A New Vision

Good Morning Neighbor:

 

I had the privilege yesterday of going to Callaway Gardens – biking the trails, enjoying the beautiful scenery and at dusk watching the vividly colored hot air balloons glide over the tree canopies.   I was reminded in all of this that the initial vision of the Callaway family is what made my day so possible.  Vision followed by action that expands to incorporate the talents of others for the higher good is truly what makes all positive change materialize.

 

It was a vision of a community that made it possible to shut down the operations of the Philip Services Corporation.  And, it is a vision that needs to dominate the National Chemical Emergencies Work Group.  It could easily be said that there is no way this group will have a unified vision - especially when you look at the list below of those who will be serving.  However, it will only take two or three to begin the vision of change.

 

I remember making a point to never take a tour of PSC or go to their website to see how big and mighty they were.  I did not want anything to obstruct my vision and this will be my goal in this work group setting as well.  I will keep thinking of the young families who I saw that very first day holding their shirts over their nose and mouth – especially the young children and babies who were having difficulty breathing.   I will remember a standing room only crowd at Bethany United Methodist that was begging for answers as to why they were sick and no answers were given.  

 

A vision of a new road map of action that will be outlined for any community harmed is what is needed.  I am open to any and all suggestions as to how this should look.  Please email me with what you would like our government to do within those first few days of toxic exposure.   No thought is too small - send anything you feel would be of benefit.  Our hearts and minds working together is what will make all the difference.

 

Your neighbor,

 

 

Connie

  

 

Chemical Emergencies Work Group

 

Andrea Kidd Taylor, Morgan State University, chair

Scott Deitchman, NCEH/ATSDR senior liaison

Dana Goodson, RESOLVE facilitator

Montrece Ransom, NCEH/ATSDR staff

 

Membership [pending confirmation]

Bill Benerman Denver Department of Environmental Health

Nathan Birnbaum, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

John Bresland, U.S. Chemical Safety Board

Susan Cibulsky & Amanda Niskar, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Kathleen Curtis, Clean New York

Jacque Darbonne, Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services

James Eaton, Maine Health and Environmental Testing Lab

Fleming Fallon, Bowling Green State University

Michael Greenberg, American Academy of Clinical Toxicology

James Griffin, American Chemistry Council

Joseph Hughes, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Nancy Hughes, American Nurses Association

James James, American Medical Association

Erik Janus, CropLife America

Kimberly Jennings, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Todd Jordon, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Betsy Kagey, Georgia Division of Public Health

Mark Kirk, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

James Madsen, U.S. Army Medical Corps

Jacqueline McBride, Love, Peace and Prosperity International, Inc

Maureen Orr, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Paul Orum, NGO Chemical Safety Consultant

Susan Palchick, Hennepin County

Clark Phinney, Maine Oxy

Darius Sivin, International Union, UAW

Derek Swick, American Petroleum Institute

Constance Thomas, South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force

Anthony Tomassoni, Yale University School of Medicine

Wanda Welles, New York State Department of Health

 

 

As Margaret Mead once said:

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.