[quibitheed (OP)]

Given that BP is behind yet another environmental disaster is it time that company executives be prosecuted as ordinary criminals. As well as the looming environmental disaster on the SE US coast several poorly paid Mexican oil workers lost their lives. BP should not escape prosecution by hiding behind sub-contractors but its executives should face charges of culpable homicide as well as having all their assets stripped to help pay for the environmental clean up. Surely we need such harsh measures to prevent greedy business execs putting profit before safety of both people and the environment.

[LeeE]

Should heads of state be charged with murder when their country's armed forces kill civilians?

[Bored chemist]

Would it make sense to hold Transocean's managers accountable?

[norcalclimber]

Given that BP is behind yet another environmental disaster is it time that company executives be prosecuted as ordinary criminals. As well as the looming environmental disaster on the SE US coast several poorly paid Mexican oil workers lost their lives. BP should not escape prosecution by hiding behind sub-contractors but its executives should face charges of culpable homicide as well as having all their assets stripped to help pay for the environmental clean up. Surely we need such harsh measures to prevent greedy business execs putting profit before safety of both people and the environment.

Shouldn't we determine first if BP is at fault?  First of all, BP didn't own the drilling rig, they contracted Transocean, the worlds biggest offshore drilling contractor for the rig.  They had all safety measures in place, the safety measures simply failed. 

Does that mean the UK should be charged with homicide for not implementing better safety regulations? 

How do you know that the workers who lost their lives were poorly paid?  From what I have heard, employees working on offshore oil rigs are extremely well paid.

Accidents happen...and they are not always a result of evil greedy corporations.

[Geezer]

If BP execs ignored to law, they should be punished.

If BP execs tried to comply with the law they will be sufficiently punished by the horrible events that we have all observed.

[Bored chemist]

Incidentally, the US president's man has already decided to punish BP so there's no need for the legal system to look into it. (God forbid! it might find that they are not responsible and that would make things difficult).

"Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the administration would keep "keep the boot on the neck" of BP to fulfill its legal responsibilities."
from

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0121519420100503

Oddly, GWB did much the same thing about the "illegal combatants".

[Geezer]

There's a big difference between ensuring that BP "fullfills it legal responsibilies" and holding its executives personally accountable.

[quibitheed (OP)]

My question was posted on the back of the knowledge that BP has one of the worst environmental records of any company and a safety record that is the worst of any major oil company. Environmental and Human Rights watchdogs have often nominated it as one of the worst offenders in terms of its overall social impact on communities around where it operates. It was a founding member of the "Global Climate Coalition", a US based lobby group specifically remitted to find ways to 'rubbish' claims of man made global warming. And in the US alone can be seen to operate a policy of 'pollute and pay the fines when caught' rather than take expensive preventative measures in the first place and has been fined several times over the past 20 years for both bad safety practice and polluting. It also remains one of the top political donors in the US, giving $16 million to the republican party for the 2009 election. Despite an official policy stated in 2002 by it CE, Lord Brown of Madingley, that it would not support any political campaign anywhere.
Whether it be paying expensive lawyers to fudge the issues, or install but not connect solar panels on the roof of its US HQ, BP time and time again tries to duck and dive or greenwash itself but the disasters keep coming. To my mind this is clearly a systemic failure that goes right to the top and is why I pose such direct question. It is only by holding the top brass who dictate internal policy personally accountable that we can make these companies behave themselves.

As for the question should leaders be held accountable for the deaths caused by sovereign armies in illegal conflicts. Then YES....TOO DAMN RIGHT THEY SHOULD. Blair and Bush are war criminals.

[norcalclimber]

As for the question should leaders be held accountable for the deaths caused by sovereign armies in illegal conflicts. Then YES....TOO DAMN RIGHT THEY SHOULD. Blair and Bush are war criminals.

So if a country supports a terror group doesn't that make the terror group a sovereign army?  So then if said terror group kills people, shouldn't the leaders of the country which supports them be held responsible by your very logic?

[Geezer]

Quibitheed's highly political comment is not appropriate for this forum.

I'm locking this thread for now to give everyone a chance to cool down.

EDIT: In retrospect, as this topic has little to do with science, it will remain locked.

Here is a link to the forum policy.

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=8535.msg99453#msg99453