Sick Gulf Residents Beg Officials for Help "We are very, very ill."

[Catherina]

Sick Gulf Residents Beg Officials for Help
by Dahr Jamail


NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana - In an emotionally charged meeting this week sponsored by the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, fishermen, Gulf residents and community leaders vented their increasingly grave concerns about the widespread health issues brought on by the three-month-long disaster.

"Today I'm talking to you about my life," Cherri Foytlin told the two commissioners present at the Jan. 12 meeting. "My ethylbenzene levels are 2.5 times the 95th percentile, and there's a very good chance now that I won't get to see my grandbabies...What I'm asking you to do now, if possible, is to amend . Because we have got to get some health care."

Ethylbenzene is a form of benzene present in the body when it begins to break down. It is also present in BP's crude oil.

"I have seen small children with lesions all over their bodies," Foytlin, co-founder of Gulf Change, a community organisation based in Grand Isle, Louisiana, continued.

"We are very, very ill. And dead is dead. So it really doesn't matter if the media comes back... or the president hears us, or... if the oil workers and the fishermen and the crabbers get to feed their babies and maybe have a good Christmas next year... Dead is dead...I know your job is probably already done, but I'd like to hire you if you don't mind. And God knows I can't pay you. But I need your heart. And I need your voice."

...

Dr. Soto is finding disconcertingly consistent and high levels of toxic chemicals in every one of the patients he is testing.

"I'm regularly finding between five and seven VOCs in my patients," Dr. Soto told IPS. "These patients include people not directly involved in the oil clean-up, as well as residents that do not live right on the coast. These are clearly related to the oil disaster."

Nevertheless, U.S. government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with President Obama himself, have declared the Gulf of Mexico, its waters, beaches, and seafood, safe and open to the public.

...

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54132

[justiceischeap]

1. This is sad

I hope Obama does the right thing behind this. Else, he can kiss his reelection chances goodbye.

[Catherina]

3. I can't believe they have to beg for help.

Begging for healthcare in this country is bad enough but having to beg for help because a powerful corporation destroyed your life is intolerable. How did we come to this?

[valerief]

7. Congress is very easy to buy. nt

[City Lights]

12. Easy, but expensive. nt

[valerief]

22. What's money? They manufacture it in the big casino called Wall Street. nt

[justiceischeap]

8. There are too many routes this nation took to get here.

I don't think we have the time to figure out how we came to this but I'm pretty certain it was when corporations could declare themselves as people.

[molly77]

20. Oil ..same as Iraq.

If the people are gone, there is no one to share oil revenues with. Total profit.

[saras]

38. America has a hundred-year history of this

I got this book through my local public library. They actually bought it based on my recommendation and its reviews. I highly recommend it as a survey of the issue, and a solid history of the relationship between the chemical industry and government in America.

http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/EarthSciences/EnergyEnvironmentalScience/?view=usa&ci=9780199739950">The book at Oxford University Press

http://www.amazon.com/Polluters-Making-Chemically-Altered-Environment/dp/0199739951">Amazon's page for it

The book describes the history of our current situation - the creation of junk science, the loading of regulatory agencies with industry insiders, the bribery of officials, the dirty tricks - the chemical industry had been one of the primary promoters of, and beneficiaries of, fascism through the entire twentieth century. The most depressing thing about the book is how often 'we' - that is, the insiders - knew perfectly well what they were doing, what the public health effects would be, and then went ahead and did it anyways.

[Catherina]

72. Thank you. It was more of a rhetorical question but I'm glad to have your book recommendation

I know the reality but that reality and this country still stun me. Anything for money; lie for it, cheat for it, die for it.

I'm sure I'll find that book just as depressing as you die.

[newspeak]

77. not just the money, but the power

And, all of the ranting at Washington, all of the letter writing, maybe for not. Because they are in a loop that doesn't include the rest of us, probably a sociopathic corrupt loop of salving each others palms.

A couple of our forefathers warned us about the corporations--they care for nothing but the bottom line and influence. And now, they're even bigger and can cause even more harm to people. As we can see now, whole towns can be affected by their negligence--families suffer and become destitute either by health or by loss of livelihood from the negligence of one corporation. And yet, where is justice?

