BP accused of 'buying academic silence'

BP accused of 'buying academic silence'

www.bbc.co.uk...

The head of the American Association of Professors has accused BP of trying to "buy" the best scientists and academics to help its defence against litigation after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

"This is really one huge corporation trying to buy faculty silence in a comprehensive way," said Cary Nelson.

BP faces more than 300 lawsuits so far.

In a statement, BP says it has hired more than a dozen national and local scientists "with expertise in the resources of the Gulf of Mexico".

The BBC has obtained a copy of a contract offered to scientists by BP. It says that scientists cannot publish the research they do for BP or speak about the data for at least three years, or until the government gives the final approval to the company's restoration plan for the whole of the Gulf.

reply to post by Master Shen long


Sounds like a perfectly ordinary thing to do. They would be incompetent if they did not do that.

It does not take a genius to know they will face just as many fraudulent law suits as they due justifiable ones. They are not paid to destroy the company on purpose.

The Stock Holders did nothing to anyone. They are the true owners. What happened it appears is a mid-level Exec tried to cut one to many corners to save money and it ended up being a bad bet. Most accidents are caused by incompetent employees or Exec's. This seems no different.

Why so many want to destroy the company over the actions of an employee boggles the mind. How illiterate can people be that they want to destroy the company and wipe out peoples retirement funds and investments. It's their friends and neighbors who will be harmed. Making this doubly bad.

BP clearly needs new leadership and they certainly are liable for cleaning up the mess and making the victims whole. Beyond that it's just a Lynch Mob who don't even know what they are doing.

For instance boycotting BP Stations knowing BP does not even own them. Irrational behavior at best. Some have zero sense of reality.

reply to post by Blaine91555



I guess someone has to take the other side.
I'm glad you see nothing wrong with BP trying to pay scientists and/or researchers to keep their research between themselves and not the public.

BP deserves anything and everything brought upon them from this point on.
Stockholders are gambling their money anyhow. Their loss. Sucks but it happens, just like accidents.

reply to post by keepureye2thesky


Please don't put thoughts in my head or words in my mouth. I clearly stated they are liable for the damage and making the victims whole. What I said are simple facts. Something often lacking on ATS.

I'm getting tired of people misrepresenting clear English just to start arguments or put people down.

These stockholders you so flippantly condemn are ordinary people who's retirement funds were invested. In some cases entire communities employees. Why do you think they should be punished just because some irrational wanna-be Vigilante's need some anger management treatment or an education.

BP most certainly needs to pay up and I'm sure their feet will be held to the fire. At the same time dishonest people will no doubt try to get money they don't have coming. They are the trash of society and why should anyone put up with them driving the costs of everything up for the rest of us, poor or not. They are the same as shoplifters who don't give a damn that their neighbors end up paying for everything they steal.

Character is everything. Honesty is everything. If you don't have that you don't have anything worthwhile. Under you vendetta style justice, do you suppose we should execute people who Jaywalk?

Sad in this day and age people don't know how a large corporation functions and who really owns them.

Originally posted by Blaine91555
reply to post by keepureye2thesky

 

These stockholders you so flippantly condemn are ordinary people who's retirement funds were invested. In some cases entire communities employees. Why do you think they should be punished just because some irrational wanna-be Vigilante's need some anger management treatment or an education.

Never condemned any one pal. They risked and lost.
And if the stockholders are the true owners, than why are they not
out there to clean it up. Geeez, now that's ownership.



[edit on 22-7-2010 by keepureye2thesky]

This thread has already been posted last week: www.abovetopsecret.com...

--airspoon

[edit on 23-7-2010 by airspoon]

I'll bet BP will end up declaring bankruptcy and no one will be compensated for the illnesses and deaths that will occur.

reply to post by Blaine91555


Good honesty!!! Thank you for bringing that to light.

The way I see it is those that do have legitimate claims will be left hanging because BP has "bought the science". This is one huge mess, both literally & figuratively.