Mr Anonymous rides again...

Comment from Anonymous:

"Anybody interested in why a local man has 13 dead relatives who all worked in or lived near the sandpits? 13 coincidences? or is the truth too terrible to contemplate?"*

"Newsflash Mr Author, everyone dies at some point, and yes everyone that works at the sand pit will die , 1/3 of which will probably be to cancer but this is no different to the 50 odd million people of the UK. Mrs Twite is right this is scaremongering at the lowest level."

***

Mr (or Mrs.) Anonymous, thanks again for your enlightening comments.

I may not have made it as obvious as it could of been. The point I was making is NOT that the man's relatives were all dead.

All 13 relatives mentioned died of cancer.

ALL OF THEM.

That's more than 1/3rd (33.33%) - That's 100%.

That's statistically significant.

I take it from the tone of your note that the current levels of preventable cancer related deaths (every 52 seconds) are perfectly ok with you then, an inevitability, which we should just accept and do absolutely nothing about. As far as you are concerned, that's just the way it is and we can't change it, right? After all, we are all going to die at some point anyway, so why bother?

If I "scaremonger", and save or prolong one life over the next 30-50 years as a result, I'm ok with that.

In my opinion, people are more important than minerals, silica or asbestos.

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. My conscience is clear.

However, its not just my opinion...remember this?

IMF / News article
Preventing occupational cancer

"A new cancer prevention guide, reveals that over 600,000 deaths a year – one death every 52 seconds – are caused by occupational cancer, making up almost one-third of all work-related deaths.
GLOBAL: A worldwide epidemic of occupational cancer is claiming at least one life every 52 seconds, but this tragedy is being ignored by both official regulators and employers."

refer to http://www.imfmetal.org/main/index.cfm?n=47&l=2&c=15708

There's a lot of "scaremongering" about isn't there?

The asbestos time bomb in our schools

I recently read this article in the Daily Express, 24th June.
You can refer to the campaign website run by Richard Lees for more details by clicking on the title of this article or go to http://www.schoolasbestosaction.co.uk

Also see Michael Lees' website at the following address:

http://www.asbestosexposureschools.co.uk/

As those of you who attended the Leziate Meeting (and the more recent East Winch Parish Council meeting) will know, my father Eric died in December last year of an asbestos related cancer.

For readers of this site you may also remember that a worker dies of a cancer every 52 seconds (according to the International Metalworkers Federation).

So, we live in a free country, and we can think what we like?

If you read Wendy Twite's article in the recent voice of the villages she essentially accuses EWAG and other local groups of "scaremongering" and "spreading misery" and unhappiness.

Wendy, get real!

If there's a choice between profit or safety, what wins out most of the time?

Safety?

If there's a clean up needed, is it easier to ignore it, or spend the cash?

Do you get a clean up, or a cover up?

Look at Bawsey Lake as an example (and the article on eraseorg.blogspot.com) where the original mining company involved and the council have effectively washed their hands of it.

In the above article from the Daily Express, Michael Lees, who lost his wife to mesothelioma at the age of 51, is not to my mind, scaremongering or spreading misery. He is raising awareness of a vital issue that has affected him personally at a fundamental level. His partner is dead.

Does every body have to have a family member die before they will get up off their arses and stop watching Eastenders?

It is the short term focus of the government on cash and the complacency, reticence and reluctance of the general public to stand up and be counted and to be heard that adds to this problem.

Remember that maxim about the truth - "First it is ridiculed, then it is violently opposed, finally it is regarded as self evident."

Remember people used to think the earth was flat!

Asbestos Kills. Silica Kills. Asbestosis Kills. Silicosis Kills. Cancer Kills.

Wake up, and get your head out of the sand.

Or people will look back on our generation and say:

"What a bunch of losers! They did nothing about the poisons in their environment. Anything for a quiet life! They were exploited and they paid the ultimate price. They didn't heed the warning signs. They did what's considered Normal for Norfolk - Nothing! And the costs are still being met by future generations, who have to clean up their mess when it could have all been so easily dealt with at the time. Well, Good Riddance to them, That's what I say."

So, anybody want to find out if their local school is made out of asbestos?

Or is what happens on TV, to Dirty Den and Bet at the Rovers or in Big Brother more important?

