BP's Private Security Bars Access To Gulf Oil Cleanup Sites
Via Raw Story, the news that BP has hired private security to keep media away from the tainted beaches.
If they had hired Blackwater, the firm would have had a particularly appropriate sounding name for the job: guarding tar-stained beaches.
In their latest eyebrow-raising PR move, multinational oil giant BP has enlisted private security contractors to keep onlookers away from oil cleanup sites. While the firm they hired apparently isn't Blackwater (the private security firm Blackwater changed their name to Xe Services after a spate of killings in Baghdad, and has now put itself up for sale), they certainly seem to have 'black water' in their sights.
Wired's "Danger Room" blog dubbed BP's decision to hire private mercenaries in the Gulf "one of the bestest public relations moves ever."
The blog notes that BP's move recalls bungled decisionmaking in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when the US Department of Homeland Security -- and some very wealthy homeowners -- turned to private security contractors to protect their property in the wake of the disaster.
[...] According to reports, the firm hired is named Talon Security.
In a video clip obtained by ThinkProgress over the weekend, a local news team from WDSU in New Orleans was told by a private security guard that they were not allowed to talk to cleanup workers on a public beach or come within 100 yards of cleanup operations.
"Who’s saying that?" reporter Scott Walker asked the guard. "Because no one can tell me that, unless you’re the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, you’re the Coast Guard, or you’re the military, can you tell me where to go on this public beach."
"I can tell you where to go because I’m employed to keep this beach safe," the guard replied, adding, "You are not allowed to interview any workers."
Corporations have more right to public beach than mere mortals do.
This will certainly hold up to a SCOTUS challenge.
It's your fault you're not rich enough to control a beach. Ask the Pauls.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
.
You can't keep an american citizen from a public beach. Oh, I should say "couldn't" as in past tense.
Walker should have simply taken a cell phone and called the police. He is being harrassed on a public beach. They have no authority and are intimidating him. Then walk on.
IF they persist. Legal action. Let's see how long private security firms will want to deal with public litigation.
It is in the clip.
Oh, sorry. It isn't. For some reason that part was left out.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Thanks..
Ironically, this is exactly why our President needs to step in and call the National Guard...
... oh wait, they are STILL in Iraq
It's almost as good as having the game on.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
As a matter of fact, what would have happened had Walker not had a cameraperson with him is the guard would have thumped him to the ground and then called the parish police to come get him. Or, they may have just beat the crap out of him. Either way, take it as a warning, any of you who feel inclined to do some investigative reporting dow here, have a camera running.
Btw, the reason BP doesn't want anyone interviewing "the workers" is because "the workers" ain't doing shit. They go out after the tide comes in and turn the sand over. Really. I'm not kidding. That's what they do.
do you need to turn a side of sand on the hot beach before it's done?
Exactly right.
As they have no right whatsoever to prevent people from walking on public land, it should be interesting to see what other lawsuits they can get on their neck if a guard gets rough trying to enforce this.
Jeez.
done anything about it. Has the White House or the Pres. said anything publicly about this?
"According to reports, the firm hired is named Talon Security."
Kind of conjures up mental pictures of the US symbolic bald eagle, clutching a bunch of deadly arrows in one of its talons, doesn't it?
Sounds to me like one of those strong, warlike names from the people who came up with Blackwater.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
sounds more like blackshit.
or maybe bullshit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52DfGir_m_8
Well, do they? Do they punk?
Thanks.
! Thus the generation gap.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
I dun understand a worchoo jus sed
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. ~ Abraham Lincoln
Sounds familier. Didn't Jeff Gannon have website that was supposed to be a news organization. Is he branching out into private security?
OK, this should have been the first thing Obama said last night:
No security forces will bar legitimate media from the American beaches....Our citizens should be able to see the decimation that greed and stupidity have wrought on the Gulf Coast. From this day forward, I will shut down all offshore drilling and it will not recommence until the oil companies have made whole all the people/animals who have been harmed by this egregious, stupid behavior, and put in place environmental safeguards that scientists deem suitable. Also, I will make sure that adequate funds are supplied toward the production of electric cars and wind and solar energy sources to wean us off our dependency on this killer substance. We cannot continue to befoul the very earth that sustains us.
