One Year Later

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Although a year has passed, BP PLC still has some serious damage control to do. Of course, the oil giant focused on keeping its company’s name and reputation in tact during the crisis, which left many of us staring, mouths agape at video of oil spewing out of the Earth. Scientists and economists are giving us varied feedback on the outcome of the disaster.

The wildlife certainly took a hit — just talk to workers on Louisiana’s oyster beds — but it’s recovering better than expected. Beach towns are seeing the number of visitors increase in the lead-up to the busy summer season.

But the fishermen along the Gulf are being left high and dry by the public perception that their food is poisoned, although even National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association has said that they haven’t seen any tainted fish on the market. Remember that PR campaign BP launched about how they were going to make everything right and help the people whose lives they helped ruin? How about fighting a war against the public’s misconceptions about Gulf seafood? It’s the least the company could do. After all, it’s gotten off pretty easy after causing an economic and environmental disaster that was kicked off by the deaths of several workers.

If only BP was as fast to clean up all facets of this mess as it was to clean up its image.