posted
The following article appeared yesterday in a Mississippi newspaper (as well as other newspapers in the South - I'm sure!) BUT this details how OUR great government wants to REPLACE the lab formerly being badly mismanaged on Plum Island.
I trust many of you have read or at least heard of Lab 257 - the book that details how our inept gov't employees managed to propagate, (possibly genetically ALTER), and then...WHOOPS! loose not only the West Nile Virus, but the bacterial infection you & I all suffer with daily...dear ol' Lyme Disease. (I realize this book is both disturbing & highly controversial and you may not believe any or everything in it. Fine. But at the very least it raises MANY interesting points in which to ponder. And it's time to ponder!)
So YEP - our gov't bureaucracies have not done enough damage - now they want to find some Southern state (where the socioeconomic status, & education are sometimes on the 'lower' end) and stick us with the lab, I guess because they think we're too stupid and/or poor to care.
They are implying it will be SAFE; it will be run by the Homeland Security buffoons. ((You feeling SAFE yet?))
Matter of fact - thanks to the media and the feel-good PR agents working this - they are convincing states that they should WANT this @#$% lab in their state.
The highly educated folks in Boston told them 'No Thank You' -- which is probably why they have decided to try to push it on us in the South with our redneck / hillbilly mentality.
They want to locate this facility near an AIRPORT. ((Huh? Are you kidding me? Apparently the ticks, fleas & other little buggers are not making fast enough tracks on our deer & white-footed deer mice and BIRDS...so now we need to place them near an international airport? God help us!))
They also claim that it will improve the 'quality of life' of the citizens. ((So -- how 'bout it folks -- is your quality of life feeling IMPROVED??))
Please note that the APPROVAL of the location of this facility must go thru the Senate Appropriations Committee. The article mentions Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran as committee chair. But guess what? Sen. Cochran is a FEDERAL senator. That means it must go thru FEDERAL congressional approval.
PLEASE! Start writing your FEDERAL Congressman, your FEDERAL Senators about this lab AS WELL AS the current FEDERAL Lyme legislation already on the table.
So this is your chance people...start writing. And remember -- "we don't git Lyme in the South -- Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Haw !"
Gov. Haley Barbour announces that a Mississippi consortium will compete to bring the proposed National Bio and Agrodefense Facility to the state during a news conference Monday at the Woolfolk Building in Jackson
FAST FACTS
Project cost: $500 million Number of employees: 400 Average annual salaries: $75,000 States expected to compete for project: Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Missouri
Mississippi is hoping to land a Homeland Security-run facility that tests for animal diseases humans can contract.
The $500 million National Bio and Agrodefense Facility would conduct research on foreign animal diseases, such as avian flu and foot-and-mouth disease, and their effect on humans. The center also would study bioterrorism and drugs and vaccines that could be used as countermeasures to bioterrorism.
"The site must have access to a university research facility and the ability to support the laboratory," Gov. Haley Barbour said.
The state has created a research consortium to support the facility. Members of the coalition include the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the Ole Miss School of Pharmacy, Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Jackson State University.
The state is offering 150-acre sites in Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties to build the 500,000-square-foot facility.
Several states are expected to compete for the federal research laboratory.
The facility will replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center on Long Island, N.Y., which was built in 1950.
It would employ 400 with average salaries of $75,000 annually. Scientists would hold half those jobs.
Homeland Security will announce a list of possible locations by this fall, with final site selection occurring in 2007. Construction would begin in 2008 and should be completed by 2012.
Criteria for the Department of Homeland Security's National Bio and Agrodefense Facility include:
Access to university and research and facilities.
Location near an international airport.
Quality of life for top scientific researchers including housing, schools, cultural events, recreation and entertainment.
Ability to support and absorb a major research facility.
The center will have a security level of 4, which is the nation's highest rating.
Currently the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi Medical Center have a level of 3.
The center is also expected to have the following impact on the Jackson area.
Draw at least $30 million per year in federal funding.
Attract new businesses to support the facility.
Prompt a biotech industry in the area.
Bring a highly educated work force to the area.
