Traditional oil producing basins have matured, particularly on land, and exploration & production companies have been forced to look for new reserves in ever more challenging environments like the deepwater environments off the Coast of Africa and in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (beyond the Continental Shelf) in order to maintain production and profits.
2006DEEP POCKETS N GULF OF MEXICO/Flush with profits - SusanThur - Open Salon
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Op-Ed Columnist - Obama Versus the Corporations - NYTimes.com
So here’s how it is: They’re as mad as hell, and they’re not going to take this anymore. Am I talking about the Tea Partiers? No, I’m talking about the corporations
Op-Ed Columnist - Obama Versus the Corporations - NYTimes.com
Op-Ed Columnist - Obama Versus the Corporations - NYTimes.com
U.S. federal oil and gas royalties - SourceWatch
U.S. federal oil and gas royalties are payments made by firms to the federal government in exchange for the opportunity to explore for oil and gas on government-owned land or water. Traditionally, most of the funds generated by these royalties have gone directly into the general U.S. Treasury. Some of the funds have been directed to the Historical Preservation Trust Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. During most of the twentieth century, oil and gas companies generally paid between 12.5 and 16.7 percent in royalties for a lease to drill on public land or water. Over time, these royalty payments generated over $100 billion in revenues.
U.S. federal oil and gas royalties - SourceWatch
U.S. federal oil and gas royalties - SourceWatch
UNFPA - UNFPA Welcomes Restoration of U.S. Funding
UNITED NATIONS, New York—UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, applauds today's statement from United States President Barack Obama restoring U.S. funding for UNFPA's operations.
President Obama said: "I look forward to working with Congress to restore U.S. financial support for the U.N. Population Fund. By resuming funding to UNFPA, the U.S. will be joining 180 other donor nations working collaboratively to reduce poverty, improve the health of women and children, prevent HIV/AIDS and provide family planning assistance to women in 154 countries."
UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid welcomed President Obama's decision to restore funding and noted how quickly he addressed the issue. "The President's actions send a strong message about his leadership and his desire to support causes that will promote peace and dignity, equality for women and girls and economic development in the poorest regions of the world. And access to reproductive health is at the core of all of these issues."
UNFPA - UNFPA Welcomes Restoration of U.S. Funding
President Obama said: "I look forward to working with Congress to restore U.S. financial support for the U.N. Population Fund. By resuming funding to UNFPA, the U.S. will be joining 180 other donor nations working collaboratively to reduce poverty, improve the health of women and children, prevent HIV/AIDS and provide family planning assistance to women in 154 countries."
UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid welcomed President Obama's decision to restore funding and noted how quickly he addressed the issue. "The President's actions send a strong message about his leadership and his desire to support causes that will promote peace and dignity, equality for women and girls and economic development in the poorest regions of the world. And access to reproductive health is at the core of all of these issues."
UNFPA - UNFPA Welcomes Restoration of U.S. Funding
Bill Gates, Sr., others meet in North Admiral, demand higher taxes for the wealthy | West Seattle Herald / White Center News
"Tonight I'm going to talk about the state income tax," said Gates. "In this state the wealthiest people are paying too damn little. The richest people are paying about 3-percent of their income. And the bottom 20-percent pay 16 or 17-percent, five times as much. It stinks."
Bill Gates, Sr., others meet in North Admiral, demand higher taxes for the wealthy | West Seattle Herald / White Center News
Bill Gates, Sr., others meet in North Admiral, demand higher taxes for the wealthy | West Seattle Herald / White Center News
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Newsvine - Louisianans bleed Together, Louisianans suffer Together, Louisianans survive Together
Louisianans bleed Together, Louisianans suffer Together, Louisianans survive Together
Another tragedy is unfolding. Another One!, I scream irately and angrily to the heavens.
How can this be? How unfair and how are we going to, now, survive this, I desperately ask.
I know here in New Orleans, where I now live (Crowley, Cajun country originally) we have had our share of hardship and difficulties. Many of us frighten, despaired and overwhelmed what we experienced nearing 5 years ago. Hurricane Katrina's anniversary is in August. And Hurricane Rita gust in without much delay, giving Louisiana no break or rest. It seems barley enough time to catch our breath, even though we sweat it out every hurricane season since. The experience of the "big one" has left many of us edgy, anxious and nervous. It has been a challenge for us all.
