at the Brecht Forum, 122 West 27th St., 10th floor, Manhattan 212-242-4201 www.brechtforum.org $6/$8/$10 (sliding scale -- no one turned away)
TOXIC FALLOUT FROM THE WORLD TRADE CENTER CATASTROPHE Co-sponsored by "Capitalism, Nature, Socialism"
When the World Trade Center towers fell, dangerous toxins were released into the atmosphere, and the remaining dust contains carcinogens, including asbestos. The enivironmental aftermath has raised serious questions about who will be helped and who will be hurt as Downtown NYC is cleaned up and rebuilt. The reluctance of the EPA to reveal its findings on air quality has created an occupational health crisis: day laborers at Ground Zero have neither the information nor the equipment to protect themselves. Other area workers, as well as residents cleaning up their apartments, face similar dangers. On the other hand, President Bush and V.P. Cheney have been busy trying to protect corporations from asbestos-related lawsuits. The stocks of some of these companies rose on rumors that Bush would move on this issue (including Halliburton, Cheney's last employer). Who will benefit from new construction on the site, will it harm the environment, and will it meet job safety standards?
PAUL BARTLETT works at the Center for Biology of Natural Systems. He has worked with NYC and NYS on industrial development and the environment, and has been involved in monitoring the medical effects of the environment on workers at Ground Zero.
JONATHAN BENNETT is Public Affairs Director of NYCOSH, New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health. NYCOSH has researched and published information about the air quality at Ground Zero, and fought for worker protection.
JOEL KUPFERMAN is the Environmental Justice Chair of the National Lawyers Guild - NYC Chapter, and the executive director of the NY Environmental Law Project. He fought the EPA, NY State and NYC to obtain the release of withheld information on WTC toxins, and is fighting for creation of a Superfund-type designation for the area.