"Strategic Omissions"
Documentary Screening and Discussion

March 3, 2005
Summary by Hanan Watson

"Strategic Omissions: The Truth Behind the Health Effects After 9/11", a documentary film by Heidi Hehncke-Fisher and Gordon T. Skinner, was shown in Reidy Friendship Hall on the evening of March 3rd. The film investigates impact of 9/11 on the health of rescue workers and lower Manhattan residents and unearths the political cover-up of the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency. The film had an impressive array of environmental experts, politicians and victims speaking about the lack of protection provided to the workers, residents and employees of the ground zero area during and in the aftermath of 9/11. Toxins released by the event are known to cause asthma and upper respiratory allergies. A whole array of additional symptoms and illnesses, including pancreatic cancer, are being discovered every day in tens of thousands of people who were there and/or are still working or living in that area. Congressman Jerry Nadler has spoken out frequently, but the New York Times and other news media have refused to cover his press conferences and statements.

Several sufferers were interviewed by the filmmaker. Some of the more memorable statements were made by a fireman and an EMT. A fireman described how when he and his colleagues needed respirators during and shortly after the disaster, they did not have them available at the firehouses; they actually had to go to ground zero to be treated, thus incurring additional exposure. Commenting on the fact that he has not received compensation for his injuries, he said: "Did you ever hear of anyone getting compensation for 9/11 who is not dead? I am a vet!" An EMT added wryly: "If Americans are doing this to Americans, what are we doing in other countries?"

In addition to first responders, residents and employees of the downtown area who are suffering the after-effects, many students from Stuyvesant High School and Borough of Manhattan Community College have been having chronic sinusitis, bronchitis and other symptoms. The medical profession has little knowledge in detoxification treatments, and many patients are being treated with massive dosages of medications including steroids. Three and a half years after 9/11, the EPA continues to deny this toxicity and refuses to do testing on many locations still needing that. Some of these locations have been tested privately and show a very high level of contamination. At the conclusion of the film, Congresswoman Carolyn Mahoney states that she believes that this experience will affect the behavior of first responders in any future disasters as they do not trust that they will be protected during or after the disaster.

After the film, the filmmakers, lawyers, environmentalists and patients answered questions from the audience. They are all active in raising awareness, pursuing lawsuits and putting pressure on the City, State and Federal levels to allocate funds for further testing, development of treatments, and health coverage for sufferers.

The event was organized by individuals at All Souls who asked for support from the Peace Task Force at a very late stage. Therefore, there wasn't enough publicity to draw a large audience. The Peace Task Force plans to show the film again at a later date and ensure that a larger audience benefits from this critical information. The filmmakers are also in the process of developing a web site with useful information that will have links to health professionals who are researching and developing treatments for illnesses related to these toxins. The Peace Task Force will eventually link to that web site.