Meetings... and more meetings

After a necessary long silence while MDEQ and Dow Chemical worked on the framework for fixing the dioxin mess in our backyards, we have an influx of public meetings. First, Dow & MDEQ have announced their schedule for the rest of their meetings by invitation. See my March 19 blog entry.

• MDEQ & Dow - Wednesday, April 6 - 6:30 pm - Midland Holiday Inn
• MDEQ & Dow - Thursday, April 7 - 6:30 pm - Saginaw's Horizons Conference Center
• MDEQ & Dow - Thursday, April 14 - 6:30 pm - Bay City's Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center

Even though these meetings are by invitation, the public is invited to observe... and will have an opportunity to submit questions in writing to the facilitators. Midland Daily News Not to be outdone, local environmental extremists are launching a series of speakers beginning with

• Dr. Linda Birnbaum - Wednesday, April 13 - Swan Valley High School, Saginaw
  Note: This meeting series is sponsored by some of the most notoriously anti-science extremists in the nation. The fact that they are lurking in our backyards is frightening. It may be my backyard today... but yours could be their next target.

Along with all these meetings, the infamous lawsuit is back in the news... Two years later, dioxin suit in limbo This was the first time that yours truly realized the environutz wanted to drag all of us along the Tittabawassee River floodplain into their latest endeavor! Did you know that this couple wants Dow to pay for their medical examinations the rest of their lives... just in case they might happen to develop any health problems associated with dioxin in the area? Not only that but if they convince Judge Borrello to give them class action status, the 85% of residents along the TR floodplain who are NOT suing would be included in the lawsuit automatically. We, each and all of the remaining 2,000+ residents would have to sign a document taking us out of the suit! Do you realize who will win in such a situation... if they should win? Not the Henrys... not the other people who joined them... not you or me.... it would be the tort lawyers! What a scam, eh?

By the way, I observed one of the suers (sp?) at the first public meeting by Dow and MDEQ leave the room to have a smoke! How do I know that person had a smoke? Because that person came back in and walked directly behind me to the snack and beverage table... reeking of cigarette smoke! Does she not realize chances of developing heart disease, cancer, and any number of health problems are more likely from that disgustingly smelly habit than any dioxin in her backyard?

Meanwhile, further downstream..... in the Saginaw River
Citizens group files protest to stop Saginaw River dredging
Thursday, March 17, 2005, By Jeff Kart, Bay City Times
Oh yes... the econutz are active... and they are headed your way!