Random Soapbox for Saturday 7/7/12

I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but ...

... I want to devote this post to the soapbox of another -- a military veteran I know who served at Ft. McClellan.  And that's Ft. McClellan as in the military installation in Anniston, Alabama.  And that's Anniston, Alabama as in the city dealing with the negative health effects of PCB pollution.

And that's PCB as in the industrial item that causes cancer and other adverse health effects (remember the baby bottle debacle that led to awareness of the harmful effects of BPA -- well BPA is a PCB).

The problem -- the town is getting money and attention to try to clean it up ... but the military has yet to come up with a program for those veterans who served during that time and who may have been exposed.

There is a petition currently underway that NEEDS your support and signature (there is a July 18 deadline and the process is running far behind its stated goal).  Here's how it reads (it's found at the first link below):

"To help Ft McClellan veterans who were stations at Ft McClellan, Alabama and who were exposed to toxic chemicals without their knowledge.  These Ft McClellan veterans are currently very sick, many have already died and are now dying because of exposure to toxic chemicals while at Ft McClellan.


HR 2052 Ft McClellan Health Registry Act is currently in legislation in Congress and is stalled in committees.  We need to move it out of committees and onto the House floor for a vote.  We, Ft McClellan veterans, need this bill.  We did not know that we were being exposed to toxic chemicals while at Ft McClellan, Alabama.


We need HR 2052 Ft McClellan Health Registry Act to be moved out of committees and onto the House floor for a vote now!  This bill is deliberately being stalled in Congress."

Please take a moment to review the information and to consider signing the petition.  And then please consider helping to spread the word.  I thank you -- but who am I, really.  Instead -- it's the veterans who are suffering the ill effects that, undoubtedly, thank you.

THE PETITION (NOTE THE JULY 18th DEADLINE):
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/support-hr-2052-ft-mcclellan-health-registry-act-help-veterans/89w8jfpl#thank-you=p

A PRESENTATION SUPPORTING THE CAUSE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jllueFdOJHk&feature=youtu.be

THE BACKSTORY FROM THE TOWN'S POINT OF VIEW:
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-18560_162-528581.html?fb_ref=fbrecT&fb_source=profile_multiline