DC PSC Community Hearing Witness List for 11-17 & 18, 2015 Hearing (condensed) & 67 fake? names

The original PSC list was a total of 51 pages, and a tremendous waste of paper.  I condensed it to 13 pages with a space between each name for taking notes.  I presume the PSC list format was used to discourage getting copies made and using them for notetaking.  See link.
http://dcpsc.org/pdf_files/hottopics/FC1119_ListofSpeakers.pdf

However, you now have this much easier to use list.  Almost all the businesses, most of the charitable organizations, and the Hispanic community groups favored Exelon.  Apparently one time payments totaling almost $40 million will buy a lot of good press.  Unfortunate the businesses, organizations, and Hispanic people who will have to pay the much increased utility bills in a few years.  Use this list to find organizations you can lobby to change their support to keeping Pepco, flawed as it is, rather than taking the Devil you don't know.

THIS JUST IN:  [2/26/16]  The Public Service Commission has just voted 2 to 1 to ask some changes of  Exelon prior to giving approval.  They don't sound very good according to this article.  I see  the $78 million benefits package that encouraged so many DC groups to testify in favor of the Exelon takeover would now be kept "in escrow until it can be determined how best to spend it, and removing a requirement that the company develop micro-grids in the District."  This ensures that the many DC groups who expected a payout for their support will now have to BEG the Mayor and others for their payoff.  It also means the guy at the Feds GSA made a bad decision on micro-grids.

[11/17/15 – I testified this day and noticed that from #152 to #218, the witnesses were listed alphabetically by first names. I asked a PSC staffer if they knew why this was done. They said one person had phoned in giving them 70 names to add to the witness list. Weird??? There were also a dozen+ people sitting all day who had been paid $15 and given green shirts, hats and printed pro Exelon signs. People who did not make it to the Tuesday hearing will be allowed to speak on Wednesday.  [or not as it turned out]  I condensed the sprawling 51 page PSC witness list here. Testimony was ended at 4:40 pm. Wednesday will begin with #119. G. Lee Aikin, DC Statehood Green Party]

[11/18/15 - Since the Tuesday hearing was stopped at number 118, I decided to go there at lunchtime and listen to some more testimony.  The hearing had just been ended around 12:30.  Apparently NOT ONE of the 70 names added by 1 person had responded, so others scheduled after them were deprived of the opportunity to speak if they did not come very early.  I have spoken to several who are furious about this trickery.  Not  weird after all, just nasty big business.  Perhaps a foretaste of how Exelon will treat us as customers.  See this post of testimony and Exelon problems for detailed information.  Do you recognize any of the names between #152 and#218.  Can you guess who might have played this trick on us?  Please Comment or email me at gleeaikin@yahoo.com.

Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia Community Hearing

Formal Case 1119

List of Speakers (Pre-Registered) Date: November 17-18, 2015 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Location: Hearing Room, Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia

1325 G Street, NW, 8th Floor Washington, DC 20005

Headings:  NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER, REPRESENTING SELF or COMPANY, HOW CONTACTED, SPECIAL NEEDS NOTES (almost NO addresses or phone numbers are listed)

1. David Jonas Bardin SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

2. Robert Vinson Brannum SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

3. John Capozzi SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

4. John Thomson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

5. John Mcgregor Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

6. Ivan Frishberg Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

7. Robert & Sherrill Berger SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

8. Kathy E. Hollinger Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

9. Edmund Fleet, Building Bridges across the River, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

10. Anthony Williams, Federal City Council, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

11. Marchant Wentworth, Wentworth Green Strategies Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

12. Joseph Persichini, Jr., Washington DC Police Foundation, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

13. John Enzler, Yes No If Yes, Explain Mr. Enzler’s assistant called on 11-10-15 to inform us that he will not be able to make it and will submit written testimony. Kemi Morten will take his place. Kemi Morten Alliance

Page 2

14. Emily Stiever SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

15. Keshini Ladduwahetty, DC for Democracy Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

16. Tim Judson, NRIS, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

17. Allison Archambault SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

18. Lynn Mento SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

19. Monroe Harrison SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

20. Diane D’Arrigo SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

21. Antonio Francis SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

22. Keith Sellars SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

23. George H. Lambert, The Greater Washington Urban League, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

24. Joe Andronaco Access Green Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

25. Allison Fisher SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

26. Anthony Cancelosi SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

27. Elana Orbuch, AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

28. Pat Bahn Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

29. John Chelen Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

30. Rev. Kip Banks, East Washington Heights Baptist Church, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

31. Mike Ewall, Energy Justice Network, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

32. Sarah Saylor Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

33. Samuel Jordan SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

34. Andrea Molod Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 3

35. Meta Renee Williams, J.D. Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

36. Mary C. Young, ANC3B04, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

37. Tamara Smith, YWCA National Capital Area, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

38. Mykiel Rausu-Bey SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

39. Dale Bannon, The Salvation Army, If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

40. Johnnie Rice SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

41. Pat Bahn SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

42. Kirby Vining SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

43. Deborah Shore Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

44. Joyce Robinson-Paul Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

45. Mary Beth O'Quinn SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

46. Marcia Rucker SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

47. Renee Bowser, ANC 4D02, Commissioner ANC 4D, Vice Chair ANC 4D, Yes No If Yes, Explain Ms. Bowser would like to give her testimony on Wednesday, November 18, 2015.

