 |
Capen Residence Hall at SUNY New Paltz, pictured in the spring of 2007. Photo by Eric Francis. |
|
Dear Friend and Reader in the New York Area:
As you may know, I have a long-term project of overseeing the cleanup of four contaminated dormitories in the Hudson Valley of New York State. The contamination happened in the aftermath of an electrical incident in 1991, as a result of which, nearly 1,000 students are still living in dorms contaminated with PCBs and dioxins.
The morning of Tuesday, Aug. 21 and possibly Monday, Aug. 20, I plan to be at SUNY New Paltz to greet parents and students who are arriving at the dioxin-contaminated dorms. The purpose of being there will be to provide them with the basic information they need to be aware there is a problem, and make a conscious choice to go in or leave. At 4 pm on Sunday, Aug. 19, I plan to hold a training session, place to be announced but in New Paltz, to help greeters get the basic facts and learn what to say.
I am seeking level-headed people, younger and older, to be there with me, to speak to students and parents. If you will be available and are willing to donate your time, please contact me at francis@planetwaves.net [please preserve subject header]. I would also adore help paying for the photocopies we will distribute, of my recent series in Chronogram and a letter laying out the basic facts. The total for that will come to about $500 (about 50 cents per person we provide articles to).
Beth in New Paltz is coordinating this effort and I suggest you contact her directly as well. Her email is lakshmigrl@planetwaves.net. Request her cell number and you can speak directly with her. If you don't hear back within a few days, please email again!
Thank you for your help and support with this "think globally, act locally" kind of issue. Here is a statement by my environmental mentor, Carol van Strum, making it clear what we need to do, and why.
Additional background information is at this link.
Yours & truly,
|
|