It's time to remove personhood from corporations, for some cannot handle the responsibilities of personhood and regulate them for their own good and ours.

[KamaAina]

17. You mean like the repukes' reelection chances after Katrina?

:sarcasm:

Sadly, the rest of the country north of I-10 doesn't seem to give a flying rip about the Gulf Coast. :(

[jtrockville]

19. To be fair, the gulf coast voted for Bush.

And he didn't even have to steal those votes.

[Kalyke]

26. To be even more fair, the gulf coast isn't given any other "news"

besides what comes out of the Right-Wing Noise Machine.

To get liberal talk radio - or, hell, truly fair and balanced news - they must purchase satellite radio or read newspapers from other countries, which many don't either have the money (satellite radio) or the time (working two jobs, caring for children, taking care of themselves because they're too poor to go to the doctor) to do.

[elehhhhna]

27. plus one million. from texas.

[jtrockville]

39. Yes, good point.

I took a road trip through the south (from Rockville MD to Crawford TX) a few years ago. We were appalled at the selections on the radio.

[radhika]

76. My road trip in 2003 shocked me beyond belief!

Between the right wing rants and the biblical end-timers I thought I was speechless. All on major stations, major outlets. That type of programming isn't found so easily in coastal and urban markets. I knew then this was NOT America in any way that I had known, in my life.

And subsequent years have brought that vision to life. Shudder.

[bvar22]

64. Not everybody voted for Bush.

New Orleans historically votes Democratic.

[bobbolink]

33. What you say is very, tragically, true.

Sadly, it also goes the other way.... did those now affected in the Gulf area care about poor people in other areas of the country before that disaster?

We are a nation which cares very little for "the other". We are interested in ourselves and those like us, and that is about the limit of our concern.

We are a tragic nation...... of Shakespearean proportions.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

68. Never underestimate the corruption of our e-voting system

and of the MSM...That aside, I just want to tell you, though I am a Yank from Wisconsin please know many of us care very deeply about what has happened to you and are devastated over what they have done to the precious gulf coast... Through many trips I have come to know every mile, and every city and itty bitty town along the shore in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. I've camped in most every campground from Grand Isle to Port St Joe., all the way down to the Everglades. I havent been down there since 2009 but am coming this spring. We want to help but just don't know what the hell we can do. :cry: :grouphug:

[Old Time Pagan]

32. While I empathize with your sentiment

You do realize that as long as the corporatocracy is running the show it really doesn't matter who is sitting at the head of the government.

Until we the people are able to force election reform and term limits on career politicians things will be bad with Democrats in control and worse with Republicans.

[sixmile]

2. Nothing to see here, folks

Move along.

[russspeakeasy]

16. Yup. Everythings fine...Survival of the fittest and all that...

Medicare for all is the only reasonable solution to this
escalating problem..

[valerief]

24. That's what the US media does. Moves us along from real news to distractions. nt

[Angry Dragon]

4. Someone needs to stop this madness now

[leftstreet]

5. So the Commission studied the corporation, but not the people

:grr:

Sickening

K&R

[defendandprotect]

30. Hi --

Did you find that info in the article ???

I scanned it quickly and didn't see it -- did I miss it -- or did you read that somewhere else?

[Little Star]

6. We don't we hear much from MSM about the gulf coast anymore.

I'm surprised that Keith and Rachel have sorta dropped the ball too.

[OneGrassRoot]

9. No words.

Just :cry:

This is so huge...so huge....:cry:


K&R

[WinkyDink]

10. Money trumps more than peace.

[Starry Messenger]

11. recommended.

[hootinholler]

13. Try to set up a paint booth to spray VOCs

Check out all you have to do to control them and pass EPA standards, and yet...

:cry:

-Hoot

[jwirr]

14. I feel extremely sorry for these people. Their states have been electing

useless governments for decades and these in turn have created really poor services. Even federal services administered by the state are inferior when these elected officials get done with them.

Now when these persons need this kind of help there is no one there to give it. Also it will probably not change because they are probably still in the minority. The only thing that can be done to help is something like what was done for persons with Black Lung Disease from the mines. The federal government provided specified help for their care. (Or at least I think they did.)

This is the new agent orange. Everyone denies it even exists. Or at least every legislator.