Anybody interested in why a local man has 13 dead relatives who all worked in or lived near the sandpits? 13 coincidences? or is the truth too terrible to contemplate?

That local landowners will sell out and effectively be signing your death certificates. (And profiting directly and massively at your expense in the face of your tumbling property price in the process!)

But why make things difficult for them, when you can all be friendly and talk about flower arranging and other 'paramount' parish council business?

Or there's always DENIAL. You can tell us all as story, such as...

"My family worked in schools/mines full of asbestos/silica/whatever and it never did them any harm..."

Well, I for one am not convinced.

I saw some impressive video footage recently of 1000's of courageous women running for breast cancer, a lot of whom had their own story to tell.
But the run itself, however commendable, only raises awareness, without addressing the root causes, which are toxins in the workplace and the environment which are allowed to stay there or be introduced there in spite of compelling evidence (such as that on the website of Heath and Safety Executive-HSE) and legal requirements (in the case of asbestos) for their removal.

Chet Holmes says that of 70,000 chemical compounds introduced since the war, that only 3% have been tested for long term effects. So 97% of them remain in the environment as a potential threat.

One thing that jumps out at me from the express article is:

"My concerns were met with indifference."

That's been my experience too.

Indifference, denial, even ridicule.


This is a real ongoing danger. Yet another toxic time bomb, in the same way that the extraction of silica sand next to our village is a potential toxic time bomb. There is compelling physical evidence and statistics that support this. Facts. And we all stand to be the victims, the casualties, the "collateral damage" if we do not act. As Cliff Smalley (of the Save Pentney Action Group) said at Leziate: "Is it a fight." And the fight goes on. And it is a fight we need to win.

PS if you still think this is a load of fuss about nothing, check out the "Safe Shopper's Bible" on Amazon, which tells you what products are chemically safe and which ones aren't. Or go back to watching Eastenders, where all the real drama is!

Dust Emission Update from Dave Robson

I recently received this update from Dave Robson, Principal Officer -Environmental Quality & Licensing Section, Environmental Health & Housing Department:

I visited WBB minerals on Wednesday [18th June] to go over the issues raised. We have discussed matters with and have asked for further information from WBB. We were unable to visit all areas and will need to go back at a future date to look at the Grand Court Farm area in particular.

Once we have a better understanding of the new production areas we can consider in detail if monitoring is required. We are also chasing further information about environmental exposure to silica.

I will contact you when further information becomes available.

How about some progress councillors?

At our sailing club meeting at Leziate at the end of April, I asked Ian Monson to look into the height of the rubbish dump at Blackborough End. Further to reminders from myself, as of last week, we are still waiting for a response although he is apparently "looking into it".

Similiarly, I have as you know, been involved in correspondence with Dave Robson from Environmental Health and Dave tells me that we will be meeting with WBB Minerals this month to discuss air quality testing.

Thing is we still don't have a date.

So if we are indeed being poisoned by the works at Grandcourt Farm and Ashwicken and every second counts, then our requests do not appear to have been taken very seriously.

So what is going on? Delaying Tactics? "Other Priorities?"

I find it ironic that people who are paid with our money (taxes) can dawdle for so long about matters that don't directly affect them, though they potentially have calamitous conseqences for the rest of us.

It may be that a good old fashioned protest with placards and chanting may be needed after all.

After all, it worked for HAWITAGE! (see the link).

The gentle email approach has not to date bourne much fruit.

Other News

I have been given (yet) another contact to chase up the reinstated bridleway, and in order to pursue who destroyed the trees at Town Close in contravention of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, we need to know who the owner is. There are three to choose from. Perhaps the Parish Council will tell us.

WADING THROUGH TREACLE

A colleague at work has used the expression "wading through treacle (backwards)" to describe the issues he faces during his daily grind. It would appear that dealing with the council yields the same sort of results (or lack of them).

Grimston Congham and Roydon Residents Association

"The Residents Association's AGM was held on May 8th and the committee was re-elected. The treasurer's report was accepted and the committee's expenses approved. The meeting was addressed by Mr Neil Paddock who is leading the campaign against the threat of quarrying at East Winch. He warned of the risks of fine dust inhalation (silicosis) by workers and local inhabitants. He urged against complacency regarding out local Commons and suggested that all the groups fighting mineral extraction should join forces."