Source: The Governor's Office
GOOD CHANCES
The strong consortium improves Mississippi's chances of being chosen, said Michael J. Kelly, director of Battelle Memorial Institutes' office of homeland security
Battelle, a Columbus, Ohio-based global science and technology business that manages laboratories, has partnered with Mississippi to manage the project.
Decisions on where the facility locates is strictly the choice of the Department of Homeland Security, Barbour said. The state would have to provide adequate public infrastructure like water, sewer and roads.
Funding for the project is not available. The request must go through the Senate Appropriations Committee, which is chaired by Mississippi's Sen. Thad Cochran.
Cochran, a Republican, said he would see that the state's proposal "receives full consideration."
"In recent years, Mississippi universities and their partners have demonstrated an ability to conduct viable scientific research of national significance," Cochran said. "The research infrastructure we have established, coupled with the high quality of life in Mississippi, will make our state an attractive site for the National Bio and Agrodefense Facility."
Governments in the tri-county area all have been receptive to the Department of Homeland Security's plans, Kelly said.
He also said the other question centers around safety and whether the community will support the research facility.
A major question for Homeland Security was "will they be accepted?" Kelly said. "Everything that takes place in there will not leave the confines of that building."
Barbour said the facility will be as safe "as a submarine in a bank vault."
The center would have the same security status as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
COMMUNITY BACKING
Parney C. Albright, managing director of Washington-based Civitas Group, a consulting firm, said community acceptance was a huge plus for the state. Negative reaction in Boston forced the government to cancel thoughts of placing it there, said Albright, who is working as a consultant with UMC.
"It's very important that the community be behind this," said Albright, who used to serve as assistant secretary for science and technology for Homeland Security in Washington.
The project is expected to bring additional support businesses to the area, Barbour said.
"It will bring a highly educated workforce to the metro area," Barbour said.
David Dzielak, associate vice chancellor for strategic research alliances with UMC, agreed the center would attract new business.
He also said it would be able to take advantage of research and people already here.
"This leverages some of our core strengths," Dzielak said. "It will be able to use the collective brain power of the people involved."
Other states that have expressed interest include Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas, according to officials.
Kathy Walt, spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, said she was restricted from commenting.
"We never discuss any of our projects that we may be working with a company on," Walt said. "We'd be proud to have them here." As a rule, she said, Texas officials don't discuss industrial prospects.
Mississippi officials typically do not discuss the economic development process but did so because of the federal bidding process required for this facility.
Ross Tucker, vice president of the MetroJackson Economic Development Alliance, said the Department of Homeland Security inspected eight sites in the tri-county area and narrowed its choice to three:
The Flora Industrial Park.
The Sonny McDonald Industrial Park in Byram.
The East Metropolitan Center in Brandon.
-------------------- DR. Wiseass NOT a real doc - just a real wise Posts: 792 | From USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
KY, my state, is one that is trying to get this new facility. There was a story in the newspaper about the small town in central Ky that was being considered.
They interviewed some towns people and they were just thrilled with the prospect of their town having all these new jobs. Grrrrr
They really don't know what they are wishing for.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6480 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Thanks very much for this news. Why are they trying to upgrade the Plum Island facility at the same time they are looking to relocate it? Makes no sense. Or is this a way to "improve" the economy by wasting money at Plum, then closing it down, and spending a whole bunch of our money to move the function elsewhere?
BTW, the south already has a dangerous germ facility, on Galveston Island, where the largest loss of life to a hurricane in U.S. history occurred. Maybe they should also be looking for a nice active fault line in Calif to plop down a germ palace.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I believe Galveston is below sea level. To have a dangerous germ facility in such an area indicates, to me, a disrespect for human life. Floods do not kill germs, they just move the germs from one area to another. That means they'll float out of the lab.
The stupidity of decision makers in govt is astounding and, potentially, murderous.
Worthless tests & labs, a dangerous vaccine, insurance companies refuse to pay, undertreatment the norm, all about money. MO. Posts: 281 | From CT | Registered: Oct 2005
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I am rather dumbfounded by the whole thing...and would like more info about the Galveston lab if you have it.
