POLITICAL CORRUPTION IS A NATIONWIDE ISSUE AFFECTING ALL OF US. ALABAMA RANKS #5 AS THE MOST CORRUPT STATE. *DOJ 2007 stats
Something is very wrong in the Land of Cotton


PERTINENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND CORRUPTION ISSUES IN OTHER STATES ARE ALSO DISCUSSED


NO OTHER COMMUNITY, RICH OR POOR, URBAN OR SUBURBAN,BLACK, BROWN,RED, YELLOW OR WHITE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BECOME AN "ENVIRONMENTAL SACRIFICE ZONE."

Dr. Robert Bullard
Environmental Justice Movement Founder

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Alabama: State of the Air 2011 - American Lung Association


INC indicates incomplete monitoring for all three years. DNC indicates there is no monitor collecting data in the county.

The EPA defines particle pollution as "a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets ... made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles." Year-round air pollution is an average of the daily levels of particle pollution on all 365 days. Short-term particle pollution measures the number of times in a year when levels spike above healthy standards for several days to several weeks. Ozone pollution has adverse effects on health as well, but is not as dangerous in the short-term.
"All three can kill people, and all three can cause asthma attacks," asserts Nolen. "But short-term and year-round particle pollution are more deadly than ozone."
Closer to the east coast, Pittsburgh, Pa., has long been associated with coal, and it shows in the numbers. The Steel City ranks seventh on the list of most polluted, followed by another metro chock-full of coal-fired power plants: Birmingham, Alabama.


And how does Alabama respond to its perpetually dirty and dangerous air quality? By using the state agency of environmental 'quality', ADEM, and suing the EPA on behalf of the utility giants and other heavy polluters, not for the benefit of her citizens, but for the benefit of big business and its big political money.

It's a sad commentary when the state of Alabama seems to put more importance on industry than it does the well-being of her people. And most importantly her youngest citizens, children and infants, who the most adversely affected by this toxic air. Our oldest residents are a close second.

Someone once said that a good measure of humanity is how the oldest and youngest among us are treated. If that's true, then Alabama gets another big fat "F" and puts itself firmly in the I really don't give a damn about anything but money category.

What makes this even more tragic is our Governor, a medical doctor, seems to be more of a hypocrite than a follower of the Hippocratic Oath and its prevalent theme of "to do good or to do no harm..." that he swore to abide by.

"We're going to go through DTs, but you know what? You have got a doctor in charge of Alabama now!"--Dr. Dr. Robert Bentley

Alabama is in need of a doctor alright, but not one who takes his direction from BARD and their scurrilous lawyers, because following their one-sided bad advice is tantamount to political malpractice.
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10 comments:

  1. We have 67 counties in the state.
    Why are so many without data?
    6 of these listed are DNC,INC, that is not acceptable.

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  2. ADEM's Ron Gore proves he is full of hot air:
    "Ron Gore, the chief of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management's air division, said particle pollution in the state comes from three principle sources. About 40 percent comes from sulfates and nitrates produced by coal-fired power plants; 40 percent is soot from automobile tailpipes, open burning and forest fires, and 20 percent is from dirt and salt air."

    "Air quality also is influenced by the weather -- cold days can keep particle pollution trapped close to the earth's surface and hot days stimulate the formation of ozone. Economic conditions also have an effect, with more pollution generated when the economy is humming."

    "Some of the pollution comes from local sources, but about 70 percent to 75 percent of the airborne pollutants blow in from other sources in the region, Gore said. The Lung Association's Nolen said that movement of pollution underlines the importance of having a strong national air pollution enforcement program."
    Point the finger anywhere but at Alabama Power Gore.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ADEM never met a toxic titan it did not pull to its breast and coddle.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's puttin' the mule shoes straight to the backside of the truth Spur.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Maybe the Dr. Dr. had his fingers crossed behind his back?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Okay. I'll bite..why is the state spending money it claims it does not have to fight APCOs fight?
    Do they think its better to save this obscenely wealthy company money while the costs of health care zoom for citizens affected by APCOs toxic ways?
    Seems the answer is yes.
    What heartless, greedy bastards!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Earthjustice has a great campaign on this!

    Right to Breathe

    And then there is the Alabama group:

    GASP

    ReplyDelete
  8. It will be interesting to see if the Governor Guy Hunt signs the Canfield's and Marh's toxic coal ash bill into law.
    If he does, he isn't worth spit as a medical doctor.

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  9. We continue to get report on top of report about the pollution in this state, the increased crime in certain areas and the lopsided and corrupt political system we have, but what's anybody really doing about it on Goat Hill?
    Sticking their fat heads into the trough of money and raising their heads periodically to proclaim Alabama as a "world class state" with a "bright future."
    C'mon now, how much more dribble do they really think we are going to fall for?
    I guess maybe a lot more since we have such a big segment of the population that keeps electing these morons!

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  10. I swear if I hear him say "but you know what?" one more time I am going to go ape#hit!!
    I cannot stand those folksy, cutesy, STUPID phrases of his!!!
    Word to the wise Doc, cut out the crap and do something meaningful for all of us, not just the ones who vote red!!
    Oh yeah, and remember you are supposed to be a Dr. and not the handmaiden for the poison for all BARD cronies.

    ReplyDelete

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