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After failing to shut off the oil gush from the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico, British oil giant BP, has now installed a small tube into the main burst pipe and claims to be siphoning off 1000 barrels a day. An official estimate of 5000 barrels of oil leaking a day from the exploded rig was arrived at by out-dated means, and has been the official number used by BP and the government. But a more sophisticated analysis has confirmed that it is at least 5 times greater, and likely to be 10 times greater. Meanwhile, the Minerals Management Service, a government agency is being accused of forgoing necessary environmental permits for offshore drilling, including for the Deepwater Horizon rig. In responding to anonymous reports by scientists who say they were pressured to adjust the results of their studies in favor of drilling rights, the Obama administration came to the defense of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar who oversees the agency. Severe damage to the wildlife in the Gulf has already been witnessed, and environmental groups warn that much of the damage could be irreversible. There is also growing concern about the more than 400,000 gallons of oil dispersant that has been used in the waters. The chemical in question called Corexit, is apparently far more toxic and far less effective than other EPA-approved alternatives. Corexit is manufactured by a company once owned by Exxon Mobil, whose executives also sit on the board of BP.

GUEST: Kieran Suckling, Executive Director of the Center for Biological Diversity

For more information, visit www.biologicaldiversity.org.