So, on to that wonderfully responsible corporation, BP.
It's been 6 weeks since the explosion that killed 11 oil rig workers and started the flow into the Gulf of Mexico. 6 weeks is a long time when 200,000 gallons a day are gushing into the sea.
Industrial accidents happen sometimes. Your safety procedures can be as tight and well-rehearsed as possible but still, now and then, an accident will happen. That's why they're called accidents. But surely, if this is the nature of your business, you have solutions to these problems on hand. Just in case. Apparently not. None of BP's ideas seem to be working. Today they have announced that they are going to slice the pipe in half in order to plug the whole pipe, instead of fixing the hole. Once this is done, they can cap the pipe and start pumping the oil to a tanker on the surface. In theory. Because if this fails, they won't have another idea they can try until August, when the 2 relief wells they have been drilling are completed. BP seem optimistic about this plan. But they've seemed optimistic about all of the plans so far.
The oil has started to wash up on land now and worrying reports have started to be relayed of reporters being denied access to beaches by BP representatives. It seems they are being banned from photographing dead animals to avoid more bad press for the company. There are also rumours that clean up workers have been told not to wear protective clothing, so that the situation appears less serious in photographs. This is so irresponsible it seems unreal. Surely BP can see that their reputation is damaged enough, isn't the best option simply to lay their cards on the table and be honest, rather than risk further controversy by covering things up? Aren't their PR people paid enough to realise this? Oh, and god knows what happens when hurricane season starts...
Urban Outfitters in the USA has started selling this T-shirt.
Can't see how this is going to bring them anything but criticism? Yes you can argue that some people could do with eating a little less, but the people buying this aren't going to fall into that category. The model certainly doesn't need to eat less. Just seems silly to me.
And finally Kristen Stewart.
I think it goes without saying that I'm not a fan of the Twilight books or films. They're just badly written books and badly made films. What even I know they are though, is a global phenomenon. With a lot of militant fans. I knew this before the films were made, because the books were worldwide best sellers.
I think then, that it's safe to assume that Kristen Stewart knew this too. Because despite any negative things I might think about her, she doesn't seem stupid. Everyone knew that Twilight was going to be massive. Another thing we all know about Kristen Stewart, because it's the only thing she'll talk about in interviews, is how shy and private she is. I'm guessing she'd realised this about herself before she'd signed up for the films. All this is a really sarcastic preamble to this quote she gave in an interview for this month's British Elle magazine.
Fame, says Kristen Stewart, is like being “raped.” She talked to British Elleabout the paparazzi: “the photos are so… I feel like I’m looking at someone being raped. A lot of the time I can’t handle it.” She continues, “What you don’t see are the cameras shoved in my face and the bizarre intrusive questions being asked, or the people falling over themselves, screaming and taunting to get a reaction.” Cheer up, Kristen, Lady Gaga’s paparazzi ballad was written for you. ”It’s fucked. I never expected that this would be my life.”
I really don't know where to start. Kristen Stewart isn't stupid and this quote is going to get her even more unwanted attention. She obviously wanted a shocking image to get across how difficult she finds fame but this is too much. It's a really stupid thing to say. I know it must be difficult, and the paparazzi go too far but if it's really THAT awful, I can't understand why she does it.
I'd love to hear your comments on all these stories.
It's all pretty depressing on the news front this week, so here's some happy. I LOVE this guy. How does he do it?
