Oil company executives across the globe are doubtless counting their blessings that it was not an oil rig under their control that provoked the worst oil-spill environmental disaster since Exxon Valdez.  Much media focus has been given to whether BP CEO Tony Hayward is capable of mopping up the PR mess that the Deepwater spill presents, not to mention the numerous articles detailing the terrible economic and environmental toll the spill has taken on the people and the wildlife of Louisiana.

Clearly all involved in the energy industry are rattled by the events: today the head of the Duma committee for natural resources, nature management and environment, Yevgeny Tugolukov, proposed that a law be drawn up to prevent such disasters (though how exactly remains to be seen).