[madfloridian]

15. Our government has handled this very poorly.

They should have been involved in every way after we learned that BP was paying off scientists in the area.

My neighbors think the Gulf is clean and safe.

[End Of The Road]

18. I don't think our government has any money to handle it.

Not that they wouldn't have handled it poorly if they had any money. But denial is cheap.

[madfloridian]

21. It's doesn't cost money to take a stand.

[Autumn]

34. No, but our leaders would lose money out of their

coffers, so no way in hell our government will take a stand.

[maryf]

44. tax the rich, end the wars and occupations...

there's plenty of money, priorities need to be changed. People's needs first.

[Lorien]

51. Our government still has hundreds of billions for useless wars

and BP is still very profitable.

[DFW]

23. One thing is very obvious, except to Gulf Coast governors, BP and Washington

"the Gulf of Mexico, its waters, beaches, and seafood" may be "open to the public,"

BUT THEY ARE NOT SAFE!!!!!

[onethatcares]

25. can we have die ins?

I mean in the 60s we had sit ins to bring things to the forefront, can we now have die ins in different cities to bring the plight of these citizens to the forefront and to the media?

Jeeeezzzzus, we're killin everyone on the freakin planet and no one cares except for a few folks.

I'm not good at organizing but I will participate in St. Petersburg Florida if we can get it together folks, Crescent Lake would be a great place to die around or the Pier for that matter. Just a bunch of everyday folks laying down dead because of the oil gusher.

[defendandprotect]

28. Terrible -- and "Katrina" comes to mind -- and EPA re NYC pollution 9/11...!!!

[defendandprotect]

29. Industry is stiffing them on claims because they don't want testing done ....

or dead bodies being examined -- or anyone holding them acountable!

And this administration is not going to assist in producing any evidence

that might be detrimental to BP -- at least as far as money is concerned --

and lawsuits by the public.

[12string]

31. Gulf declared safe and open to the public

This is even more disgusting than when the Bush administration said it was safe to breath the air at ground zero.It is very difficult at times for me to see the difference from the last bunch.This will come back to haunt them.One hell of a legacy Mr. President

[chervilant]

37. Yes,

and does anyone else seriously doubt that Obama and his daughter swam in the Gulf after the BP disaster? And, does anyone else perceive that media event as yet another instance of corporatist-driven deceit?

[emilyg]

48. +100

[Kurovski]

35. The theory that chemicals cause serious health problems is one vigorously denied

by corporate-controlled medicine.

There are many people who are made ill by amounts of chemicals others may initially survive, or never have health problems from. And there is no testing whatsoever for the many combinations of toxic chemicals we are exposed to.

It's past time Germ Theory of medicine made a little room for the 20th century.

[Raster]

42. If "the theory" that chemicals can cause serious health problems were validated...

...that would make someone OR SOMETHING responsible for the harm done. To paraphrase Leona Helmsley: "only the little people have to take responsibility for their actions."

[Kurovski]

43. There are "ideopathic" diseases that could use a second look.

[crim son]

36. Everybody knew this was going to happen.

We all knew it, right? Maybe these people will get their health care and maybe not, but the way the spill and the aftermath were handled by BP and our government was not a mistake. Human sickness and death is just part of the cost of doing business... we see it in the healthcare debate, we saw it before and after Katrina and we are seeing it in our phony wars.

[eilen]

40. Another Love Canal. nt

[maryf]

45. On a humongous scale...

with repercussions which will reach far beyond the gulf states.

[eilen]

61. Definitely

They really should have looked to evacuate the area closest in order to protect the people there. I am sure there would have been resistance but honestly. the role of the government and law enforcement would be to protect their citizens, not BP. If people refused the evacuation, they at least would have made informed decisions.

[Cetacea]

41. 14 year-old author recent;y to;ld MSNBC that oil is still washing up

[bertman]

46. But, Damn, the President gives a great speech. And the new Speaker is going to

slash the budget deficit. And Angelina Jolie had a toothache last week.

Fugiddaboudit.


REC.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

47. Criminal malfeasance.

What has occurred with the spraying of Corexit is absolutely criminal. It is such a travesty that we cannot rise up to confront the abuse.