48. Eric L. Evans, 100 Black Men Of Greater Washington, D.C. Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message [also listed as #150]

49. Jesse Lovell SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

50. Arrington Dixon, ADA, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

51. Glen O’Gilvie, Center for Nonprofit Advancement, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

52. George Fenderson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

53. Pedro Alfonso, Dynamic Concepts, Inc., Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

54. Shavon Smith SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

55. Bonnie Fogel, Imagination Stage, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 4

56. Anthony Dinkins SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

57. Matthias Paustian SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

58. Charles Shipp SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

59. Armentha Mike Cruise, Aspen Group Inc., Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

60. Shelore Ann Williams SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

61. Yvonne M. Rice SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

62. Janice H. Davis, SELF/Davis & Davis, Inc. ,Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

63. Gloria Hightower, Friends of Carter Barron, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

64. Harry Wingo, DC Chamber of Commerce, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

65. Nina Dodge SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

66. Shilpa Joshi SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

67. Dr. Karl Reid Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

68. Angela Franco, Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

69. Dr. Karl Reid Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

70. Leotha Woodson, Noah’s Arc, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

71. Sylvia Ryan, Noah’s Arc, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

72. Bernadette Harvey, BCONSTRUX, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

73. Dr. E. Faye Williams, National Conference of Black Women, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

74. Andrea Rosen SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

75. Tania Miller SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 5

76. Albrette “Gigi” Ransom SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

77. Martin Harwit SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

78. Richard Lee SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

79. Melanie Coburn SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

80. Tania Miller SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

81. London Thomas SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

82. David Freeman Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

83. Camelia Mazard SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

84. Adrian Ganio SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

85. G. Lee Aikin, DC Statehood Green Party, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

86. Maria Patricia Corrales, Capital Construction, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

87. Dr. Eileen CrawfordTaylor SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

88. Sheila Reid, Avanti Realty, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

89. Nick Reid, Avanti Realty, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

90. Tanya Hinton, Culture DC, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

91. Terry Lee SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

92. Marqus Bigelow SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

93. Samuel Batts SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

94. Bernice Rink SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

95. Alberta Gaskins SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

96. Allen Burris Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

97. Dr. Sheila Brooks Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

98. Charles Brown, Jr. Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 6

99. Beverly Short Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

100. D. Morris Michael, D. Morris Michael, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

101. James J. Fournier, Esq., James J. Fournier, Esq., Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

102. Laurence E. Jackson, Ph.D., Laurence E. Jackson, Ph.D., Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

103. David Arkush Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

104. Talib I. Karim, STEM4US, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

105. Winifred Y. Carson-Smith Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

106. Lennette Watts Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

107. Sean Cahill, DC Building Industry Association, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

108. Rod Woodson, DC Building Industry Association, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

109. Sheila H. Westfield, The Greater Washington Urban League, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

110. James Riley, McGrit Project Learning Tree, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

111. [no name listed] SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

112. Nathaniel Catlett Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

113. Earl Sullivan SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

114. Sam Tramal, DC Children’s Trust Fund, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

115. James Cooke Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

116. William J. Snape, III Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

117. Keith Silver SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

118. Timothy Shaw SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 7

119. Patricia Gomillion SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

120. Leona Redmond, Wesley House Resident Council, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

121. Monique Sullivan SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

122. Gloria Murchison SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

123. Francis Prophet SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

124. Dahfon Williams SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

125. Brenda Wells SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

126. Sabrina Stephens Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

127. Andre Lee Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

128. Debra Quartermaine Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

129. Rev. Dr. Crawford Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

130. Jay Johnson Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

131. Victor Coclough Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

132. Earl Sullivan Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

133. Debby Hanrahan SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

134. Mark Davis, WDC Solar, Inc., Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

135. Brenda Devrouax, Pepco, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

136. [no listing]

137. Jim Dinegar, Greater Washington, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

138. Charles Gaither SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

139. Earl Fowlkes SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

140. Jennifer Tucker SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

141. Michael Beale SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 8

142. Aaron McCormick SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

143. Danita Doleman, Seas Community Partners, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

144. Kassahun Tefera, Metro Lab DC, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

145. Nathan Groce SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

146. Lavinia Wohlfarth SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

147. Milton Morris, MDM Office Systems, If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

148. Kendrick Richardson, RDS Architecture, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

149. Basav Sev, Green Neighbors, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

150. Eric Evans, The One Hundred Black Men of Greater Washington, DC, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message [also listed as #48]

151. Geraldine Bell, Parkside Civic Association, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Alphabetized list by first name of witnesses starts here and ends at 218. Who sent this list???