Then maybe he will be ready to be the REAL president we elected.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
is old news.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Just curious.
citizens...covers all bases.
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
I didn't realize it was you. Just quickly read the post. But your original point is well taken.
I don't always score with bon mots. But my first reaction to his speech was: Empty. Sigh!
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Where are all those brave, gun-toting rednecks now? They were all a-hootin' and a-hollerin' about their guns when it was tax time... why don't they go down there and accompany the press as their security? Make themselves useful... if they've got the guts!
for a couple of busloads of citizens to show up and challenge these fucks. Let's overwhelm the local jail system.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
and I doubt the local sheriffs want a bunch of false arrest publicity.
And generally, "real" cops laugh at rent-a-cops, at least privately.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
If some people challenge them and walk on the beach past their tough guy bravado (cameras rolling)? The rentacops can't arrest them (well I'd like to believe they can't). Tase them? Beat them up? Shoot them?
This shit cannot go unchallenged. They have to be confronted.
Funny how the wingnuts get all bent out of shape about government telling them what to do, but you won't hear a peep out of them when a private security company tells people they can't walk on public property. Oh that's right there shouldn't be any public property.
dream of an end to public property....
is that the name of an illegal bullet , that also is nicked named " cop killer ? iirc .
every time you throw a little mud , you lose a little ground .
is a group of reporters from a radical news outlet such as The Nation or Mother Jones force a confrontation with these private security jerks. If they could legitimately induce a physical response and press charges, then maybe these stories would get into the Corporate-Owned Media (COM, for short)
Would get more traction than a group of "concerned citizens".
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Unfortunate but true
It might be appropriate to hire security to guard workers from harassment. It’s legal to restrict workers from talking to the press, but bad PR in the long run. The 100 yard thing is arbitrary, though, and oversteps the authority of a security guard (without a corresponding court order).
The tough guy can say anything he wants, but he’ll find himself in court if he tries to prohibit people from a public beach.
Huh?
Follow the video - he didn't restrict access to the beach, just from talking to the workers.
Keep making up excuses. That'll help you sleep at night.
with edited video. Then bitch about FOX and decry ACORN.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Think about it. Where do they get off, for one minute, thinking they can act like that?
been given a little authority over anything that abused it?
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Who vetted this company? Anyone?
who hired, then ignored, the rig operator.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Why? It is five days old and edited to delete where the local sheriff intervenes to tell these hired hands they are out of line.
Go here: http://www.wdsu.com/index.html
Look at the whole first story, then look at the update.
BP is f'd up. But there is no reason to distort this. It is bad enough on its own.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ybenjamin...
and, you are partly correct, there is more to this video, including the arrival of sheriff-on-wheels.
but, i would submit that the rest of the video is just as chilling. when the reporter is finally permitted to ask the workers if any of them wants to be interviewed
the chain-gang guardthe private security dude tells them what to say to get out of being interviewed. and it appears to be more of an order then a helpful suggestion.it has been pretty well established that BP has threatened those they employ to "clean" the beaches that their employment will be terminated if they talk to the press, or wear hazmat-type gear. and this video helps shine a light on that.
http://www.wdsu.com/index.html
Watch their follow up story. It would appear these workers don't want to talk or work unless they have to.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
http://www.wdsu.com/video/23919536/index.html
are you talking about this follow-up, where around the 50 second mark it reports that, 'one supervisor had explicit instructions from his boss not to talk on camera to the media'?
sure, the official BP statement claims that the workers and media are free to chat away. but who would believe that assurance? BP will allow the media access to anyone, but i would assume, like the supervisor, everyone there was given the same direction as the abovementioned supervisor .
the hired workers are not doing jack.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
they sure didn't look the most productive bunch in those vids...
it is unlikely they will die because of BP management incompetence.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
maybe not die, but they might have long term issues with their respiratory system as a result of this "clean" up.
oh wait, maybe its food poisoning. no, scratch that, its fatigue, yes fatigue, that's totally what it is.
to a shortened life. I'm sure I've read where BP is forbiding the use of appropriate Hazmat wear.