[Lorien]

52. I think that the powers that be realize that we WON'T ever rise up and confront

them, so now they just do what they do with impunity.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

70. that is perhaps the worst thing of all

:scared:

[midnight]

49. Why is this outcry for help for our own citizen's being ignored?

We have so many agency's that are useless.

[Lorien]

50. Greed wins over life, every time

I'm still waiting for some Change I can believe in, though I have little Hope.

[fadedrose]

53. Let's say that the EPA, FDA, NOAA & the President are right

and there's nothing that would cause problems that people in the Gulf are having. If their symptoms are imaginary, BP still has responsibility to care for their mental issues as well with counseling and medication for as long as needed. Victims may have a hefty amount coming for just that reason and courts may weigh in with "pain and suffering" awards because of trauma.

[Odin2005]

54. The fact that this is getting NO coverage is proof we are a Fascist police state.

[tavalon]

55. This reminds me of Katrina and short attention span America

This disaster didn't magically go away because we stopped paying attention. This sucks.

[Swamp Rat]

56. Poisoned and then abandoned.

And no one bothered to prosecute the murderers.

After Katrina, I am no longer surprised about how poorly we'll be treated by the U. S. Government.

[lonestarnot]

79. Look how difficult it was to get med care for 9/11 responders!

This is outrageous!

[indimuse]

57. I have read this oil is in the gulf stream!

I feel so bad for our fellow Americans in the gulf!

[SpiralHawk]

58. the k and the r

boom

[Enthusiast]

59. So.

:sarcasm:

[upi402]

60. Of course our corporatists say it's safe

and, of course it is unsafe.

[newspeak]

80. and why should we trust what they say

after 9/11 the EPA told people around the site that everything was safe. Nope, no toxic stuff here, everything is just fine. Of course, that was under Little Boots. I'm kind of getting a clue what they really think about those they are supposed to be keeping safe. I mean that's what they keep telling us-keeping us safe from those terrorists-gotta pass the Patriot Act for your protection. But, if they really thought about our well being they wouldn't be attempting to cut the social safety net or bailing out wall street instead of mainstreet or pandering to BP over the health and well being of its' citizens.

[blindpig]

62. This is what Capitalism does....

it uses up people and the Earth for the benefit of the few. it ain't no head scratcher.

[Catherina]

73. +1 n/t

[maryf]

75. and is so very short sighted...

continuing this trend will leave a bunch miserable Midas clones, all alone on a dead planet...

[felix_numinous]

63. People who want to survive

along with their descendants, in the next century, will need to seek untainted ground. People will have to give up many beloved neighborhoods if they want their children to be healthy. This is not doom and gloom, it just is.

http://www.usgs.gov/resources_envirohealth/ <----awesome website.

http://www.expatify.com/advice/10-best-places-to-live-for-escaping-world-conflict.html <---for the young and adventurous, and young at heart.

http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/50-cleanest-dirtiest-cities-in-america/article15115.html <---in the US.

[bvar22]

65. We did.

After experiencing the aftermath of Katrina in New Orleans in 2005,
we moved to high ground with a long growing season, far from Urban/Industrial pollution, surrounded by extensive National Forest, with a local (on property) source of abundant clean water, and started growing our own food without chemicals.

Our biggest problem was finding "untainted ground" with a source of abundant clean water.

--bvar22
Born and raised in New Orleans,
and former resident of the Gulf Coast for over 50 years

[felix_numinous]

83. You have been an inspiration

to many people, keep posting bvar22.

[fascisthunter]

66. anyone really surprised after what happened in New Orleans after Katrina?

[eowyn_of_rohan]

71. and don't forget Mississippi

TPTB sure did

[Chimichurri]

67. This is a disgrace.

[ejbr]

69. k & r n/t

[DeSwiss]

74. "I want America to be as good as she imagined it." ~Barack Obama

- Nice sounding words.......

K&R

[chervilant]

81. And,

We all know: Actions speak louder than Words.

[lonestarnot]

78. Swampie!

You better be ok! :hug:

[Richard Steele]

82. A sad kick. nm

[TheKentuckian]

84. Too late for a sad little rec but here is a heartbroken kick

[L0oniX]

85. Kick

[MisterP]

86. "would it help you to require you to buy insurance?"

"no"
"how about if I throw in a lack of price regulation?"
"oh GOD no!"
"well, what are you gonna do about it?"