*shaking it off and heading to work*
I take it personally. My memories and fondness for the Gulf and all her treasures will struggle to recover for a long time coming. The livelyhoods of the coastal people, shrimpers, restaurants etc. is diminished because of Big Oil Greed. No consequences for Big Business… except to lower taxes for them, provide off-shore banking, tax-loopholes, and a seemingly free license to pollute and destroy all life on earth.
I take it personally, when all life on this planet can come to a standstill, with no recovery, much sooner than we realize.
Everything is relative, we are all connected.
Why do i always hear of this at the last minute. Wish i could be there to show my support. I hope judge Holland handles this well. He has a great understanding of it. My spirit is with you rick and all the rest there. Signed… an eff-in cove-ite prespill.
Hope “beige” here. Would our being there tomorrow hold any significance or help, other than to be present? I will fly up if it would be of any help in any way. This is an ongoing sorrow to me.
hope?
OK. I know I’m posting under something not pertaining to that, sooooooo……
Am I the only one checking out shailey’s website????? Has no one read this from her:
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Snoskred
I’m reading Shailey’s blog too…. Interesting stuff.
Thanks, Snoskred.
“Give Us This Day, Our Daily Open Thread!”
Snoskred- I believe you misspelled admonishment. Just kidding.
I feel so angry reading this and watching your video. It must be so heart-wrenching for you and other Alaskans. I hope your video is shown in court. I will be praying for justice and bless you, AKM, for trying so hard to find justice too.
I’m so glad this is finally going to get a hearing. Rick Steiner, you’re one of my heroes!
Thank you, Rick.