It was another one of those moments since our community event in 2006 that a word of truth had to be spoken. The TV cameras arrived yesterday afternoon at the National Environmental Public Health Conference during the "Listening Session" where communities and governing bodies come together to be heard as to changes they feel need to be made in the handling of toxic events. Yet the Director of the ATSDR and the host of the listening session - Dr. Howard Frumkin - did not stay to listen which tells me more than I need to know. So much happened during the meeting and the conference at large that I will need to write an email at length over the weekend. Channel 2 stayed and filmed our community story and then interviewed me more candidly outside the conference doors. Just before we started filming, Tom Jones got the news that the Department of Natural Resources Board confirmed the nomination of Allen Barnes as the Director of the Environmental Protection Division. We were both stunned but felt it was important to go through with the story anyway. It is also my understanding that he starts the job today. So why the rush? Why was there no time given for public comment about this appointment? I am scared to see in the coming months the actual outcomes of his appointment - not being protected but further harmed is my fear.
Your neighbor,
Connie
Constance (Biemiller) Thomas, Chair
South Fulton and Fayette Community Task Force
Ph. -770-314-6999
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.
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