HealthLink
Linking Health and the Environment 
'Links,
    We may be reaching a turning point in our campaign to clean up the Salem Power Plant. Facts are emerging Power plantabout ongoing maintenance at the plant and the safety of its employees and neighbors. (If you observe anything unusual from the stacks or coal pile, please call the plant and inform us too.) New energy is aligning with us. (Have you seen the billboards?) There is new data about the harmful health effects of power plant pollution on our cardiovascular and respiratory systems as well as cognitive disorders linked to mercury emissions
     As you know, we are driven by the need for clean air and the dire and rapid need to get off fossil fuels due to global warming. We invite you to add your energy, volunteerism, ideas and/or financial $ contributions to our coalition. Below is a recap of our recent and ongoing work and local upcoming calendar events.

Please join in!
Martha, Lynn, Pat, Jane, Gail, Kevin and Cate
HealthLink
P.O. Box 301
Swampscott, MA 01907
781-598-3794
 
 
 
Recent Activities
 
- HealthLink obtained and circulated copies of the MA State Incident Report of the Salem Harbor Station explosion, which highlights lapses in routine maintenance and facility neglect, to local and state officials. Click here to see the report, which is easily comprehended by a lay person, and view the internal photos of the failed boiler. Contact HealthLink, 781-598-1115, for a hard copy.
- In August, Pat Gozemba (HealthLink and SAFE) organized the 'Dominion All Over' forum, examining the economics of the Salem Harbor Station and coal mining practices in the US and beyond. DVDs of the forum are available and have been provided to local cable stations for broadcast.
- To increase citizen monitoring of the stacks and coal pile for compliance, we have submitted a proposal to document stack pollution through opacity training certification, and will also monitor coal pile smolderings and soot complaints.
- We continue our outreach and education. Speaking engagements are scheduled at the Nahant Woman's Club, the Salem Explorers for Life Long Learning and Manchester Breast Cancer Coalition (highlighting the 1999 study of power plant pollution concentrations at Manchester's Wyman Hill).
- Power plant workers are seeking us out to tell
their stories - of illness and safety violations.
- A Salem think tank and a new group (Stop the Plant Now) have formed to analyze the economics of the power plant and future potential for the site. 
 ______
 
Calendar 
 
Wed, Sept 24 - The Ocean Act, public meeting, Salem City Hall Annex, 120 Washington St, Salem, 7 pm.
 
Sun, Sept 28 - Movie: The Greening of Southie, UU Church of Greater Lynn, Forest Ave, Swampscott, 4 pm.
 
Tue, Sept. 30 - Manchester Breast Cancer Coalition meeting, Manchester Community Center, 7 pm.
 
Date & details to be announced - HealthLink: All
Hands On Deck summit meeting.
 
Date & details to be announced - Presentation to HealthLink by Susan Wadia-Els, Manchester Breast Cancer Coalition.
  
Sat, Oct 10 - Green Building Open House, 10 - 4 pm. Click link for schedule and maps. 
 
Tue, Oct 14 - Nahant's Woman's Club, Speaker Lee Mondale of HealthLink, Nahant Village Church, Nahant, 6:30 pm.
 
Fri, Oct 31 - Heinz Conference: Women - Health and the Environment, 9 - 3 pm, Westin Hotel, Boston. Contact HealthLink to carpool. Extra ticket available.
 
Fri, Nov 7 - CLEAN Conference, 11/7 - 11/9, Wiley Conference Center, Beverly. Contact HealthLink to participate on our behalf.
 
Sun, Nov 16 - MA Climate Action Network Conference, Stata Center, MIT, Cambridge, 9 - 5 pm. Contact HealthLink to carpool.
 
Fall 2008 - Enterprise Center non-profit seminars. Sign up and contact HealthLink to car pool.