Now here is once more another challenge. The oil spill in the gulf that threatens our, ecosystem, shoreline and seafood industries. For many of us, our distress are concentrated on our wetlands which have become more defenseless by Hurricane Katrina and Rita. I recognize I have. For us to undergo another "big one" our coast is the first line of defense to our survival. Ever since these potential, massive hurricanes, my intense coastal and wetland focus has been like a laser, zeroing on which is most important for Southern Louisiana's continued existence.
However, the health and wellbeing for our future lies right now with-- us-- which are our local oil field experts and workers. The men on these oil rigs, the ones that will--and I have confidence--will plug the blowout and stop the damage--the bleeding--they are US.
They are family and friends, mutual Louisiana citizens, who are well aware how important their job is, for us as well as for themselves and their family.
Much is at stake to our livelihood, our environment and our way of life.
These challenges, taken together-- standing together as community, we can accomplish much. Louisianans bleed Together, Louisianans suffer Together, Louisianans survive Together. Let us not be divided. Division will only hinder, obstruct and hamper.
I am not liking what I am seeing out there, in the media, in the newspapers, on the news programs-- the cynics, the name-calling, the finger-pointing, the conspiracy theories, none of this helps. In fact, this is not the" best of us" but the "worst of us". To solve big problems such as this, it will take the "best of us". When the fringes dominate the debate--it doesn't make for good course of action. Careless language reduces the ability to solve problems or produce any agreement among us. It mainly produces anger. Lots of us are frustrated, concerned, worried, questioning, doubtful, uncertain, searching, and yes, even hopeful. Some of these emotions guide us into good problem-solving but anger seldom does.
Let us not be swayed by those, who want to divide and who have a very different "agenda" than Louisianans. Lost within these harsh and loud voices is the image of what Louisianans are really about, what Louisianans stand for and what Louisianans need. Louisiana right now, need leaders and citizens with balanced, fair and intelligent reasoning to work out very difficult situations we find ourselves.
For myself and identifying with many --Louisiana, the New Orleans area and specially Cajun country, this is my country, this is our country, it is about--an up-bringing, a background, a personal history of ancestors and descendants, an environment of people, relationships, relatives and family.
This is what makes us strong. This is what unites.
United, Louisiana and its people will overcome fear, despair and anger for we know these emotions weaken us as a person, weaken us as a society. We will, be stronger than this, we will, be stronger than the ones that want to divide us. We will, embrace our challenges, we will, accept. And in our support of one another, we will, succeed.
Our better-selves are already at work, working together. The enterprising and creative circle of community is hard at work---Our Oil Workers(Justin, Logan, Kyle), Shrimpers, Community Outreach Coordinators (BP) , Coastal Parish Governments, Audubon Nature Institute, Seafood Industry, Federal Homeland Security, Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness( Lee John), Corp of Engineers(Danny), Gulf Restoration Network, Wildlife and Fisheries, Coast Guard, National Guard, and our local volunteers of Louisiana citizens.
Taking sides is unnecessary and counter-productive because:
Louisianans bleed Together, Louisianans suffer Together, Louisianans survive Together
Susanthur
Newsvine - Louisianans bleed Together, Louisianans suffer Together, Louisianans survive Together
Another tragedy is unfolding. Another One!, I scream irately and angrily to the heavens.
How can this be? How unfair and how are we going to, now, survive this, I desperately ask.
I know here in New Orleans, where I now live (Crowley, Cajun country originally) we have had our share of hardship and difficulties. Many of us frighten, despaired and overwhelmed what we experienced nearing 5 years ago. Hurricane Katrina's anniversary is in August. And Hurricane Rita gust in without much delay, giving Louisiana no break or rest. It seems barley enough time to catch our breath, even though we sweat it out every hurricane season since. The experience of the "big one" has left many of us edgy, anxious and nervous. It has been a challenge for us all.
Now here is once more another challenge. The oil spill in the gulf that threatens our, ecosystem, shoreline and seafood industries. For many of us, our distress are concentrated on our wetlands which have become more defenseless by Hurricane Katrina and Rita. I recognize I have. For us to undergo another "big one" our coast is the first line of defense to our survival. Ever since these potential, massive hurricanes, my intense coastal and wetland focus has been like a laser, zeroing on which is most important for Southern Louisiana's continued existence.
However, the health and wellbeing for our future lies right now with-- us-- which are our local oil field experts and workers. The men on these oil rigs, the ones that will--and I have confidence--will plug the blowout and stop the damage--the bleeding--they are US.
They are family and friends, mutual Louisiana citizens, who are well aware how important their job is, for us as well as for themselves and their family.
