As more oil washes into the wetlands and shorelines of Louisiana, BP’s efforts to downplay the colossal oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico—from using toxic dispersants to sink the spillage, to withholding video footage of the leak, to vastly underestimating the volume of leakage—are already well-documented, but now reports are surfacing that they’re attempting to censor the press. From Huffington Post:
A CBS news crew attempted to film a beach in South Pass, Louisiana, obscured by a thick coat of oil, and was barred from doing so by BP contractors and two coast guard officers aboard a boat who threatened to arrest the film crew. When asked why filming along the beach was not permitted they were told, “This is BP’s rules, it’s not ours.”
Um, what. the. fuck? Confidential to Barack Obama: You’re still tanking.
UPDATE: Here is the CBS video report:
Much thanks to Slog tipper Joe Szilagyi.
I know I’m living out of the country, but what ever happened to freedom of the press? Was that suspended recently and was the press barred from reporting it?
I’m pretty sure we’ve got to stop that undersea gusher right now, if not yesterday.
Red Adair used to blow out oil fires with dynamite, so they could get close enough to the well to attach some plumbing and shut it off. Obviously, this is a different kind of problem, but it gives me an idea…
Why not take one of those small tactical nukes we’re supposed to be getting rid of, and fire it off over the wellhead? It’ll crush and fuse the sea bottom, and stuff up the well.
And how the fuck can you bar anyone from taking pictures of the ocean? I’d like to see the film on this.
It’s right in the link.
Grant, you should embed that Youtube. Its appalling.
Crisis over, everyone. BP runs the country now. We all have to bide by their rules.
BP, you dumb hacks.
Although this rarely happens to a major network, lesser known photographers/videographers are regularly told to stop filming in places where it is perfectly permissible. Usually it is untrained rent-a-cops making these demands, not the Coast Guard.
If the CBS crew had any balls, they would have kept filming, and seen if the Coast Guard was actually stupid enough to really arrest them.
wow… it’s really hard to look at those turtles. how very fucked up.
and yes, @7 they should have kept filming and risked arrest. it would have been one hell of a story if that actually happened.
Man, this is so fucked. (And so is Obama.)
The Coast Guard works for Obama.
Funny-
New and Improved Government looks a lot like the same old SHIT we used to get.
Actually, not funny at all…..
I watched this video and then I bawled my fucking eyes out. I have never felt this level of despair about the state of this country. Not even in the darkest days if the Bush years.
Did you know the spill area is now a no-fly zone as well? Wouldn’t want anyone taking pictures.
If Obama doesn’t go full Roosevelt (preferrably Teddy but Franklin will do) on BP and this clusterfuck, like, tomorrow, I am DONE with him. This is unforgiveable.
What happens when a regional economy vanishes? I guess we’ll find out.
You better be careful about criticizing Fearless Leader and BP there, Missy, or the Secret Police will be showing up at your front door.
That’s fucked up. I’m a pretty big Obama supporter but if he doesn’t come out damn quick and condemn this and turn that shit around I’m going to be pissed and he’ll be getting letters…for what that’s worth.
I think this is a pretty good example of who really runs this country. And it ain’t the POTUS.
The curtain has pulled back, we are on our own.Instead of real real change we have CHUMP change. WE must fight on without POTUS. I have contacted white house and both of our senators demanding to know: 1. Why is our military taking orders from a FOREIGN corporation? 2. Why is our military suppressing the press? Action overcomes despair! please act now!