IMHO - the BP oil spill was intentional - it refocused people from the wealth transfer that occurred with the programed bank "bailout" and the 24/7 media coverage - pushed society towards embracing a "green energy solution" and acceptance of "climate change". The "technology" employed to clean up the ecological disaster led more people to into the belief that science can solve all problems. The new regulations and the money thrown at "prevention" and "solutions" helped push the agenda and captured the academic and fueled development of more "green/sustainable" businesses. Like all technology - the long term effects are either hidden from view or garner a paragraph in a remote section of the paper. The impact on the younger generations was exactly what was needed to have society endorse the national laws and global treaties that followed. Problem, reaction, solution - rinse and repeat.