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Show Page 26 The Ogden Valley News Volume I, Issue IX June 1999 SHEEP (cont.) from page 25 others could have been helped. The American public deserved better. Just as the wind carried harmful fission products into our lives, it also brought rain to our gardens and fields and swept away heat from the desert floor. It carried hope and brought comfort. Therefore, this is the lesson of the wind which I share with you. That, in spite of the lies, the deception, the hiding of scientific papers verifying the harm of radiation, I hold tightly to a thin thread of hope that these wrongs will be made right. The admission of lies does not address the many needs of an injured population. Only with the full acknowledgment by those in power that governmental decisions and actions subjected many good people to disease and death can we, in reality, move forward. Inadequate, biased studies hinder this forward step. Limited acts of Congress serve to merely perpetuate the pretense that many, many humans were not harmed. Monetary compensation is not the sole solution. The tactic of delay by our government to withhold assistance and information ensures that the main body of fallout survivors will die and their cries will be silenced such as those who perished long ago, waiting for help in the icy Atlantic while lifeboats of the Titanic maintained a safe distance. Memories, however, ensure the endurance of human experiences — both grand and heart wrenching. The story of the Titanic will live on, as will the tragedy of a nation’s pursuit of a weapon. The aftermath of nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site, as it stands, is not a legend that the world’s oldest democracy will want to pass on to its heirs. Americans will remember the era of nuclear fallout. Enough science presently exists to inform us of the numerous, serious and real injuries impacting a population exposed to radioactive particles. This information needs to be delivered to the general public while epidemiologists proceed with studies to establish the cause-effect relationship between fallout exposure and illness. The time is now to divulge that beyond cancer, radiation from fallout is highly suspected of causing genetic effects, birth defects, thyroid disorders and autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and multiple sclerosis. The list goes on. Without further procrastination, the Department of Health and Human Services should be engaged to notify Americans expected to have received significant exposure to the Nevada Test Site fallout — fallout which rained down until the 1980’s. We need to know who among us has been harmed and we need to assist them. Others need to be informed that their bodies harbor the potential for diseases and cancers. Early detection and treatment of radiation related illnesses have the potential of extending and improving affected individual’s lives. Hope can be found in the states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, where unyielding public demand secured help for people exposed to radioactive releases from the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Concerned federal representatives of this tri-state area compelled Congress to sanction the Defense Authorization Act of 1991 to meet the public’s request for credible information about possible effects from radiation released from the Hanford site during the plutonium production years of 1944-1972. A program shared by the health agencies of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, in concert with nine Indian Nations, accomplished this goal. This program is known as the Hanford Health Information Network (HHIN). Like Utah, these three states have many who are ill and lack access to credible resources about radiation exposure and possible health effects. The HHIN program offers this segment of their society, as well as their health care providers, the hope of securing much needed information and answers. An additional dimension of the Hanford Health Information Network is the Hanford Health Information Archives (HHIA). Located at Gonzaga University, this Archives is the nation’s “first-and-only” public collection of experiences, health information and personal records from a people exposed to radiation from a federal, nuclear facility. Donor confidentiality is protected by federal law. The Archives protects and restores dignity to people’s experiences and health effects overlooked or disputed by the Government. In addition to the Hanford Health Information Network and Archives, the people of Washington, Oregon and Idaho are represented by a citizens advisory committee known as the Hanford Health Effects Subcommittee (HHES). This Subcommittee advises the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Center for Disease Control on the selection, size, scope, prioritization and adequacy of their public health activities and health research connected with the Hanford site. The citizens of this tri-state area stood strong and the leadership of these three states stood by their side. Utahns would do well to emulate their strength, the programs and Subcommittee they obtained. This is an example of a beginning. This is an example of hope, not only to reach out to Utahns, but to a nation impacted by radioactive fallout. The hour was beyond late. I blushed because my voice alone had mainly filled our time together. We rose and said our good-byes. As she walked down the steps of the porch, she turned and said she would think over all I had expressed. I smiled. Walking away, she raised her hand and called “Thank you.” I was puzzled and said nothing. Again she turned to face me in the faint, outer glow of the porch light. “You don’t remember?” she announced, quite amazed. I didn’t. “Your phone call years ago, following your surgery,” she related. I was reminded that I had demanded her vigilance for any signs of any cancer. I had spoken of fallout. I had forgotten my call. She told me that I had been her guardian angel. “No, I was your caged canary.” I replied smiling. “Then sing.” she called to me as she climbed into her mini-van and drove away into the night. HUNTSVILLE 4TH OF JULY PREPARATIONS (July 3rd) Celebrate the 4th of July in Huntsville! 6:30 a.m. Wake Up Call 6:45 a.m. *Mini-Mini Marathon Registration 7:00 a.m. Breakfast 7:30 a.m. *Mini-Mini Marathon/and Mountain Bike Race Begins 8:00 a.m. Flag Raising 9:00 a.m. Ticket Booths 9:30 a.m. Parade 10:30 a.m. Patriotic Program (In LDS Church) 11:30 a.m. Auction 1:00 p.m. Games (Park Center) 2:00 p.m. Rodeo (Pick Up Number the Night Before) 4:00 p.m. Pet Show 7:00 p.m. Music with a D.J. or Band 8:00 p.m. Dance (By Gazebo) 10:00 p.m. FIREWORKS!!! LIBERTY DAYS CELEBRATION July 5th, 1999 7:30 Breakfast 8:00 Flag Ceremony 10:00 Parade: Buggies & Wagons. Family Floats, Posse & Horses, Walking & Bikes, Costumes. Be Creative! Come and Have Fun. Prizes! 10:30 Baby Contest Booths - Call Patty Banks, 745-3856 10:30 - 3:00 Games in the Park - Carol Holmes, 745-3973 Games will include: Mutton Bustin’, Red Ribbon Pull, Stick Horse Derby, Sawdust Find, Chicken Catch, Greased Pig Chase, Wheel Barrow Race for Couples, Fish Catch. 11:00 Volleyball Tournament 12:00 FOOD AND DRAWINGS ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT 1:00 Arm Wrestling 1:30 Pet Show Afternoon fun & games to include: Softball game, Quilting, Horseshoes, Pie Eating Contest, Speedball, Egg Toss. 3:00 - 6:00 Jackpot - Gay Montgomery, 745-3584 6:00 Cow Pie Contest 6:00 Dancing & Singing Dark: Fireworks If you have any questions or suggestions, please call Mike & Laura at 745-1328. Volunteers Welcome! |