This should be prosecutable.
government that required BP to stop using the dispersants? BP did not stop, and that was that. WTF? Who will pay the SSDI claims when these guys get sick? Taxpayers, that's who.
from industrial asthma - the only way to be concise, I lost 1/3 of my lungs), all/most of those workers are in for one hell of a tough non-healthly life.
He stopped the guy from walking over near the worker. Him and his "girlfriend", there.
We should have bat day at the beach.
Everyone gets to bring a baseball bat to the beach.
Then we will see who gets to go where.
heard that BP could have drilled alot closer to shore, and they knew this? The depth of the leak is what is making it so hard to contain the spill. Well, one of the main factors.
If this is true, I can only think of one reason that this would have happened. Flack from the NIMBY's. Not in my backyard!! What do you want to bet? And if that's the case, The NIMBY's are now finding out how much responsibility they have in this whole mess.
Again, uncorroborated thoughts here, but interesting to contemplate.
I expect that they drilled where the oil was.
but I had heard they could have drilled alot closer to shore and hit the same vien. Like I said, don't know for sure.
....you know what is scary about that in particular? The floating theories that the underwater gusher is the least of our problems and that what we really need to look into are unseen underwater cracks, far away from the drilling spot. Like you say, the reserve is large; could the real problem be elsewhere? I don't think for a minute that BP or our own government would keep that from us for as long as possible so as not to cause a panic or just to cover their butts.
Anyway, not to hijack the thread from the real topic, BP's polo-shirted thugs.
I'm just superstitious enough to hedge my bets.
And thats not nearly enough, since they are whining about all the jobs lost by not allowing the less than 1% of the wells the admin has stopped.
Those poor oil workers would be unemployed high school dropouts making $100,000. One article said they are basically unemployable in any other industry, except the security guard industry.
...like it is bordering on blaming the victim. I get what you are saying about NIMBYs, but even the worst of them have a right to complain about the fact that BP was negligent, incompetent, and clearly has no idea (or maybe just the will) to cap their underwater gusher. No matter how far away people ask oil companies to drill, the least they expect, NIMBY or not, is that they do it safely and within their ability to handle the work.
However, I will meet you halfway, without reservation:
It is my addiction to oil, along with just anybody else who owns a gasoline powered vehicle, flips a light switch, or any other of a long list of uses for petroleum, that helped cause this mess.
I'm just superstitious enough to hedge my bets.
automatic excuse to cut safety corners for profit.
Sorry, not buying it.
I said pretty much the opposite about BP while, indeed, stating that we all bear some responsibility, some more, some less, so far as oil consumption goes and I really only meant to address that aspect in the context of NIMBYs. That is all.
I'm just superstitious enough to hedge my bets.
responsibility of the government, that citizen's pay for, to provide us with alternatives to fossil fuels, especially when the technology exists to produce clean and sustainable energy? Right?
Can't argue with that.
I'm just superstitious enough to hedge my bets.
because the lying NRC will oversee them. Been fighting them since my first public NRC hearing over 20 years ago.
It may be the government's responsibility, but the government's track record is maybe a little better than BP's record.
Can't argue with that, either. See above: "this mess".
Still, since the govt is theoretically us, then we could do a better job of staying on top of our elected officials, and so on.
My only real point is that most conscientious adults understand that we can, as individuals, manage our own carbon footprints. Of course, it is a real shame when it all gets blown to shit when a disaster of this proportion hits us.
I'm just superstitious enough to hedge my bets.
of my neck stands up.
If that doesn't work, just drink more...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
.