Would you mind posting it or emailing me? I want - I NEED as much info as I can about that lab & whatever else you know about related gov't activities - so when I write my Governor and as many "POWER players" as I can find in my great state about what is going on - I will have accurate info.
I guess I'm in the process of collecting information at this time...while I simultaneously try to formulate new ideas as to HOW to convince the US Congress, various state Congresses, Governors, the Media, & the nation that Lyme disease sucks and that germ WARFARE labs are generally a bad idea.
Y'all got any NEW ideas?
Need help with that guys. I'm tired!
I'm also rather dumbfounded that so few people found this particular post interesting enough to bother making some sort of comment.
I think I'm having a lyme rage kind of week. I don't like it. Anger is exhausting. I'd rather laugh but seem stuck in anger mode. The good news is that instead of cussing people out all the @#$% time -- sometimes I just weep uncontrollably.
But I'm not fooled - my hysterical crying is just another form of lyme rage.
(Actually - I think lyme rage is about being emotionally hurt and feeling out of control of just about everything in your life -- but that's just my arm-chair psychological analysis of it. And quite frankly, it does nothing to improve my mood right now so I don't know why I mention it. It just sounded good -- didn't it?)
Anyway - Thank you in advance for praying that God will transform my angry energy into something more positive - something actually USEFUL and even potentailly delightful.
I must find my laughter before I collapse from the sheer exhaustion from holding in and/or RELEASING this much volatile emotion.
Also - thank you in advance for providing NEW ideas on how to change the world. Yes. I think I would feel better if we could just change the world.
Blessings & many thanks,
-------------------- DR. Wiseass NOT a real doc - just a real wise Posts: 792 | From USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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(If the interests and priorities of lyme patients are demonstrated by the number of posts on lymenet forum threads, we are in big trouble.)
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Check out this article from the Boston Globe Sept. 16 2005 - "Plague-Infecting Mice Missing From Lab". I tried to post it but my computer-illiterate brain couldn't do it. I googled boston lab missing and found it. I remembered seeing it a while ago. It blows the theory in "Lab 257" that labs are safer in the midst of a large city where watchful citizen eyes will hold staff more accountable!
We need to learn that we get what we pay for. If we want well-run and highly accountable labs and top-notch researchers to stay focused on finding causes and cures for disease, we must pay for it. Much of Lab 257's problems started when funds were cut. NIH researchers add to their salary by working with bio research and pharmaceutical firms, thereby breaking the conflict of interest laws. No one holds them accountable. It makes me angry that they are held to a different standard; but at this point, I would be willing to pay a tax increase if I could be guaranteed that the money would go toward competitive salaries for researchers AND to the watchdogs responsible for keeping them honest!
Posts: 422 | From Herndon, Virginia | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
No too long ago I thought I heard that they wanted to build something similar to this in San Antonio, TX............ I think this would be a perfect spot, especially when I keep reading articles saying how easy it is for terrorists to come across the border through Mexico Posts: 758 | From now TX | Registered: Mar 2001
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Breaking this up for us neuro lymies to read. Lymeout, please hit enter more often & double space please. We thank you for this.
quote:Originally posted by lymeout:
Check out this article from the Boston Globe Sept. 16 2005 - "Plague-Infecting Mice Missing From Lab". I tried to post it but my computer-illiterate brain couldn't do it.
I googled boston lab missing and found it. I remembered seeing it a while ago.
It blows the theory in "Lab 257" that labs are safer in the midst of a large city where watchful citizen eyes will hold staff more accountable!
We need to learn that we get what we pay for. If we want well-run and highly accountable labs and top-notch researchers to stay focused on finding causes and cures for disease, we must pay for it.
Much of Lab 257's problems started when funds were cut.
NIH researchers add to their salary by working with bio research and pharmaceutical firms, thereby breaking the conflict of interest laws. No one holds them accountable.
It makes me angry that they are held to a different standard; but at this point, I would be willing to pay a tax increase if I could be guaranteed that the money would go toward competitive salaries for researchers AND to the watchdogs responsible for keeping them honest!
Hi doc, just saw your post; my pc locked up last night... That's quite an article.
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all the @#$% time -- sometimes I just weep uncontrollably.
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