Asian immigrants are isolated and angry following a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, below the US state of Louisiana.
The spill happened after the oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded off the Lousiana coast, killing an estimated 11 workers and injuring 17 others.
The ensuing environmental disaster has ground fishing to a halt in the area, but Vietnamese and Cambodian immigrants who speak no or little English have been the worst affected. Many are still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2007.
The Christian Science Monitor reported that immigrants in the Plaquemines Parish of New Orleans were left feeling disenfranchised after they were asked to agree to waivers they feel would have signed away their rights.
The contracts in question were drawn up by British Petroleum (BP), who owned the Deepwater Horizon rig, for all workers engaged in the containment and clean-up operation following the spill.
"I don't see how in good conscience BP could ask immigrants who do not speak English to sign away their rights with a contract written only in English, particularly for work as dangerous as this," Miami lawyer Spencer Aronfeld told CSM.
Mr. Aronfeld heard about the contract on the news, and came to the parish to organize a meeting between Asian residents and BP.
"I couldn't stand by and let that happen," he said. "I felt obligated to help."
BP apologized for the confusion over the waivers. A spokesperson said, "We recognize we've been having problems communicating with people in this parish and I'm here to make sure that everyone is heard and listened to."
09 May 2010
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