Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 31st 2007, 12:15am By Bill Zimmermann

The health of a community thrust in sickness at asthmatic epidemic proportions, but unheard from, is enough proof of argument to gain proper and over due attention to the PBA debate. Make the discussion about people’s Health, not a troll bridge’s wealth.

Scientists have long known traffic fumes worsened everyday life for asthmatics. However, research on both sides of the Atlantic now suggests that tiny "particulates" from idling diesel exhausts can sidestep the body's natural defences and actually set off asthma—even heart attacks, and coronary thrombosis.

Many similar parts of the world has asthma help and prevention programs where equally plagued by heavily concentrated diesel particulates. But not a word here-- there's nothing for Buffalo’s asthma and cancer epidemic West Side. California initiates programs such as “Don’t Sit Idle” for their areas beleaguered by trucks sitting idle for long periods spewing poisonous diesel particulate emissions into the community.

They know this literally kills people regularly. The whole world knows this. But we don’t have programs like that here—because we’d be afraid to admit the damage being plagued upon a community at epidemic rates of asthma, cancer, and other prevalancies on Buffalo’s west side.

In our PBA Part One, we introduced the very real and frightening health-science aspects. People listened and responded.

In our PBA Part Two, we introduced the reactions to those health and science issues, and cited corruption covering up those issues, and people (readers) responded.

In our PBA Part Three, we presented some frank and open business element discussions and guess what—it received more or less angst and “who cares” comments—“just build the damn bridge attitudes” and more frustration.

Believe it, the health issues are world renowned about the West Side. But Buffalo's politicians are not listening. This issue isn't about anyone's wealth, large or small. This issue is ONLY about health, of hundreds, and yet hundreds and thousands more in the future to get sick because of diesel particulates from idling truck emissions.

The world over is awakening to the issue…but not the PBA/PBG. Have they launched or even discussed openly a “Don’t Sit Idle” Initiative for their 24-7 five miles of trucks that flow their poisons in a prevailing southwesterly flow? No.

The Pacific Institute in California reports that: The San Francisco Bay Area Ditching Dirty Diesel Collaborative launched its “Don’t Sit Idle” campaign. Citizens reacted and politicians joined when a law limiting diesel truck idling to five minutes has been in place for a year was only sporadically enforced and a loophole allows truckers to idle their vehicles overnight. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) held hearings to close the loophole. The Pacific Institute reported the following:

“It has fallen on our communities to get the word out about the health, environmental, and legal ramifications of diesel idling,” said Karen Pierce of the Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates. “Limiting truck idling to five minutes isn’t courtesy, it’s the law.” And yet, the PBA allows truck idling 24-7 for miles of back-up, and far worse than that—they don’t and won’t even discuss the issue openly. They mandate we remain ignorant, and the press and leadership of this town support that mandate.

Diesel exhaust was declared a toxic air contaminant in 1998 by CARB. It is harmful to respiratory health, particularly in children and the elderly. Numerous studies connect air pollution to asthma, premature death, lung cancer, and other respiratory conditions.

If there's a Buffalo group out there that earnestly wants to stop the process that the PBA is sure to win, then it needs to apply a Lois Gibbs Love Canal attitude to the issue, and go beyond the local politicians, bring in the national media, and larger health organizations.

That's ALL you've got for choice action. And don't go local-- no one is listening-- instead, bring the reams of scientific data to national media. Specify your cadre and your concern. It's all about health, not wealth-- not the PBA's wealth, and not even the homeowners.

Rise up above the local politicians and speak about the truth of kids and old folks dying, asthma epidemics, the Hispanic plague of asthma on the West Side of Buffalo due to the Peace Bridge. The Peace Bridge is co-owned by its one half American side, and its one-half Canadian strong arm side. The Canadian side has already sued and won against citizens daring to speak out against it--- their laws are different there.

Pick your battles, they say-- but if you care about the thousands of people on Buffalo's West Side-- pick This battle because people are dying because of the truck's idling diesel fuel emissions. Clarkson, UB, McMasters, Cornell, and Harvard all are concerned after studying the area of Buffalo’s west side.

The epidemic respiratory sickness levels are so high they run off the charts and the southwest winds prevail from the opening of the Peace Bridge right up to and beyond Elmwood Avenue, and from all the areas from the Hispanic community to the brink of North Buffalo.

Buffalo locals are bought off or quieted in other ways. There's a deafening quietude of lack of conscience. The needed locals do not care. Instead-- take this argument and go national with this and count on the world's science studies of the West Side catching the right attention. Then watch the ball of this issue start to roll.

It's not about your house. It's not about PBA wealth. It's not about the bridge. It's about a health epidemic the bridge has already caused and everyone in this town is bought off to make even worse. Make that your theme—nationally.

Everyone rationalizes to finds their excuses-- some say it's that diesel emissions will be under control by 2010. Hum bug. That's only for new trucks, and only moderately then. Millions of grandfathered truck will remain for decades, spewing their deadly deeds.

What’s the issue then? Everyone on the PBA’s side seems to say “It’s the economy stupid.” But what of the health ramifications, and the medical findings that show diesel particulates are so small that they can sneak through the lungs' natural defences and damage the body's cells, causing asthma and other respiratory illnesses in people. The same mechanism is now being linked to heart attacks and coronary thrombosis.

Raise your voices and let the world outside our diesel-filled and politically “asleep at the wheel” town of “Briga-doom” know the rest about us and our leaders’ lack of concern. We’re not going to win this battle in our soul-bought hometown turf. This needs must go national or bust. Someone, somewhere, may care.

Somebody pray that is so.