152. Adrian Gaino SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

153. Almandeus Thornton SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

154. Andree Lee SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

155. Anthony Reeves SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

156. Anthony Reeves, Sr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

157. Anthony Shorts SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

158. Ayana Mayberry SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

159. Beniya Valentine SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

160. Bennie Lawson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

161. Betty Hodges SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 9

162. Carmen Robles-Inman SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

163. Carolyn Mitchell Bell SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

164. Carolyn Woods SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

165. Casten Manley SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

166. Cecelia Thorne SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

167. Celia Barnes SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

168. Christopher Parler SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

169. Clifford Thorne SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

170. Dantes Augustin SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

171. Darmaine Clark SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

172. David Boyd SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

173. David Johnson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

174. Dena Walker SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

175. Denise Barner SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

176. Diane Barnes SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

177. Diane Wilks SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

178. Donovan Harris SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

179. Dr. Bill Hassan SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

180. Duane Wilson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

181. Eddy Varona SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

182. Evelyn Rodgers SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

183. Frank Malone SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

184. Fred Lockett SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

185. Gloria Dade SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 10

186. Herbert Briscoe SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

187. Jessica Thomas SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

188. JoAnn Johnson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

189. Keera Cunningham SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

190. Keeta Watts SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

191. Keith Dickinson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

192. Kim Wood SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

193. Kindra Beamon SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

194. Kurt Adams SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

195. Leon Samuels, Jr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

196. Lonnie Beamon SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

197. Margaret Winston SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

198. Margaret Harison SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

199. Nathan Perkins SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

200. Paul Cook SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

201. Phillip Cunningham, Jr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

202. Phillip Cunningham, Sr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

203. Rev. Michael Bell, Sr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

204. Rev. Robert Childs SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

205. Rosa Hightower SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

206. Ruby Perry SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

207. Saul Watts SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

208. Scotty Foxx SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

209. Sean Metcalf SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 11

210. Sequing Johnson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

211. Sharon Valentine SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

212. Sheresse Baltimore SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

213. Stacy Banks SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

214. Symone Dickens SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

215. Terry Goins SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

216. Von Davenport SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

217. Willie Delaney Barg SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

118. Yvonne Coleman SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

219. Michael Sindram SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

[11/16/15 - Tuesday evening I will report to my contacts what I saw at the Hearing. If names have been added to this witness list, I will try to condense and distribute that information as well.

G. Lee Aikin, DC Statehood Green Party]

PSC has updated the list and it is now 51 pages instead of 43. The numbering has changed too, and I will start with Michael Sindram who is now 217.

217. Michael Sindram SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

218. Leotha Woodson, Noah’s Arc, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

219. Sylvia Ryan, Noah’s Arc, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

220. Gilbert Campbell Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

221. Radindranauth (Rad) Ranson SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

222. Jacques Kapuscinski SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

223. Caroline Petti Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

224. Jessica Champagne Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

225. William (Billy) Eric Sahm Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 12

226. Pandit Wright, The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

227. Dale Doucette Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

228. Stuart Cameron Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

229. Evanna Powell Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

230. Chris Otten, DC For a Reasonable Development, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

231. Kendrick Richardson Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

232. Shireen Parsons SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

233. Benjamin King SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

234. Benton Murphy, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

235. Lynn Raskin, Climate Change Literacy, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

236. Kevin Kamps Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

237. Barrett Ware Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

238. Mark Jones, M. Jones Companies & National Business League, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

239. Melvin Hines, S.E. Restaurant Group, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

240. Mark McDonald, Minority Business Economic Council, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

241. Romaine B. Thomas, DC Office on Aging, Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

242. Ruth Kaplan SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

243. Frederic W. Schwartz, Jr. SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

244. Ross Schulman SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

Page 13

245. Elizabeth Berry SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

246. Mary Bolton Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

247. Larry Werner SELF Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

248. Peter Murtha Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

249. Joanna Spear Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

250. Jeffery Hargrave Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

251. Doug Duncan Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

252. Dasarath Kiridena Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

253. Anwar Saleem Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

254. Bob Andretta Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

255. Corey Griffin Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

256. Gwen Jackson Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

257. Harriet Pullman Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

258. John Thomas Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

259. Joigie Tolson Yes No If Yes, Explain Delivered Message Left Voicemail Message

[PSC, Page 51 of 51, My Page 13. a lot of trees saved]

Please use this to make notes of who is pro and who con (our position). Also good for seeing what organizations to lobby in the future to win over to the people's needs.

Hajj: Muslim Tragedy in Mecca - Mass Casualties and 2015 Hajj, Cause and Prevention?

[This is an ongoing story, so rather than constantly posting new articles, I will be adding updates as important new information is disclosed.  Come back from time to time!  I am also keeping some of the older inaccurate reports as it is interesting to see how this story is developing.]

Once more the world experiences surprise/shock as another mass casualty event occurs. This time it happened at the annual Hajj event in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.  So terribly sad that this event occurred almost simultaneously with the joy of the Pope's visits.  In the days since this tragedy, there has been little released about the facts in the case or more recent official death statistics given the large number of injured.  Bitterness between Iran and Saudi Arabia is very strong.  Especially as the death toll for Iranians has now risen to at least 228, according to AP.

9/2/17 - Now that the Hajj is in progress, reports are coming back that Muslims there are very concerned with our President's moves regarding Muslims.  See:  https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/09/02/muslims-at-hajj-are-worried-about-trumps-policies-towards-them/23194780/
Despite Trump's making nice at his Saudi Arabia visit, what he says and does in the US has much more impact for the Muslims of the world.

