Dr. Nathan Phillips has been on a hunger strike for close to two weeks now, in an effort to get the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to address the public health crisis that is occurring at the Weymouth compressor station construction site. A meeting at the DEP in Lakeville, MA produced enough compelling evidence offered by members of Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station (FRRACS), to get staff to commit to investigate site RAM violations. But promises are not actions, and to ensure that action is taken on an emergency basis in the next couple days, Nathan is continuing his hunger strike.
Nathan is asking folks to call Commissioner Suuberg today (617-292-5500 ext. 71098 ) with the following revised ask:
1. Halt all digging below 18 inches today;
2. Impound and test 3 already excavated mounds for asbestos.
Nathan will also be interviewed on the Jim and Margery show on WGBH’s Boston Public Radio on Tuesday, February 18 at 1 pm. The program will be broadcast live from the WGBH Studio at the Boston Public Library, which is open to the public, so if you can attend, please arrive by 12:45 pm.
Read WGBH coverage of Nathan’s hunger strike here.
Nathan’s action is recognized as an effort to bring a sense of urgency to address the immediate impact of construction on the health and safety of people living and working near the contaminated site that Enbridge is using for the compressor construction.
It is also a message of urgency about the need to shut down construction of the Weymouth Compressor station completely, as it’s completion will further the fossil fuel industry’s mission of maintaining dependence on fracked gas for the next 30 years.
Make your calls today, join Nathan at the Boston Public Library on February 18, come out for a February 19 stand out in Weymouth from 8am-2pm with indigenous leaders, and please share information with others.
For more background info visit www.greennewton.org.
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