Burning oil on the gulf. Image from video by John Wathen bpoilslick.blogspot.com
I have been a pretty lonely voice over the last few weeks, talking about the clear and huge Public Health Dangers down-wind from the primitive burning going on at the site of the BP Gulf Disaster. A few good people have written or spoken about this danger,and provided much pertinent information. But there have been ZERO reports on the clear health hazards to residents down-wind from this burning in the corporate-owned U.S. national mainstream media. And surprisingly; considering the dangers, very little in the Independent Media, either: If there HAD been, i would not be writing this, and would be happy to work with those whose writing or organizing skills far exceed my own! What we have seen, is chilling reports on local TV news, that HAVE NOT been picked up by the "parent" networks (including LA local EPA officials admitting poisons levels way above safe limits on days the wind blows from the burning site, and PROOFS of the "toxic rain" phenomena), and we are also seeing some reporting on the dangers to the workers (specifically by "MSNBC"). Although highly important as well, this only touches on the periphery regarding the health of the workers offshore... and does not mention the much wider danger to residents inland.
The media appears to be avoiding mentioning this issue, so public opinion does not force BP to haul the highly poisonous mix to shore for proper processing... Which would certainly cost BP plenty more. And there may be another, more elementary and long-standing issue as to why it is being suppressed:
To keep the Public mostly unaware of the EVERY DAY dangers from petroleum. This is why the word "Benzene" is never mentioned in the MSM, and why we have not heard of the other atrocities and health disasters caused by the oil corporations over the years, until the present debacle has brought them to light (such as the many deaths of clean-up workers from the Exxon Valdex disaster, or the poisoning of entire regions and many deaths of native people, such as the Niger river delta in Africa, or the Amazon Basin)... or even the highly damning evidence that Diesel fumes kill millions of people in cities around the world every year.
However, the time for such suppressions MUST END... The health dangers from the primitive burning are too CLEAR, too pressing, and too high. The national media must be somehow FORCED to report on this severe Public Health Hazard.. Which is the first step to it being ended.
On my "Facebook" page, I have Published a Note with an idea for how to accomplish this goal. Here it is:
* * * * *
The Campaign to Stop The Burning
Regarding the disgusting and tragic "BP Gulf Disaster"; there is a great
and pressing health issue that is a HUGE "elephant in the room"; being totally
ignored and suppressed in the corporate-owned U.S. national mainstream
media.
This is the on-site PRIMITIVE burning of the oil and dispersant mix. The relatively "cool" open-air burning only destroys roughly FIFTEEN PERCENT of the poisonous exotic and non-exotic "volatile organic carbon compounds", and Benzene present in this highly toxic stew. The rest, are lofted by the thick black smoke columns up as high as the Stratosphere... To later come down to damage the ecology on LAND as well.. And put MILLIONS of residents AT SEVERE HEALTH RISK.
These highly toxic compounds should be hauled to shore, to be properly and safely processed; either via VERY HIGH HEAT incineration in sealed chambers with "scrubbers" on the exhaust, or by the usual fractional distillation methods of an oil refinery. Either method, would cost BP plenty. This, in my opinion, is why the national mainstream media refuses to report on this extreme health risk... And not only to save BP money; but to keep Public Awareness from considering the EVERY DAY issues of just how poisonous petroleum really is.
WE NEED A CITIZEN'S CAMPAIGN TO STOP THIS!
One idea. is....
THE "STOP THE BURNING" FLOTILLA.
This would be hundreds of fishing, shrimping, and pleasure craft, with thousands of people on board, that would attempt to sail out to the site of the BP Gulf Disaster, to stop the burning. These people would all have a pre-printed "Writ of Citizens Arrest" in hand... To serve the operators of the burning to force them to stop. Here is what such a Writ could say:
________________________________
Writ For Citizen's Arrest
This is the on-site PRIMITIVE burning of the oil and dispersant mix. The relatively "cool" open-air burning only destroys roughly FIFTEEN PERCENT of the poisonous exotic and non-exotic "volatile organic carbon compounds", and Benzene present in this highly toxic stew. The rest, are lofted by the thick black smoke columns up as high as the Stratosphere... To later come down to damage the ecology on LAND as well.. And put MILLIONS of residents AT SEVERE HEALTH RISK.
These highly toxic compounds should be hauled to shore, to be properly and safely processed; either via VERY HIGH HEAT incineration in sealed chambers with "scrubbers" on the exhaust, or by the usual fractional distillation methods of an oil refinery. Either method, would cost BP plenty. This, in my opinion, is why the national mainstream media refuses to report on this extreme health risk... And not only to save BP money; but to keep Public Awareness from considering the EVERY DAY issues of just how poisonous petroleum really is.
WE NEED A CITIZEN'S CAMPAIGN TO STOP THIS!
One idea. is....
THE "STOP THE BURNING" FLOTILLA.
This would be hundreds of fishing, shrimping, and pleasure craft, with thousands of people on board, that would attempt to sail out to the site of the BP Gulf Disaster, to stop the burning. These people would all have a pre-printed "Writ of Citizens Arrest" in hand... To serve the operators of the burning to force them to stop. Here is what such a Writ could say:
________________________________
Writ For Citizen's Arrest
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