7/18/17 -  As result of negotiations with Saudi Arabia, this year Iranians will attend the Hajj.  http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/03/17/514710/Iran-pilgrims-participation-Hajj-pilgrimage-arrangement

7/17/17 -  I just Googled "Death toll and info update."  The only reports in the first 50 that are the most recent appear below:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/12044550/Hajj-stampede-killed-three-times-Saudi-Arabias-official-number.html. This report from eleven weeks after the tragedy listed a total of 2,411 dead. [12/10/15]
https://www.rt.com/news/325555-mecca-hajj-stampede-casualties/.  [12/11/15]
http://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/death-toll-from-2015-islamic-pilgrimage-to-mecca-reaches-2411-the-most-in-the-rituals-history/news-story/8e9c0f8eaee9b5654b7ae31024881423.  Also from [12/11/15].
And also same date:  https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2015/12/11/saudi-hajj-stampede-death-toll-exceeds-2-400

9/10/16 -  This year's Hajj to begin today.  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/08/2015-disaster-muslims-saudi-arabia-hajj-iran
More details on this year's Hajj and over 100 comments, some pro atheism.  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hajj-2016-thousands-of-muslims-arrive-in-mecca-ahead-of-the-five-day-pilgrimage-a7234966.html
SA government hopes to avoid another tragedy: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/09/08/hajj-iran-saudi-arabia-mecca/89951250/

12-10-15 -  Here is the latest update I could find, which basically reports NO CHANGE in information out of Saudi Arabia.  This Al Arabia live blog reports a number of stories starting back in September 2015.  It includes both articles and comments.

11/10/15 - There is still no official increase in Saudi figures which remain at 769.  This Wikipedia article has a list of 42 countries reporting deaths and missing, now totaling 2,427 dead and 472 still missing.  Since around half the participants were Saudis, the original SA report of 4,000 deaths may indeed be true.  I have seen no figures on Saudi deaths.  There are large percentages of still missing from some of the least developed countries.  This may reflect lack of funds to track down or report victims in SA.  There are statements quoted from 17 countries, and 12 significant individuals.  In addition almost 200 linked references are available for those doing research.  One link reports the Saudi response 12 hours after the tragedy to be an order for the immediate beheading of 28 individuals.

10/6/15 - This more recent report from Lebanese Shiites continues to view this tragic event as a plot to kill high level Shiite figures as the struggle between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran continues.  Iran is still reporting well over 400 Iranian deaths.

On the other hand, Pakistan, which has received much aid from Saudi Arabia is counseling patience.  However, as its citizens become more and more frustrated by lack of information, they may have to be more assertive in confronting this issue.

10/8/15 - The count is now up to 1399 based on compilation of reports from almost 20 countries which are listed in this link from Times of Israel.  The Saudis have still not issued an up to date count, and this evening I heard a report that the king has dementia.  The account will surely go higher, but the early report of 4000 is likely to be too high.  [Subsequent stories say that almost half of the participants were Saudi, thus with the most recent count being over 2,000, then the 4000 figure could indeed be in the ballpark.]

10/10/15 - The Atlantic basing this report on an AP (Associated Press) compilation of death figures from 19 countries now reports 1453 dead, with hundreds still missing.  I used this rather than the AP article because here you can also follow a number of comments.

10/13/15 - Press TV (an Iranian or Russian source) now claims 1674 dead.  Their map shows total counts from 31 countries which I believe is how they established this total.  There are still many missing and unaccounted for.  The map shows Iraq and Jordan with only 1 death each.  There are no figures for Yemen, Qatar, UAE or any of the "stans" except Pakistan.  Suspect this figure will rise.

10/13/15 - The Washington Post says at least 1621 killed which is slightly less than the above 1674 figure.  They used AP figures from state media reports and officials; comments from 19 of the 180+ countries that sent citizens.  Iran says it had 465 pilgrims killed, Egypt lost 182, Nigeria 168, and Indonesia 126.  India also lost 114, Pakistan 100, Bangladesh 92, Mali 70, Senegal 54, Benin 51, Cameroon 42, Morocco 33, Ethiopia 32, Sudan 30, Algeria 25, Ghana 12, Chad 11, Kenya 8, and Turkey 7.  Hundreds are still unaccounted for, so the total will rise.  The Saudis have not updated since Sept. 26th.

[This just in 9/29/15--Don't know if true, but alarming if it is, report that death toll is more than 4,000.  Rumors of plot against Iran, and a number of conspiracy theories in the Comments.  Will keep watch to confirm or cancel.  Don't know reliability of source, "Press TV".  PTV is an English language Iranian source.  See:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_TV   Another source Albawaba, also posted:  http://www.albawaba.com/loop/saudi-arabian-health-ministry-statement-said-4000-people-died-hajj-stampede%E2%80%94then-disappeated-74.  This site, described at Wikipedia as "Al Bawaba (البوابة, Arabic for "the portal" or "the gate") is a news, blogging and media website^[1] headquartered in Amman, Jordan with an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.^[2]  ... [with] a full-time staff of journalists and editors covering the Middle East and North Africa region’s events and news."^[3]  ]  Another Shia (Iran's version of Islam) take on this issue.  No telling how this highly controversial discrepancy on deaths will turn out.

