HAVE OUR MEDIA FORSAKEN US?

 I have long complained that our only remaining truly local media (Woolwich Observer) have abandoned us to the deluge of bull, lies and propaganda coming from Lanxess Canada, the Ont. Min. of Environment and Woolwich Township regarding the alleged "cleanup" here in Elmira, Ont.. Now of course almost as soon as I do that the Observer publish something relevant whether "balanced", slightly tilted in favour of the guilty parties or God Bless Them honest, accurate and strong. I will make a generalization as follows. Whether coincidence or not I feel that the addition of reporter Leah Gerber has improved both the quantity and quality of their "Elmira Crisis" reporting. 

That said here is my "balanced" reporting. What perks or benefits is the Observer receiving in exchange for refusing to interview or quote the single most informed, by a country mile, citizen/resident of Elmira?  It has been obvious to me for many years now that a deal has been struck. If the Observer are staying in business via Ad revenue or other dollar inputs provided they obey certain rules then frankly I am less offended. On the other hand if it is simply a corporate (or political) minor quid pro quo that they are not to interview or quote me then I am seriously offended. For example would a mayor threaten to remove municipal ads and Notices from the only local newspaper if they quote my opinion/position on the Canagagigue Creek Risk Assessment? Come on Observer dig your heels in and at least get well paid for following the local power structure's rules.

I checked on-line for stories or articles about the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment from last February. Wow there is almost nothing! There has also been nothing in the Waterloo Region Record since then.  What the hell is going on? Is this a government (state/Feds) news blackout i.e. a coverup? The little I have seen on-line actually supports the posting I made yesterday regarding the likelihood of dioxins being formed under the conditions of carbon based materials burning in addition to chlorine based items such as vinyl chloride. Dioxins while being produced unintentionally via chemical companies as well as pulp and paper mills can be produced naturally via forest fires. Dioxins are also produced with improper municipal and hospital incineration of wastes. 

Here in Elmira we have been blessed by Uniroyal Chemical's production of 2,4-D,  2,4,5-T, Agent Orange and more. The manufacture of pesticides and herbicides is a great way to produce and distribute dioxins/furans into the air, soils, creek sediments, local wildlife and human beings. We've got them all up here despite the silence on the matter from both the K-W Record and the Observer. This reluctance to publish fearlessly will eventually bite all our media. Yes you have responsibilities towards your staff, employees, families which I understand. But you have chosen to work in a field where the public interest is supposed to be paramount. Please put it first.