From the Editor

Corporate Arrogance at Its Best

In the last few years, we’ve been bombarded by corporate media diverting us with tales of the rich and famous. Nothing new per se, but lately our rich guys are looking for new boundaries to show off their extravagance: trips to outer space, the desire to conquer other planets and the like. And they are all over the news.

Obviously, they have plenty of time on their hands and plenty of money in the bank.

Although some want to go to outer space, other capricious rich guys prefer to go deep into the oceans.

This was the case with Stockton Rush, chief executive of OceanGate Expeditions, who promoted underwater tours for wealthy tourists to visit famous debris sites such as that of the Titanic, the ocean liner that sank in 1912.

The last tour by an OceanGate submersible, the Titan, took place on June 18, with Rush as the pilot and four tourists who each paid $250,000 for the trip. They were headed to visit the Titanic, resting 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) below the surface. They never made it because the submersible imploded—an inward explosion due to the high water pressure.

This could be considered an unexpected and regrettable accident. However, what really seems outrageous are reports of serious construction problems with the Titan for which the warnings were ignored by Rush, who considered his vessel “innovative” and almost perfect. He reportedly dismissed several warnings from experts.

Of course, these types of vehicles are not controlled by any agency and no rules apply to them. Sounds familiar, right? Corporations and/or rich people who are untouched by rules, laws or simple moral standards.

This incident will likely decide the fate of OceanGate Expeditions, however, it is unclear if such adventures and vehicles being regulated will be an outcome from this disaster.

Perhaps we should let the Titanic rest peacefully instead of polluting the area with people and vessels visiting the area just for some rich people to take a selfie. And for the corporate media, one only can ask: Why the obsession with the rich and famous?

While all the big newspapers and broadcast stations were talking about the Titan, a vessel with hundreds of immigrants sank in the Mediterranean Ocean, with at least 100 children missing. How many people heard about that story?

Till next month.