10/4/15 - Finally an eye witness account that makes sense, from a Nigerian professor who saw the conditions developing that caused this disaster.  Apparently, security personnel were lax or absent in their duties.  Since the 2006 disaster, pilgrims at the stoning of the devil have been required to exit by a different route.  When a large group of Egyptian pilgrims finished stoning, they made a U-turn and no officials stopped them.  Pilgrims had already walked 13 kilometers that day in temperatures above 110f, and the Egyptian camp was near the entrance but far from the exit.  People, including the professor, urged them to use the exit but these Egyptians refused and the terrible crush began.

I found several unusually thoughtful ideas in the comments at this site regarding accident prevention at all mass crowd events: 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/saudi-arabian-hajj-stampede-death-toll-rises-150926130030311.html
There are also lively and even vitriolic competitive comments here. Also as an Al Jazeera site, there are numerous cross comments by Muslims and non-Muslims.  The first quoted comment is by a participant in the deadly 2006 Hajj.

MUHAMMED KAHN
     "By the grace of Allah (SWT) I performed Hajj in 2006 when same type of incident happened causing death of nearly 400 and injured 700 , most of the injured had permanent disability. As an eye witness of 2006 catastrophe I want to share my experience as follows.

     After finishing the rituals at Arafat and Muzdalefa we planned to start stoning at the biggest Zamarat at about 8.00 AM . When our team reached the place close to the starting point we were stopped due to the fact that a group of dignitaries from some Muslim countries as royal guest of KSA were stoning and a barricade was created by Saudi police. I observed from the distance that STOP sign with different language including Bangla was flushing.
     After about three hours , when a huge crowed of Hajjis gathered , the barricade was withdrawn and suddenly a big crowd jumped into towards” One pathway” ignoring the Stop sign ( Subsequently it was increased to 3/4 levels pathways ) to perform the ritual and within few minutes hundreds of people were stampeded and injured. Even in my team some Hajjis was so enthusiastic and emotional to start running but by the will of Allah, with my intervention they were finally stopped. After further few hours when the bodies of deceased and injured were removed we finished stoning and went to Mecca for Towaf e Ziarat safely.

     Now I find a relationship between these two catastrophes that “ halting the flow of Hajjis for any reason ( as happened during 2006) created panic among them due to the time constraint of finishing stoning and going to Mekka for Tawaf within stipulated time was a great factor causing these two saddest incident.
     Whatever comes out of the investigation , as a normal Muslim, it is my humble suggestion that if the Hajj authority can not avoid stoning at Zamarat separately by the so called high profile dignitaries , ( though , I am not sure permissibility of such in Islam ) they can make an alternate Entry and Exit for them either by constructing Rope way/Gondola or a hanging Helipad , so that those people can perform the ritual without closing any Entry or Exit point to the Zamarat. Even a separate level designated to those type of Hajjis, on safety reason, may be created.

     In addition a awareness training has to be made effective at all levels involving the Hajj pilgrims so that this Fard ritual is performed in safe and logical way to ensure acceptance of Allah (SWT). May Allah bestow His profound mercy to the deceased , the injured and consolation to the members who lost their nearest and dearest one. Ameen."

JOE SOPRANO to Muhammed,
     "if I summarize your point, you associate the risk of stampedes with two main factors:

1) privilege given to dignitaries to execute the stoning before the others;
2) strong excitement and a general lack of discipline or self-control of the pilgrims.

     However substantial these points are (and precious, since they come from your direct experience of the Hajj), we are forced to acknowledge that both are quite difficult and sensitive to handle:

1) would require to change UAE into a liberal democracy with no political and social privilege and with a global equality of people, included in the religious domain;
2) would require a global improvement of education standards in the Muslim world.

     The first point should involve a political reformism or a factual revolution in the Saudi kingdom.
     The second point would imply higher rates of access to education in Muslim world, which could not go without the spread of gender policies and a global improvement of women social conditions in the same countries.

     Both are real needs; both are unfortunately not ready to occur within a short space of time.  But let’s hope that progresses will move on, while gradual political and social improvements will follow."

CHRIS LEWIS (starting with 2nd paragraph)
     "Your first point - special casing for dignitaries is fairly simple to fix. The organizers set up their plan for the day, visually check that all the barricades/signs/routing are in place each day, and don’t change them for any reason whatsoever. If a dignitary wants to participate, they must either be in the same crowd as every one else, be able to access/egress without interfering with the crowd in ANY way, OR, you book it well ahead of time and integrate it with the daily plan.
     There simply is NO WAY you can change plans mid-stream with that many people. Doesn’t matter whether it’s a stoning ritual in Mecca, or letting people into a stadium to watch a soccer match. You just do NOT change plans once they’re running. If you do, people die. Full stop. Doesn’t matter what religion or what government they have.

