The North Shore Colombia Solidarity Committee Blog
See our home page.(Our old blog on tripod.com is still active, but it is now also appended to the archives of this blog.)
Monday, October 02, 2006
HEALTHLINK TO HOST AVI CHOMSKY
Salem State College Professor to Discuss Colombian Coal Mine’s Link to Essex County
SWAMPSCOTT, MA., October 3, 2006 – HealthLink, a North Shore environmental nonprofit group, today announced it will host a presentation October 12 by Salem State College History Professor Avi Chomsky, who will show slides and discuss her recent trip to El Cerrejon, the world’s largest open pit coal mine and an increasing source of coal for the Salem Power Station.
HealthLink supports Professor Chomsky’s mission to help improve the lives of Colombian villagers who have been sickened and displaced by the mine, which currently supplies one third of its coal to Northeastern U.S. power plants. “HealthLink has been working on cleaning up Salem Power Station. We’ve been working on getting the word out about alternative forms of clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar power. And we’re also quite concerned about the plight of people whose lives have been devastated by this mine that supplies much of the coal to Salem,” said Lynn Nadeau, a founding HealthLink member. “Supporting Professor Chomsky and her delegation is part and parcel of HealthLink’s mission.”
The El Cerrejon mine is three miles wide, 30 miles long, and produces 15 million tons of coal a year. Because of its enormity, dust from the mine constantly blows from the site, polluting the land, air, and water of the surrounding region and destroying the health and livelihoods of indigenous farmers, hunters, and villagers. Land-taking to expand the mine has also resulted in the eviction of numerous villagers, and promises to put as many as 5,000 more at risk in coming years.
“We really saw first hand how the political and energy choices we make in this country can devastate people in other parts of the world,” said Chomsky.
Chomsky’s talk will be held at 7 pm at the First Church in Salem on 316 Essex Street. The delegation is currently planning a return trip to Colombia in November to further analyze the villagers’ plight and assist with solutions.
Separately, Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll recently met with Jose Julio Perez, an activist working on behalf of his fellow villagers in Colombia, after which the Mayor signed a proclamation to honor, recognize, and support Mr. Perez in his efforts to fight for the environment, public health, employee rights and social awareness of his fellow villagers.
HealthLink’s mission is to protect and improve public health by reducing and eliminating pollutants and toxic substances from our environment through research, education, and community service.
####
HealthLink Linking Health and the Environment
CONTACT: HealthLink 781-598-1115 or Lynn Nadeau 631-6288
SWAMPSCOTT, MA., October 3, 2006 – HealthLink, a North Shore environmental nonprofit group, today announced it will host a presentation October 12 by Salem State College History Professor Avi Chomsky, who will show slides and discuss her recent trip to El Cerrejon, the world’s largest open pit coal mine and an increasing source of coal for the Salem Power Station.
HealthLink supports Professor Chomsky’s mission to help improve the lives of Colombian villagers who have been sickened and displaced by the mine, which currently supplies one third of its coal to Northeastern U.S. power plants. “HealthLink has been working on cleaning up Salem Power Station. We’ve been working on getting the word out about alternative forms of clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar power. And we’re also quite concerned about the plight of people whose lives have been devastated by this mine that supplies much of the coal to Salem,” said Lynn Nadeau, a founding HealthLink member. “Supporting Professor Chomsky and her delegation is part and parcel of HealthLink’s mission.”
The El Cerrejon mine is three miles wide, 30 miles long, and produces 15 million tons of coal a year. Because of its enormity, dust from the mine constantly blows from the site, polluting the land, air, and water of the surrounding region and destroying the health and livelihoods of indigenous farmers, hunters, and villagers. Land-taking to expand the mine has also resulted in the eviction of numerous villagers, and promises to put as many as 5,000 more at risk in coming years.
“We really saw first hand how the political and energy choices we make in this country can devastate people in other parts of the world,” said Chomsky.
Chomsky’s talk will be held at 7 pm at the First Church in Salem on 316 Essex Street. The delegation is currently planning a return trip to Colombia in November to further analyze the villagers’ plight and assist with solutions.
Separately, Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll recently met with Jose Julio Perez, an activist working on behalf of his fellow villagers in Colombia, after which the Mayor signed a proclamation to honor, recognize, and support Mr. Perez in his efforts to fight for the environment, public health, employee rights and social awareness of his fellow villagers.
HealthLink’s mission is to protect and improve public health by reducing and eliminating pollutants and toxic substances from our environment through research, education, and community service.
####
HealthLink Linking Health and the Environment
CONTACT: HealthLink 781-598-1115 or Lynn Nadeau 631-6288
Archives
July 2004 December 2004 August 2005 March 2006 May 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 January 2008 February 2008 June 2008 July 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009
