UPDATE: Looks Mississippi may gotten on this final list because of politics. Check out the article in the Clarion Ledger.
Mississippi is in a good position to be awarded the $450 million National Bio and Agro Defense Facility (NBAF). The competitors are sites in Georgia, North Carolina, Kansas, Texas, as well as possibly the current site on an island off New York state. So why do we have the edge?
The Department of Homeland Security has been holding public hearings at all these sites. The NBAF will be studying animal diseases. It is admittedly a high risk facility, but it also brings economic benefits. The debate is over the safety precautions - and the news this week of a scientist at a government lab possibly killing people with anthrax didn't help.
Butner NC. On July 28, there was a hearing where at least 600 people showed up - not a single person spoke in favor of the lab. Over two thirds of the residents have actually signed a petition against it. The Congressman from the area, who had previously supported the facility, today withdrew his support.
Manhattan KS. At the August 1 hearing, all the governmental, academic, and business types showed out in force to support the lab - but no regular people. However, there was a significant number speaking in opposition and making some legitimate arguments.
Athens GA. No hearing had been held yet, but the local media and blogs are going hot and heavy on the issue.
San Antonia TX. Hearing is tomorrow.
KS, GA, and TX are located in college towns and academics want that research money, but college towns are also full of environmental types concerned about the health risks.
Flora MS. The hearing was today. What was strange about this hearing was that there was not one peep of opposition from the hundreds who attended. We are the polar opposite of Butner NC. Why is that? Are Mississippians so desperate for jobs that potential environmental and health risks don't matter?
The good news is that because of our unequivocal support, Mississippi might be awarded this lab and its economic benefits.
The bad news is that because of our ignorance, Mississippi could be in for a serious biological disaster.
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2 comments:
I think you ask a serious question that does deserve an answer but alas I only have a theory. Over the past few month as I have watched the NBAF public acceptance evolve one thing has been very clear the "talking points" used by the state consortia doesn't go very far below the surface. They being said if you as a citizen who didn't take the time to research the NBAF, on the surface it sounds great but you pull back a couple of layers and BOOM there are some serious issues. One being citizens are evaluated with livestock in the "Movement Control Zone" and with 3126 animals involved in research that is a lot of carcasses and feces to dispose of.
(1 cow produces 75-100lbs of feces per day the math isn't pretty) but oh yeah that didn't tell us how they were going to dispose of them now did they.Say hello to an incinerator from h*ll.
Just think of all the tomatoes and peppers you could grow with all that cow manure! Of course, you couldn't eat them for fear of some killer virus leaking from the lab, but that's ok. Just sell them to Rep. Thompson, the chairman of the oversight committee, who denies knowing anything about the efforts to bring the lab to MS. Then insist he eat them in front of you.
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