EWAG Wants You!

United we stand!

OK, so lots of you want lakes... Why?

I notice that the poll for having lakes at Grandcourt Farm is almost split down the middle, which surprises me, frankly.

I am wondering what the attraction is. From our meeting at Leziate Sailing Club, we heard that Bawsey Lake is in poor condition, acidic, with not much living in it and it's dangerous to swim in.

Also, on the ERASE website, you will see that the council are apparently powerless to do anything about it. A contract lapsed which let the original contractor off the hook, but meant they couldn't carry on digging there.

Not a particularly brilliant contract in my view, as this forced the mineral company to go further afield once it lapsed and find new land to target / quarry / desecrate (delete as appropriate) AND apparently let them off the hook in cleaning up the mess they had left behind at Bawsey.

Of course, that was around 30 years ago, and legislation is much tighter now, so that couldn't ever possibly happen again could it? Or could it?

And given that we already have Bawsey and Leziate so close, why does Middleton need a lake or two as well?

People on WBB's payroll need not apply - You have a vested interest after all, right?

After all, if WBB are paying your mortage this month I wouldn't be surprised if you thought a lake there was a fantastic idea.

However, in the interests of impartiality and fairness, tell me what will be so fantastic about it.

Fishing? Will it support life within 20 years of being left to fill with water?

Swimming? Will you be prepared to risk it?

Will it look like a concentration camp with signs like the ones at Bawsey?

Will it be somewhere to take the kids on a picnic? - Just watch out for the steep sides, the sheer banks and the barbed wire.

Let me guess, all of those in favour...

1) Don't stand to have their houses flooded if the lakes get overly full

2) Don't care about any risks of ingesting silica dust particles - after all, it's safe whilst the sand's still underground, right?

3) Don't stand to have 10 - 20% or more knocked off the value of their property

4) Don't live close enough to be affected by many years of noise dust and light pollution

5) Haven't seen the huge pile of Sand at Leziate, which is lit up by huge floodlights at night - you can forget looking at the stars through your telescope over there due to the overwhelming light pollution...

6) Haven't lost any relatives to illness who have worked in or lived near the sandpits

7) Have never read a single thing on the Health and Safety Executive's website and may in fact have not done any "proper research" on the subject

8) Don't live close enough to be detrimentally affected in any obvious way whatsoever, in fact, if Middleton, East Winch and West Bilney are being dug up, then someone else is being left alone...

9) Stand to make a packet out of the whole thing whilst the rest of us suffer!

10) Just believe what WBB tell us, after all it must be true...

Incidentally, if you meet all 10 of the above criteria you are probably on the Parish Council!

Anyway, if you do have any good reasons why this part of Norfolk should be completely dug out and left submerged, then let me know in the comments section - Thanks!

Reminds me of the old Beatle's song "I'd like to be, under the sea, in an Octopus's garden in a cave"

Perhaps we can all club together and buy a submarine.

Air Quality Update

Gosh, has it been over two weeks since my last post?

I have heard back from Dave Robson, the Environmental Health Officer, who will be meeting with WBB later in the month to discuss air quality.

Here's and extract of my latest email to him:

Fundamentally, what we want to know if quarrying and treatment of silica sand is safe, and if so, how do we define safe?

Is there a certain amount of sand and dust being released by existing quarrying operations, (how much?) and to what extent can RCS PM10’s be measured and tracked both around the quarry sites, transport routes and processing centres.

From there I would hope we can assess what risk there is of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) PM10 ingestion specifically relating to silica sand, relative to accepted Maximum exposure limits (noting the statistical relationship onset of respiratory diseases at that dosage level for quarry workers)

and over what radius from each site a risk is posed to residents who live near by or indeed further afield, given factors of wind direction, particle concentration etc.

Additionally, with additional proposed sites potentially becoming live over the next ten years or so (e.g. MIN39, MIN 40) in a relatively small catchment area, (Grimston, East Winch, etc) we would like to be in an informed position to assess what additional cumulative risks these new proposed sites would pose to local resident’s health, in terms of increasing concentrations of particulate emissions locally.

This is a major concern of residents, given the current lack of testing since year 2000 and lack of any apparent concern by WBB about the dangers that have been well documented on HSE’s website (to name but one) with the extraction of this material.