Discussion Thread 3: An Attitude of Cooperation by Suzanne Cox Reedstrom

However, Grenz also points out that in the postmodern world, the “continued existence of humankind is [viewed as] dependent on a new attitude of cooperation rather than
conquest.”26 This is, at least, one of the benefits resulting from the spill. It is not just BP or Deep Water Horizons working to stop the flow of oil and clean up the environment. Experts from across the world are bringing their expertise and knowledge to the table. Corporations are deploying their resources: personnel, ships, and ROV’s (remotely operated underwater vehicles) to aid in the effort. Granted, while the cooperation being exhibited is more about stopping the flow of oil so that deep water drilling can begin again rather than the more altruistic goal of ecological necessity or bettering the world, it is clear that no company has the insight or wisdom to contain the flow. Therefore, cooperation is a necessity in order for technology to be developed to stem the flow of oil in deep water, should another blow out occur.

Just as Star Trek, the Next Generation, encouraged the TV watching audience to boldly go where no one has gone before, the blow out one mile beneath the ocean has thrust the corporate and political world to go where “no one has gone before.” And, as a note of irony, the drilling ship’s name is Discovery Enterprise!