Major Conference: Beyond September 11: Environmental and Public Health Policy Slated for May 9 in Manhattan

Contact: David Levine at 212-817-7292 or Dave Newman at 212-627-3900 ext. 16.

This working conference will assess the environmental and public health policy implications of the World Trade Center catastrophe. It is co-sponsored by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, Continuing Education & Public Programs.  The conference has been endorsed by more than 30 organizations (see below for a complete list).

More than 150 leaders and activists from environmental, labor, public health, education, immigrant, community, tenant, & faith-based organizations are expected to attend.  We will  to foster discussion among leaders and activists, says conference organizer David Newman.  Our aim is to begin to develop an agreement among the participants on policy objectives and ways that we can organize to achieve them.

Among the questions the conferees will attempt to answer are these: Have the efforts of government agencies and other institutions been sufficient to protect the health of workers, residents, students and others?  Have officials made full use of applicable regulations and enforcement procedures?  How will the response to the events of September 11th shape future regulatory efforts and policies?  What are the short- and long-term issues and solutions regarding environmental health and safety in New York City?

Speakers will include:

• Paul Woods Bartlett, Center for the Biology of Natural Systems
• Stephen Boese, N.Y.S. Director, Healthy Schools Network
• Don Carson, Director, Hazmat Program, International Union of Operating Engineers
• Lee Clarke, Senior Safety Coordinator, DC 37, AFSCME
• Roger Cook, United Church of Christ, National Disaster Ministries
• Kathryn Freed, Lower Manhattan Community Activist, former NYC Councilmember
• Eric Goldstein, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council
• Omar Henriquez, Youth & Immigrant Outreach Coordinator, NYCOSH
• Mae Lee, Director, Chinese Progressive Association
• Dr. Stephen Levin, Co-Director, Mt. Sinai-Selikoff Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine
• Sanford Lewis, J.D., Safe Hometowns Initiative
• Joel Shufro, Executive Director, NYCOSH
• Bill Walsh, Healthy Buildings Network

The all-day conference, which will begin at

A suggested donation of $20 is requested, but no one will be turned away for inability to pay.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided.  Pre-registration is required.  To register send your name, affiliation, address, phone number and e-mail address to Continuing Education and Public Programs, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 5th Ave, #8111, New York NY 10016 or telephone 212-817-8215.  Make payment to CUNY Graduate Center - 9/11 Conference.

Conference endorsers:

• Amalgamated Transit Union Local 726
• Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (UAW 2325)
• Center for Constitutional Rights
• Center for Human Environments at the Graduate Center, CUNY
• Center for Independence of The Disabled in New York (CIDNY)
• Center for the Biology of Natural Systems at Queens College, CUNY
• Center for the Study of Culture, Technology & Work at the Graduate Center, CUNY
• Childrens Environments Research Group at the Graduate Center, CUNY
• Chinese Progressive Association
• Clean Air Campaign
• Communication Workers of America, District 1
• District Council 37, AFSCME
• Environmental Defense
• Health Care Without Harm
• Healthy Buildings Network
• Healthy Schools Network
• Latin American Workers' Project
• Lower Manhattan Tenants' Coalition
• Mt. Sinai - Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• NY Disaster Recovery Interfaith Task Force
• New York Environmental Law and Justice Project
• NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• PhD Program in Psychology, the Graduate Center, CUNY
• Professional Staff Congress (American Federation of Teachers)
• P.T.A.s of P.S. 89 & 150
• Public Employees Federation, NYS (AFL-CIO)
• Public Health Association of New York City
• Transport Workers Union Local 100
• Union of Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees, AFL-CIO, CLC
• United Church of Christ, National Disaster Ministries
• WEACT (West Harlem Environmental Action)
• World Trade Center Environmental Coalition

The conference agenda can be viewed on the internet at http://www.nycosh.org/9-11conference.html

For more information call David Levine at 212-817-7292 or Dave Newman at 212-627-3900 ext. 16.

The CUNY Graduate Center is fully handicap accessible.  Those requiring additional accommodations please contact the organizers.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan Bennett
Public Affairs Director, New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health
275 7th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10001
jbennett@nycosh.org
Tel: 212-627-3900 ext. 14
Fax: 212-627-9812

Please visit our website: http: //www.nycosh.org.
Subscribe to our free biweekly Update on Safety and Health by sending an e-mail message to nycosh@nycosh.org

NYCOSH is a non-profit provider of occupational safety and health training, advocacy and information (including technical assistance and industrial hygiene consultation) to workers and unions throughout the New York metropolitan area.  Our membership consists of more than 250 union organizations and 400 individuals: union members, health and safety activists, injured workers, healthcare workers, attorneys, public health advocates, environmentalists and concerned citizens.

NYCOSH is a union shop. Its staff is represented by the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) Local 1-149.

The White Lung Association is proud to endorse this conference.