Dow Chemical Sponsors Fishing Event in Waterways it Contaminated

We thought Monsanto was the world’s most evil corporation, but wow, Dow Chemical is doing what they can to catch up. The corporation, which has polluted property and poisoned thousands of people since its inception in the 1890s, is not only sponsoring a sports fishing event in a waterway they contaminated, but they reportedly even offered to send the fish that are caught to local food banks. How generous of them!

This weekend, the ‘Walleye Fest’ has been in full swing at Michigan’s Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers, which are among the region’s most contaminated waterways. Tittabawassee Township Supervisor Rick Hayes, who is overseeing the event, was not even aware of the restrictions on consuming walleye from these waterways when questioned by the Michigan Messenger.

From the Michigan Messenger:

Hayes may be typical of people in the region when it comes to knowledge of fish advisories. A few years ago, Hayes was part of a committee that created a popular unofficial walleye festival hat with the embroidered statement “Dioxins My Ass.” But he may also be partly responsible for some people not knowing about the risks of eating walleye.

According to state officials, Tittabawassee Township has resisted posting needed fish advisory signs in Freeland Festival Park — ground zero for this weekend’s walleye celebration.

Officials say that under an agreement with the state, Dow Chemical, which is responsible for the watershed’s dioxin contamination, promised to pay for fish advisory signs but has balked at fulfilling this agreement and has refused to provide necessary funds. Mary Draves, spokeswoman for Dow Chemical acknowledged that the company has come to an impasse with the DEQ over funding for fish advisory signs.

“I am not aware of anything further that we will be doing on this,” she said.

Dow is in the midst of a controversial process of negotiating its dioxin clean-up responsibilities in the watershed and Michelle Hurd Riddick of the Lone Tree Council said that company should not be allowed to sponsor a walleye festival as it suggests that the river and fish are safe. “I want to ask EPA: ‘Are you going to set back and let the polluter frame the issue around the safety of the fish?’ ”

“Dioxin My Ass”.  Perhaps these people should be tested immediately for high dioxin levels in their blood, because I think it’s already started to affect their IQ. And this weekend, they’re getting even more exposure, as dioxin has been found to be present not just in the water but in the soil at Freeland Park, where many of the weekend’s festivities have been held.

Dow: Poisoning the World Since 1891. They must be so proud.

Link [Michigan Messenger]

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