Ignoring the Gulf’s health crisis
I ORGANIZED the July protest against BP here in Chicago. More recently, the overwhelming gravity of the health crisis in the Gulf has taken priority, since no government assistance has been forthcoming, and, in fact, the chemical poisoning caused by the combination of oil and the Corexit dispersant is so serious as to provoke internal bleeding of organs, serious respiratory disorders and other side effects too disturbing to write about here.
I have documentation from marine toxicologists, labs and doctors who were threatened by BP. I have testimony of university biochemists who were "bought" by BP, along with a gag order stating that they could not discuss their research with colleagues. I have video of residents who have seen BP, to this day, spraying Corexit in the Gulf under cover of darkness--despite the Environmental Protection Agency and Obama denying it was continuing.
I have been sending care packages with requested prescription medicine, food, bandages, baking soda and Epsom salts down to one of the most remote parishes in Louisiana, Plaquemines, which is in greatest need--but it is far from the only spot in danger.
People are in denial, but they are desperately ill, and some are dying. Physicians are refusing to diagnose "chemical poisoning," but lab analyses showing the same heavy metals and toxins that parallel the components of BP's oil spill and dispersants.
Plaquemines is the location of Kindra Arnesson, the wife of a shrimper who defied a BP gag order prohibiting them from discussing the situation with the media. In an interview with CNN months ago, when asked if she was afraid, she stated, "Of course I am, but it starts with one, doesn't it?" At that point, I committed.
Her husband--who has had bleeding from the ears and other bodily orifices--accepted cleanup work from BP when he could no longer fish. BP prevented him and the other workers they hired from wearing respirators or hazmat suits to protect themselves, because it would be bad PR for the company.
The average age at which the cleanup workers who were present for the Exxon-Valdez spill over 20 years ago died was 51. This will only get worse.
I've been trying to send out heavily documented dossiers to every major newspaper, magazine, television and radio station in the country. Everyone is either afraid--or, worse, indifferent to the explosive health emergency now happening. Even residents of the Gulf are in denial.
What can be done? Right now, these people need help. And they need it badly.
Jill Grossvogel, Chicago
