Bo JacobsFeb 14, 2023

The toxic disaster in East Palestine, Ohio after the chemical releases following the train derailment reveal classic #toxic
disaster management techniques.

The true extent of the danger and seriousness of the event is not made clear to people when it happens. Instead their anxieties are managed.

This is a way to protect capital, and liability rather than living creatures. It is similar to the denial of there having been #nuclear meltdowns at #Fukushima for three months by the government of Japan. This was to protect reputation and perceptions, not human beings.

My advice, as always: when an industrial disaster happens, what you are being told about the hazards on the first day are, at best, 10% of the real dangers you face. Always assume that you should get away as fast as possible. Better to be wrong and safe, than wrong and exposed.

#EastPalestine #trainderailment #Ohio #train #chemicals

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/residents-ohio-train-derailment-report-dead-fish-chickens-rcna70378

Residents near Ohio train derailment report dead fish and chickens

Some people who live near the derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio, fear they and their animals may be exposed to chemicals through the air, water and soil.

NBC News
Show threadtltroupFeb 14, 2023
@bojacobs I spent decades just west of the area, and I think it's worth noting that folks in this area likely spent their whole lives downstream of old steel mills and near mines. They're accustomed to environments damaged by industrial activities. If anything, they're probably under-reporting weird impacts.
Show threadbs2
@tltroup @bojacobs
There may have been an article listing toxic train disasters on Counterpunch years ago. A search turned up this other valuable article.
> its not just oil company and carrier greed for cash generating cargo like fracked oil to blame for the current disasters, you can also chalk up the railroad’s desire to save just a little more fuel, at the expense of safety, for the mess we are in.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/03/09/exploding-trains-and-crude-oil/
#RailRoadSafety #TrainDisasters #Counterpunch
Exploding Trains and Crude Oil

Listen to the Workers

CounterPunch.org
Feb 14, 2023 at 10:33amWeb
Show threadtltroupFeb 14, 2023
@bsmall2 @bojacobs excellent article. Thank you for digging it up to share.
Show threadbs2Feb 16, 2023
@tltroup @bojacobs
Another article about the immense profits of rail came to mind too. This article isn't as old, but is probably not part of the current news cycle. It's hard not to be sarcastic about investors pouring some of those unbelievable profits (resulting from THEIR risk and not labor?!?!) into cleanup and saftey. #WarrenBuffet probably rushed right over and is handing out bottle water as we speak??
https://jacobin.com/2022/09/railroad-workers-ceo-profits-strike-wages-working-conditions/
While Workers Suffered, Railroad CEOs Raked in $200 Million

As a major strike looms, railroad executives have been paid more than $200 million in the last three years — while failing to meet workers’ demands for benefits and time off. They claim their skyrocketing profits do not reflect “any contributions by labor.”