Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill A Human Rights Issue

Caitlin Morse A10904065 8 June 2015 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: A Human Rights Issue In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, polluting the Gulf of Mexico with 4.9 million barrels of oil (EPA, 2015). This disaster is known as the BP oil spill, and is regarded as one of the worst environmental catastrophes in American history. Although it is widely recognized for its impact on ocean ecosystems, marine animals, and public health, it is also a human rights issue. The extensive impacts of the spill include the violations of the human rights to a healthy environment, livelihood, and housing. Further, the oil spill disproportionately affected low-income communities of color that are systematically excluded from protection against environmental harm. This adds to its relevance to human rights because all rights are intended to be enjoyed equally regardless of race, color, income, or other status. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill demonstrates how the legal system often fails to defend vulnerable people and the i nequalities associated with the damage and compensation of the disaster. Amnesty International published a detailed and comprehensive report on the human rights violations in the Gulf Coast. The authors highlight the six major violations: shortage of affordable housing, inadequate mental health care, inadequate primary health care, failure to rebuild, police corruption, and criminal justice issues (Amnesty International, 2010). The article focuses on how muchShow MoreRelatedThe Long Lasting Effects Of The Deepwater Horizon On The Gulf Of Mexico1544 Words   |  7 PagesThis essay will discuss the long lasting effects on the economy from the explosion on the DeepWater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The events that took place on April 20, 2010 would go down in history as the worst deep sea oil spill in history. British Petroleum would suffer its greatest lost to date when one of its drilling rigs the Deepwater Horizon would blow up in the Gulf of Mexico (Crandall, Parnell Sp illan, 2014). In the days and weeks following the explosion there were signs ofRead MoreBp Oil Spill : Business Law1601 Words   |  7 PagesMISERICORDIA UNIVERSITY BP Oil Spill Business Law Evans, Rebecca 10/23/2015 This paper includes information regarding the BP Oil spill. References are listed at the bottom. â€Æ' Currently headquartered in London, BP is one of the largest producers of both oil and natural gas. BP provides its customers with fuel for transportation and energy for heat and light. BP’s core business is gas exploration and production division and their main sources of production include Angola, Argentina, AustraliaRead MoreOffshore Oil Drilling and the Deepwater Horizon Spill of the Gulf of Mexico1591 Words   |  7 PagesOil is a very important fossil fuel that is used for various sources of energy. Oil supplies power to industries, fuel for transportation, heat for buildings, and provides raw material for plastics, paints, textiles, and other materials (hybrid cars). To access this fossil fuel, oil drilling is used. Land-based oil drilling became less productive and as the global stipulation for energy increased, technology, law, and geology impacts stepped in and pushed the exploration of oil away from shores (CITE)Read MoreBp Management, Ethical And Social Behavior1 114 Words   |  5 Pagesmonth of April 2010, Deepwater Horizon exploded, killing 11 workers and releasing oil from the well into an ocean. This paper will discuss BP management, ethical and social behavior. BP along with a few of its partners Transocean and Halliburton was involved in the gulf oil spill. The explosion of the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon was the root cause of the oil spill. This paper will focus on BP organization behavioral issues that caused the economic, environmental, and human losses. The researchRead MoreThe Deepwater Horizon Oil Drilling Rig1480 Words   |  6 PagesThe Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig caught fire on April 20, 2010, exploring and sinking after some days. The explosion was as a result of the equipment failure, perhaps the blowout protector, and the emerging explosion and fire killed 11 people, injuring others. The aftermath of the explosion became the largest issue in the US, estimated to surpass 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. The environmenta l contamination was huge, greatly impacting marine life in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding beaches ofRead MoreBp Csr3693 Words   |  15 PagesSocial Responsibilities and Law Contents BP Company Info 3 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Event 4 Summary of the Deepwater Horizon Event 5 Stock price before and after Deepwater Horizon 7 Impact on Stakeholders 8 BP’s Oil Spills and Corporate Social Responsibility 9 Inadequate disclosure on the oil spill event 11 Recommendations for BP to get reputation back 13 Conclusion 14 BP Company Info BP is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is theRead MoreNatural And Man Made Disasters1730 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper will discuss the differences between two different natural and man-made disasters. The disasters that will be discussed are Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Additionally, this paper will look into the specifics of what constitutes a natural and man-made disaster. Specifically, this paper will look into each disaster to include the events surrounding them; the risks; and the assessments. Furthermore, this paper will look at some of the details of each disasterRead MoreAnalyzing Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill4163 Words   |  17 Pageswater, fish, beaches, reefs, marshes, oil and gas-- are the financial engine of the area. USDC (2012) asserts that the Gulf of Mexico is similarly essential to the whole country as an abundant source of meals, energy and entertainment. The Gulf Coasts distinct culture and natural charm are world-renowned. There is no location like it anywhere else on Earth (USDC, 2012). USDC (2012) reports that on April 20, 2010 examinations of the world concentrated on an oil platform in the Gulf, around 50 milesRead MoreEssay on BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico3115 Words   |  13 Pages An oil spill of 4.9 million barrels, which happened in 2010, created not only turmoil for the environment, but caused the economy to take a great hit from the loss of an important raw material. Transocean were the owners of the oil rig drilling on behalf of BP, who were the ones at fault for the spill. This event caused a stir in both the government and non-governmental organizations, because of the extensive damage that it caused. Federal investigations were put under way to determine theRead MoreThe Ethical Issues Of Bp3305 Words   |  14 Pageslargest oil and gas producer in the world, producing almost 3.8 million barrels per day. BP was founded in 1908 by William Knox D’Arcy in London, United Kingdom. The company operates worldwide in several sectors of the oil and gas industry such as generating low carbon energy, moving oil and gas, and off and onshore oil and gas extraction (BP, 2014). However, the offshore Deepwater Horizon oil spill that happened on April 20th, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico was one of the greatest oil spills that took