Chilling Effects on Barataria Bay
On of the constant things we ran into on the TEDxOilSpill Expedition was getting access. It wasn’t just about security guards and barriers. No. Most of our access issues were caused by something much more subtle: BP legal agreements with their contractors.
For example, while we were there, it was almost impossible to find a boat and somebody to take you out onto Barataria Bay. Most of the fisherfolk were put into a serious cash crunch by the cancellation of what promised to be a lucrative shrimp season. To make ends meet, they’re taking the jobs BP is offering to work on the clean up.
Usually, when we approach people to ask if they could take us out, the conversation would start with the usual pleasantries. After all, it’s the South where a neighborly hello goes a long way. But when we mentioned that we’d like to get out on the water, the conversation immediately chilled. “Sorry, we can’t do that,” would come the answer. “We’re prohibited from taking anybody out, especially photographers. In fact, we’re really not even supposed to be having this conversation.”
The chilling effect imposed by these restrictions on BP contractors is quite effective. It helps keep people off the water and makes it hard to see everything that is going on. If you’ve ever worked with a large company that covers all the bases in agreements, including copious uses of NDAs, you’ll recognize the strategy. When applied to a large territory because all the money is coming from one company, it leads to an effective blockade.
We had a bit of hope when we ran across this sign in a shrimper dock advertising services to photographers and reporters:
We immediately called, but when we got ahold of Al, he immediately said, “Man, I’m sorry. I switched sides. I had to do it. I needed the money.” When we asked if he knew anybody else, the answer came back negative. Everyone was taking the money.
Everyone, that is, but Joseph, who we hooked up later that night with and who took us out onto the bay a few times in his modest 15’ flatboat. I wonder how long he’ll keep doing that, however. After all, he could use the money as well. With that money will come the end of his freedom to take others out to see what is going on.
