Gibbons & Pombo say mercury ok for humans! Dems slam em!

[NVMojo]

April 30, 2006

Last year, Rep. Jim Gibbons co-authored a report asserting that mercury isn't as bad as many people think.

That's one of the major reasons Democrats and environmental groups are decrying his record on the environment, which also includes consistent support of the mining industry, where Gibbons once worked, and a failed attempt to restructure the federal Endangered Species Act.

"Gibbons' record on the environment is a train wreck that never seems to end," Dan Geary, Nevada representative for the National Environmental Trust, said of the Nevada Republican who is mounting a run for governor. Geary's group, along with Great Basin Mine Watch and the Nevada Conservation League, nicknamed Gibbons' voting record in Congress "Crimes Against Nature."

Gibbons defends his record and the report, which he said "was to separate fact versus fiction about mercury."

"I'm not anti-environment. I just want to make sure sound science wins the day," he said.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-30-Sun-2006/news/7046805.html

[Dead_Parrot]

1. "separate fact versus fiction"

It's a good idea. The problem comes when you throw the wrong half away.

Gibbons embraces... drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and temporarily relaxing environmental regulations on oil refining to lower gasoline prices. He also has supported billions of dollars in subsidies for the oil and gas industries.

I need a stake, a mallet, and some garlic.

[skids]

2. Cooincidentally...

...I just did a mercury/wildlife diary here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/30/223555/691

[rpannier]

3. Sound science huh

If he makes it sound like science it is?

Kinda like Scientology has to be all about science because the word 'science' is in it.

Intelligent Design must be correct because the word 'intelligent' is in it.

[Oversea Visitor]

4. Any vitamins mercury pills around

Maybe the Rep should try taking some then talk :rofl:

[DBoon]

5. They are "mad as a hatter"

maybe they should lay off the mercury...

[depakid]

6. Heavy Metal Madness

Read what Grist has to say about it:

The report -- written not by scientists but rather by aides to Pombo and another member of his committee, Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.) -- aims to downplay the overwhelming evidence that mercury from coal-burning power plants poses a significant health risk to Americans. Two of the report's claims are particularly stunning, as science journalist Chris C. Mooney points out. One: "There has been no credible evidence of harm to pregnant women or their unborn children from regular consumption of fish." And two: "Current, peer-reviewed scientific literature does not show any link between U.S. power-plant emissions and mercury in fish."

http://www.grist.org/news/muck/2005/02/24/little-mercury/

That the Dems have repeatedly let the far right get away with outright lies like this is one of the major reasons why they lose- and why we ALL lose. Maybe that's finally going to change

[NVMojo]

9. Nevada's gold mines excrete alot more mercury into the environment

But Gibbons has to protect them. They have financed his campaigns and Pombos.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. Talk about awkward timing--50th anniversary of Minamata poisoning.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=52171&mesg_id=52171

Google Minamata disease for lots of links to the effects of mercury poisoning. This has shown up in the Amazon basin in the last couple of years.

[BeFree]

8. Coal fired plants need to be shutdown

That is the real battle we face.
Coal fired plants, car emissions, refineries, smelters, etc. all need to clean up their acts.

Clinton's people in the EPA were going in that direction in the late 90's. We were getting somehwere, back then. Now, we are regressing.

Thanks to Dems being divided, and Dem votes being divided, Pombo, et al, are in the driver's seat, driving us backwards.

[Sven77]

10. read about Mercury in Vaccines

http://www.909shot.com

Mercury/Thimerosal

http://www.nomercury.org