Much is at stake to our livelihood, our environment and our way of life.
These challenges, taken together-- standing together as community, we can accomplish much. Louisianans bleed Together, Louisianans suffer Together, Louisianans survive Together. Let us not be divided. Division will only hinder, obstruct and hamper.
I am not liking what I am seeing out there, in the media, in the newspapers, on the news programs-- the cynics, the name-calling, the finger-pointing, the conspiracy theories, none of this helps. In fact, this is not the" best of us" but the "worst of us". To solve big problems such as this, it will take the "best of us". When the fringes dominate the debate--it doesn't make for good course of action. Careless language reduces the ability to solve problems or produce any agreement among us. It mainly produces anger. Lots of us are frustrated, concerned, worried, questioning, doubtful, uncertain, searching, and yes, even hopeful. Some of these emotions guide us into good problem-solving but anger seldom does.
Let us not be swayed by those, who want to divide and who have a very different "agenda" than Louisianans. Lost within these harsh and loud voices is the image of what Louisianans are really about, what Louisianans stand for and what Louisianans need. Louisiana right now, need leaders and citizens with balanced, fair and intelligent reasoning to work out very difficult situations we find ourselves.
For myself and identifying with many --Louisiana, the New Orleans area and specially Cajun country, this is my country, this is our country, it is about--an up-bringing, a background, a personal history of ancestors and descendants, an environment of people, relationships, relatives and family.
This is what makes us strong. This is what unites.
United, Louisiana and its people will overcome fear, despair and anger for we know these emotions weaken us as a person, weaken us as a society. We will, be stronger than this, we will, be stronger than the ones that want to divide us. We will, embrace our challenges, we will, accept. And in our support of one another, we will, succeed.
Our better-selves are already at work, working together. The enterprising and creative circle of community is hard at work---Our Oil Workers(Justin, Logan, Kyle), Shrimpers, Community Outreach Coordinators (BP) , Coastal Parish Governments, Audubon Nature Institute, Seafood Industry, Federal Homeland Security, Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness( Lee John), Corp of Engineers(Danny), Gulf Restoration Network, Wildlife and Fisheries, Coast Guard, National Guard, and our local volunteers of Louisiana citizens.
Taking sides is unnecessary and counter-productive because:
Louisianans bleed Together, Louisianans suffer Together, Louisianans survive Together
Susanthur
Newsvine - Louisianans bleed Together, Louisianans suffer Together, Louisianans survive Together
Monday, May 3, 2010
Consortiumnews.com
In addressing the University of Michigan graduating class, President Barack Obama pleaded for increased “civility” in American politics and in the media, faulting extremes of the Left and the Right for the ugly acrimony that is sapping the nation’s ability to address serious problems.
The address did defend the role that government must play in creating conditions for a successful nation, but Obama noted that “to keep our democracy healthy,” there must be “a basic level of civility in our public debate.” He went on to criticize both those on the Right who throw around accusations of “socialist” and those on the Left who use words like “right-wing nut.”
In Obama’s framing of the incivility problem, both sides were treated as roughly equal offenders,
Consortiumnews.com
The address did defend the role that government must play in creating conditions for a successful nation, but Obama noted that “to keep our democracy healthy,” there must be “a basic level of civility in our public debate.” He went on to criticize both those on the Right who throw around accusations of “socialist” and those on the Left who use words like “right-wing nut.”
In Obama’s framing of the incivility problem, both sides were treated as roughly equal offenders,
Consortiumnews.com
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Washington Times & Rev Moon & irrationality and dirty tricks
After all, for 28 years, the right-wing Washington Times has sent disinformation slithering through the U.S. political system while creating a nest for propagandists who have befouled American democracy with irrationality and dirty tricks.
Indeed, one could say that Moon's newspaper pioneered the modern style of deceptive “journalism” that is the daily fare on Fox News, angry talk radio and right-wing blogs.
The immediate cause of the Washington Times’ financial collapse is said to be the bitter succession fight among children of the 90-year-old Unification Church founder who is no longer capable of maintaining personal control over his global religious-political-business empire.
Consortiumnews.com
Indeed, one could say that Moon's newspaper pioneered the modern style of deceptive “journalism” that is the daily fare on Fox News, angry talk radio and right-wing blogs.
The immediate cause of the Washington Times’ financial collapse is said to be the bitter succession fight among children of the 90-year-old Unification Church founder who is no longer capable of maintaining personal control over his global religious-political-business empire.
Consortiumnews.com
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