I know there was a diary yesterday on this subject, but I'm so fucking angry about this that I just have to write something. I also wanted a chance to provide this link for Kossacks to some oil spill photos, that was emailed to me by a friend. Freedom of speech and information is an issue of paramount importance, without it our democracy is a hollow shell. It's obvious to anyone paying attention that there is some serious censorship and stonewalling of the media going on regarding the effects of the oil on the gulf shoreline, and of the cleanup efforts. Looking on youtube, google and other search engines, I can find hardly any videos or photographs newer than a week ago, and most things I turn up are from last month. As Keith Olbermann pointed out, essentially BP is being allowed be in charge of its own crime scene, and to destroy evidence without scrutiny.
More below the fold...
This is a sensational and important story yet there is little graphic evidence of what exactly is going on since the spill really began to wash up onto the gulf coast. At the same time it is easy to find video footage of media crews being threatened and stonewalled when they try to enter on public lands and watersto cover the story . Homeland security has been going after pilots who fly over the oil-spill affected areas: link to pilot interview, and the federal government has enlarged the no-fly zones as the oil spreads. Is the security of Our Fatherland really in jeopardy if reporters fly over the spill? This is being managed in the same way that the military manages the media in Iraq and Afghanistan. The responsibility for this censorship absolutely has to rest with our government in cahoots with BP.
In yesterday's diary on this subject people were making arguments that this is a local government problem, not Obama's etc. This is an undeclared national disaster, with planatary implications. Those who would defend Obama on this censorship issue, please ask yourselves this question: who benefits most from the covering up and minimizing the extent of damage from this spill? It is the current administration, BP, and the oil industry in general. This control of information is connected at the hip to our national energy policy.