     Your second point misses the point entirely. This has nothing whatsoever to do with Muslims. It’s the same “enthusiasm” you see in a lineup for the first showing of a new Star Wars movie, a black Friday sale, or a new iPhone launch. The only reason why they don’t turn into huge disasters is because the number of people is hundreds or thousands of times less. These don’t just happen in Muslim countries. They happen in the US, in England, Singapore, India etc. During the coronation of Czar Nicholas II, 1400 people died in the crush of gifts being given out. During new years fireworks in Singapore, 250 people died. During a soccer game in Hillsborough England, almost 100 people died.
      Each a result of poor planning, plans that weren’t verified, or plans that were changed mid-steam. Hillsborough happened because the crowd was directed through an access tunnel, and the access tunnel gate at the far end was closed and they didn’t get it open in time."

My thoughts: We have just seen huge crowds greeting the Pope in an atmosphere of love and caring for one another—no significant crowd incidents. On the other hand, examples are given of significant numbers of deaths at the stoning of Satan (significant pent up anger), sports events (anger and booze?), and a coronation with gifts distributed (poverty and greed)—negative emotions set the stage for significant death toll. More love and understanding needed worldwide.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/hajj-stampede-death-toll-rises-1100-saudi-arabia-faces-criticism-over-safety-record-1521334
     This article quotes an anonymous medical source saying that the actual death toll is at least 400 more than the "official" toll.  A list of known casualties by country is given with 140+ for Iran and 55 for Egypt.  Iran is very angry about this.  Pakistan has announced a variety of benefits for the victims and their relatives including, cash payments, hospital care, and Hajj trips for relatives of deceased.  10/20 now totals 102 for Pakistan.

10/1/15 - Iran claims at least 464 of their pilgrims are dead.  This figure is so much higher than what any other large country is claiming that I wonder if some Iranians have used the Hajj as a way to escape living in Iran.  This article quotes various problem for Iranians wishing to travel include passport problems.  245 as if 10/10,

10/4/15 - Five more victims raises Indonesian deaths to 100.  126 total 10/13.  10/20 no change.

10/5/15 - With 92 still missing, Egypt now counts 146 deaths.  182 on 10/13.  10/20 unchanged.

10/5/15 - Latest figures on deaths of Indian Pilgrims is 74.
10/12/15 - India now reports 114 dead with 10 still missing, and 11 more dead from the crane collapse a week earlier.  10/20 total now 116.

10/5/15 - Nigeria mourns at least 74 dead, with 244 more still missing.  168 total 10/13.
10/11/15 - With their death count now at 145, Nigerian officials explain how pilgrims living and dead are being handled and helped.  10/20 total is 199.

10/19/15 - Mali reports 198 dead.  10/20/15 raises figure to 254.

10/20/15 - Cameroon lost 76, Niger lost 72, Senegal reports 61, Ivory Coast and Benin both lost 52.

10/20/15 - Bangladesh lost 137, other countries are Ethiopia 47, Chad 43, Morocco 36, Algeria 33,  Sudan 30, Burkina Faso 22, Tanzania 20, Somalia 10, Kenya 8, Ghana and Turkey 7, Myanmar and Libya 6, China 4, Afghanistan 2, and Jordan and Malaysia 1 each.

10/20/15 - While Saudi Arabia has not issued new figures since Sept. 26, the AP continues gathering data country by country as each one updates it's death figures.  For example reports on 10/19/15 total 2,110, but an additional 56 for Mali and several others now has the total at 2,177.  New figures for 10/20 added above.  You can see by the changes over the days that some countries were much more efficient in identifying their losses.  The previous most deadly hajj stamped in 1990 killed 1,426 people.  DNA may be needed for some identifications, this may be harder for poor countries to facilitate.  Here is how one country, Nigeria, is dealing with the terrible aftermath.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/26/middleeast/hajj-pilgrimage/

As the crowds at Hajj have grown, performing all the rituals required in a limited time as Mr. Kahn  pointed out above increases anxiety and tension.
http://www.islam4theworld.net/islam/pillars/hajj/5days_of_hajj.htm
In addition, since the date of Ramadan and the Hajj changes each year because these events follow a lunar calendar, a wide range of climate conditions can be experienced.

At this article you can see that the distance from the many tents at Mina to the pillars where the devil is stoned ranges from 1 to 3 miles.  It was over 100 f that day.  Al Jazeera now reports "Saudi Arabia has given foreign diplomats approximately 1,100 photographs of the dead from last week's Hajj crush and stampede, Indian and Pakistani authorities said, an indication of a significantly higher death toll than previously offered by the kingdom."  Saudi Arabia is claiming that this 1100 number includes other deaths from natural causes and possibly the crash of a crane weeks earlier that killed 111.

The total number of miles/kilometers the pilgrims must travel ON FOOT is extensive and particularly hard for the sick and elderly who often are desperate to complete the obligatory Hajj before they die.
The map at this site along with the 5 day schedule of events shows the extent of what is involved. Eight kilometers equals 5 miles, so the 12 kilometer black and white bar on the left side of the map equals 7.5 miles. Imagine doing all that walking at 100f + temperatures.  In fact, some reports seem to indicate that temperatures were above 110f that day.  Dehydration can be a serious health concern during the heat and fasting of Ramadan and the Hajj.

