BP vs. Bhopal

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"It is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease"

This familar adage is taking a new meaning for those who have been comparing the recent BP oil leakage with the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984.

The comparison presents interesting insights into the relationship between MNCs and governments in developed countries, and of the difference in the way MNCs respond to their blunders in developed vs. developing countries.

The possibility of a squeaky wheel getting greased does seem to depend more on the importance of the wheel than on the loudness of the squeaks...

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RELATED ARTICLES

After 26 Years, Shekhar Gupta (IE), 8 June 2010
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/after-26-years/630789/

How British (Really) Is BP?, KARL E. MEYER and SHAREEN BLAIR BRYSAC, NYT, 16 June 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/opinion/17iht-edmeyer.html

Remember Bhopal, PHILIP BOWRING, IHT, June 16, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/opinion/17iht-edbowring.html