I think it is (was) the responsibility of government to set in place strong fuel economy standards, to close the SUV loophole, to provide seed money for research into battery technology and plug-in hybrids, to redirect money that subsidizes cars and highways into railroads and mass transit, to provide impetus for cities to develop efficient growth patterns instead of suburban sprawl, to integrate transportation and develop intercity rail transit as a substitute for short haul air flights, to . . . .
Less than 5% of the world's population burns about 25% of the worlds oil. Then we have this entitlement mentality about cheap gasoline.
private business guided by (God's) "the invisible hand" of the marketplace is supposed to omnisciently take care of this, and the Republicans object every time the government becomes involved, don't they?
nuclear power certainly exists.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
is that they continued forward after finding out that much of what they had done to build/drill this well was substandard, knew that they had created the risk, and went ahead anyway.
If you build a building that blows up because you did a bad job on gas piping, you don't make any valid point to say that the building code made you build the house toward the south end of the property, do you?
I though not.
international waters maybe?
not the Obomba administration. And where the hell is OSHA, who legally are required to monitor and enforce worker safety rules?
Total FUBAR, thanks Barry. Empty suit.
And he's doing just what Obama does best. This is the guy who used his power to shield war criminals from investigation and shield telecoms from liability for their illegal spying. Shielding BP from scrutiny is just par for the course.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
GROW UP. Government has to continue to function, trying the BUsh administration would have brought it to its knees. Ditto the telecoms, leading right back into the Bush administration. Period.
. . . for war crimes like torture and murder than others. Some folks have a higher tolerance for human experimentation to perfect torture techniques. Some folks simply don't believe in the rule of law for the well connected.
I happen to think those folks are either too frightened to maintain their morality, or they're just out and out sadists.
Maybe that will change when I "grow up."
Corruption favors the wealthy.
If selective enforcement of the law is what you think is good government, then you're either a coward or you're not very smart. If all criminals are not made to face their crimes, then none should be.
OSHA came in and red tagged our building and threw everyone out. Too many toxins in the air. Then the fellows who closed us down and did the testing, lied about it in court - saying it never happened.
OSHA doesn't have a stellar reputation.
http://www.talon-security.com/
Welcome to Talon Security
Our associates have over 200 years combined expierence [sic] in the personal security industry!
All of our employees have achieved the rank of third degree black belt in at least two styles of the martial arts!
- Professional appearance, advanced foreign lanaguage [sic] skills. and a "Can Do" attitude!
- Both domestic and foriegn [sic] professionals availbilty [sic] for immediate assignment!
- Availbale [sic] within two hours of your call, 24 hours a day world wide!
we just don't know how to spell it.
Thanks, I feel so much "safer" now...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Code Pink in arressting KKKarl Rove.
and gets labelled as the Looney Left by the MS Whore Media while trying to arrest that upstanding and law abiding Citizen Rove. Code Pink have more courage in their little group than all of the whore media in the USA.
200 years combined? So thats 200 employees with 1 year experience each?
2 styles of martial arts? Does that count High School Wrestling Team as one? I know for all those ultimate fighting leagues they managed to give HS wrestling some martial-arty style name.
2 hours, world wide! Now THAT is cool! Can we hire them to deliver food or mail or something useful?
They all have 3rd degrees. 3 more and they all become Kevin Bacon.
oops, forgot, he's in jail. Timothy Geithner then.
with a hundred years experience each...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
so, the bottom line is the report and crew complied with a private goon orders.
Despite correctly saying, "you can't stop me on a public beach, I'm going over to talk to those guys on break", the reporter does not follow through and do it. He complies with the goon as if he has some authority.
Hence, the goon DOES not authority.
and yes, where is OSHA?
story? Well perhaps you are interested in some teen age girls from Central America I can procure for you over at the ACORN office.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
they will pay all "legitimate" claims.
That is until it gets to SCOTUS 20 years later. Either way consider BP off the hook for damages.