Perhaps it is time to think of having two Hajjs a year when the event occurs during the hottest months, with one at a cooler season especially available for the elderly and sick.

Chinese Disasters - Environmental and Social Problems of Rapid Development

China has been struggling mightily to develop as a world power with a modern economy.   To a lesser extent India and other countries have been doing the same.  Unfortunately, it appears again and again that the ability to make rapid technical advances has the dangerous ability to outrun human advances in education, technical competence and perhaps even social consciousness and ethics.  The most recent major Chinese disaster is the monstrous chemical explosion and fire in the port city of Tianjin.  These photos show the extent of the disaster, and the link below with multiple videos shows the human response.

One video apparently by Americans shows reaction to the initial smaller explosion accompanied by joking, with one saying maybe a gas station explosion, which quickly morphs to shock and concern as the second and perhaps third huge explosions are shown.  Initial conversation includes comments with bleeped words, then fear with the second explosion and a comment about getting dressed (the explosions were around 11 pm), after the third flare, they decided to get downstairs.   The reports have all said 2 explosions, but this certainly looks like a third one with the talking continuing in the background from the 2nd to 3rd one so I don’t see how this could have been a repeat of the 2nd one. Also you see individual flaming parts raining outward like a fireworks explosion.

This is the first of a series of videos at this site.  Others have additional information of interest.  For example, China is well known for trying to downplay the seriousness of their disasters (more on this later), but one of the subsequent videos is critical of the flouting of safety laws forbidding construction of homes, schools, and hospitals within a dangerous distance of chemical and other dangerous sites.  Apparently there were serious violations here at Tianjin.  This video also reported 4 dangerous chemicals at the site.  Calcium carbide when wet (from firemen's hoses) produces flammable acetylene gas.  The second highly dangerous chemical was about 700 TONS of sodium cyanide, which in addition to being very poisonous also produces explosive gases.

Another video follows this one and while talking about the chemicals, this report in Chinese with English subtitles totally fails to mention the cyanide.  Finally, today (7-18-15), officials are admitting the seriousness of the chemical situation and potential danger to the public.  However they are also publicizing how they have their best people on the job to analyze and clean up the mess.  While continuing to suggest there is no cyanide in the air, people continue to report various respiratory symptoms.  Of course, there are many earth and water samples needing testing.

A following video shot from helicopter shows the vast area of devastation including masses of metal shipping container washed up against a high rise like pebbles at a beach after a storm. If you have not already viewed the photos in the first link, you may be surprised to see the vast number of new incinerated automobiles that will never make a Chinese family happy.  Another video shot shows a large water filled crater, perhaps 400 or more feet in diameter, estimate based on the probable 40 feet length of shipping containers nearby.  A television report on CCTV showed pouring of a huge concrete dam to prevent contaminated water from running into the river or harbor.

And finally, after fifteen months the Chinese legal system begins to dispense "justice."  http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/09/501441138/china-jails-49-over-deadly-tianjin-warehouse-explosions
A year later this British paper covers the aftermath and includes a link to the official Chinese report.

One month after the disaster, Wikipedia's detailed report listed 173 dead and over 700 injured. 
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Tianjin_explosions

The death toll  is up to 112, with over 700 hospitalized and over 50 critical or serious. At least 25 firefighters killed and 1,000 responding. One person was rescued ABOUT 165 feet from the explosion point, but 95 people are still missing, including 85 firefighters.  On 8/23/15, dead reported was 123, missing 40 and over 600 still hospitalized. On 8/25/15, 135 reported dead, and on 8/29 147 total had been found. The death toll could have been much higher if it had occurred during the height of the workday.  Since the explosions happened around 11 pm, the daylight shots are long after the initial explosions.  After several days, the government has also expanded the danger exclusion zone for residents to almost 2 miles, probably because of the cyanide issue.  

Their chemical and nuclear personnel are also working quickly to clean up before the next rain.  Small fires continue to break out, perhaps because of the 3,000 automobiles incinerated with some gas in the tank.  In addition China is now examining industrial safety throughout the country.   For example, Sinopec, the company responsible for the disastrous Quindao pipeline explosion that killed 62 people 2 years ago, has been found to NOT have proper oil fire fighting personal on hand.

The most recent victims of this disaster may be fish, although some say that warm summer water might be the cause.  At any rate there sure are a lot of them in these photos.  A Chinese millionaire/philanthropist has been hospitalized for respiratory problems after coming to Tianjin to offer material support as he has done at other disasters.  Some admire him, others see him as a Trump like self promoter.  Here are a number of different stories.

This is not the first major Chinese disaster I have reported at this blog.  Here is the link to the extensive story on oil based environmental disasters with particular reference to the Qingdao oil pipeline in downtown Qingdao which devastated a mile of the city and killed 62 people in 2013.  The Chinese government and perhaps even our own so neglected this story that few here even know it occurred.  Given the controversy over the XL Keystone Pipeline, there was no doubt pressure to not cover this pipeline story while giving emphasis to the Lac Megantic oil train disaster that killed 47.  Billionaire Koch Brothers have pipeline interest and are fighting billionaire Warren Buffet who has oil train interests.  Their fight of course underlines the need to move to renewables quickly.

