BP Backlash

Boycott

President Barack Obama has strongly criticized BP’s chief executive Tony Hayward over the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In an NBC interview, Mr Obama was asked about comments Hayward made in the wake of the disaster, such as “I want my life back” and the President said: “He wouldn’t be working for me after any of those statements.” The World’s Katy Clark reports on how citizens are grappling with the oil spill disaster. Some are now boycotting BP. But do such actions really make a difference?

Audio Embed: BBC, PRI & WGBH's The World, Host: Marco Werman.

Corporate Sociopaths

Former labor secretary Robert Reich connects BP’s disaster in the Gulf of Mexico to other recent disasters, including April’s tragic explosion in Massey Energy’s West Virginia coal mine and the financial meltdown, involving Goldman Sachs. Reich says all three companies have violated the public trust to make profits, demonstrating that it’s time for a new era of federal regulation. In the case of BP, Reich argues for taking the company into temporary government receivership.

Robert Reich served in the Clinton White House. He is now professor of public policy at University of California, Berkeley.

Audio Embed: BBC, PRI & WBUR's Here & Now 6/9/10, Host: Robin Young.