Weasel words.
to that question...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Ken Starr.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
on the New Orleans television station, its follow up, and the Houston TV story yesterday, that BP is as competent hiring security, clean up crews, and call center operators as it is in drilling off shore oil wells.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Some of their security is psycho and is about to lay waste to a bunch of reporters?
to everything they touch.
But specifically, if what you saw in the edited two minutes here constitutes "about to lay waste," then you haven't seen much real
laying waste lately.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
I didn't have too because this story, and ones like it are well over a few weeks old. It's useless to point out this specific clip as an example of what's happening down there because I'm sure this is just one of dozens of times access has been denied. It, by itself does not have the ability to portray the interaction of security guards when the cameras are not on. Thus this whole "based on the clip" argument is futile.
You must respect their authorita! Stop in the name of no law whatsoever. If you don't they'll be forced to write things in their notebooks.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
Didn't I read last week that he tried to say Govt wasn't stopping access to the beaches? Yet they allow BP to do it, and we hear nothing from the admin, and forget the tv or other media, they are mum.
If those reporters had any guts they'd walk right past those delusional ass clowns and if anybody tried to stop them have them charged with assault.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
In this case, that's what happened. The reporter walked right past the security guard and the parish sheriff intervened. Access was granted.
I've no doubt BP wants no pictures and no interviews, but they are not getting away with it.
people to come down to the Gulf, enjoy the beaches, the seafood, and spend their money? These rent-a-cops must just be there to ensure folks have a good time, right?
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
God fearing Governor Haley has used his influence to keep his beaches oil free. Y'all come on down. And did you say money?
Our casinos are nicer than our beaches, son. What's that? God don't like no gambling? Mother Mary are you wrong about that. What do you think are the odds he could turn water into wine without Lady Luck?
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
to the beaches. The government is not doing anything at all.
of raising public consciousness by post five day old clips. Or commenting upon them. That is for sure.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
I think there should be marches organized on guarded beaches. Imagine if 25, 50, 1000 people started showing up demanding access to their public beaches? What are they going to do, start shooting?
Can you see them calling up all their troops with guns to stand off citizens trying to gain access to the public beachs, nice newsfootage?
I live in Colorado, so cant really know much about these beaches, but maybe the Coffee party, Tea Party, or just people will call a time and date.
Get cracking. Southwest has the cheapest flights.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Sorry, I refuse to fly. Nobody is going to make this Vietnam vet take his shoes off.
But, could probable drive it in a couple of days.
May be someone could post some beach names where this is happening.
Alice's Restaurant.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
That is the tune in my mind :-)
Sounds better...
although I see tossing salad references...
America is now a place somewhere between Kafka and Orwell.
This land aint' your land
This land is their land
This land was made for Bee Pee
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Woody is rolling in his grave...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
What are the firearm carry laws in Florida? Why can't citizens and journalists carry hand guns and protect themselves from these BP criminals? I've read reports that BP's hired goons are assaulting journalists and people who live there, carrying a firearm on one's hip should put a stop to those assaults.
Do a Google search on "Talon Security Scientology" and get a load of what comes up. Golly, whotta surprise.
if he tries to inhibit your movement.
can you imagine the look on his face when called out?
time for angry mobs to out number security.
Reporters should begin to ask themselves: "What would Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant do in this circumstance"?
Regrettably, American journalists tend to be more the Ralph Bellamy types.
Welcome friends, to the United Corporations of America
it's Amerika
Got news for BP: the navigable waterways and their shorelines belong to the People. The press should call these goon's bluff, if the goons lay a hand on anybody...people have a right to defend themselves.
Maybe it's time to bring the real reporters home from the "wars" over sea's and have them report on real news. I mean come off it guys... grab a couple of cops... 20 or 30 reporters and go ask the questions. 2 piss ants with a vest on can't arbitrarily prevent you from walking around and asking questions and taking pictures. Get the cops to arrest them for public misbehavior or something.
Maybe the media should hire thugs to accompany them to the beaches and let them fight it out.
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