This link from the World Socialist Web Site describes the role of corporate irresponsibility in a number of preventable recent industrial accidents.  They point out that working conditions in China are notoriously dangerous.  In the first half of of 2014, 19 serious accidents killed more than 200 people.  This particular accident occurred 8-2-14 in Kunshan at a metal products company specializing in aluminum processing and car wheel hubs employing 450 with 264 at work then.  After 2 days 71 workers had died.  At least 186 were injured from this explosion probably caused by an exposed flame in a room filled with combustible dust.  The South China Morning post reported that "the dangerous, dusty work conditions...had been known about for years."  City work safety regulators had warned about the explosion potential be were ignored.

Some of these products end up with General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota.  Companies like GM flock to China to take advantage of low wages and deplorable working conditions.  A week earlier GM was praised for corporate responsibility at the 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Annual Conference in Beijing.  Sadly, this accident demonstrates how meaningless claims of corporate responsibility remain.  The drive for profits overrides every other consideration including workers' lives.  Like other major factory disasters, locked doors contributed to the high death toll.  Tragically, these disasters only result in big corporations moving to a different supplier which employs the same kind of dangerous practices.

This August 2, 2014 link reports on the deaths of 68 workers at an automotive parts plant that serves GM and other auto companies.

Two other aluminum dust explosion in 2011 at Apple supply facilities have also caused deaths and injuries.   Conditions there have been so bad workers have committed and/or threatened to commit suicide.  Foxconn's response to this problem was to install nets to catch them.  Chinese safety agencies have worked to urge better safety measures involving dust throughout the country.  Obviously, not as effectively as they should have.

At least 121 people died in the explosion and fire at a poultry processing plant in June 2013, where locked doors also contributed to the death toll.  Some companies employ children as young as 12, and force them to work 11 hour days with few breaks.  Samsung suspended business with one such company not because of the child labor, but because of the negative publicity.  Apple has also had problems with this child labor issue.

[12/21/15] - Here we have another potentially deadly disaster.  Almost 100 lives may be at risk as the result of a massive landslide.  "The accumulation of a large amount of construction waste meant that mud was sacked too steep....A nearby section of China's major West-East natural gas pipeline also exloded,,.though it was not clear if this had any impact on the landslide."  The New York Times has done a detailed piece analyzing the run-away development in Shenzhen and the consequences, one of which is this giant landslide of construction debris.

[June 2016] - Six months later a detailed engineering report confirmed the final death toll as 77 for this massive Construction Solid Waste (CSW) disaster.  As the report points out, this kind of disaster has been a frequent consequence of rapid development.  It is often compounded by heavy rain and inadequate evaluation of water/soil interactions.  In 2000 at least 330 people were killed after 2 weeks of typhoon rains were followed by the massive landfill landslide in Quezon City, Philippines.  Heavy rainfall also lead to a catastrophic waste landslide in 2005 in Bandung, Indonesia.  At least 147 died in this disaster which, along with the Shenzhen landslide, has been one of the largest volume human waste caused landslides in recent years.  As population and development continue their explosive growth, even larger more deadly events are likely to occur.

[There are a number of other disasters in China and elsewhere that I plan to add here, so sign up for my email alerts in the space below my photos or keep checking back for new info.]



Another tragic disaster occurred in Bangladesh when efforts were made to rush into cheap textile production.  This 2013 disaster was caused when too much heavy equipment was put in a building not designed for the weight. At least 1,100 people died and 2,500 more were pulled from the wreckage.  A story one year later reports on the efforts made and being made to rescue and improve their highly important textile industry.  Both business and workers are organizing to improve things, but the victims themselves or their families are still awaiting compensation. The wreckage is mind boggling.  Perhaps the world wide prevalence of cell phone photography will spark greater attention to these disasters and their prevention.


Washington, DC has its own local problems.  The most recent is the disrailment of a Metro subway train in downtown DC.  Apparently heat or other factors had caused the rails to spread.  Metro had known about this for a month, but the tracks had not been tightened up and properly realigned.  This is the same kind of human error that is causing so many accidents, disasters, and deaths throughout the world.  People in Virginia are urging that another Metro tunnel be built under the Potomac River.   This story written 2 years ago has almost 200 comments.  Given the rate at which we are having major breakdowns, a second tunnel is probably a wise idea.  Imagine the chaos in working Washington, if people could not get to and from DC and VA by Metro for days or weeks.  Here is one idea for adding another tunnel.

We also have potential problems with the CSX tunnel reconstruction here in DC as illustrated by this Homeland Security official report on the Howard Tunnel fire in Baltimore in 2001.  This link gives details on the 2010 removal of 13 derailed cars from the Howard Tunnel by CSX.  There are also a number of other CSX and rail problems at this link.  DC folk have not been shy about expressing their concerns for our local CSX tunnel work.


[More reporting needed on this issue.  Come back again for more information and links.]