Put It Above Ground

Dear 9/11 Family Members:

We have been asked by the BBC to catch up with some of the young people who were unfortunate enough to experience 9/11 as children, in order to find out directly from them how they feel these events have shaped the course of their lives.  Sadly, eight years on support groups for 9/11 families say that funding and resources are starting to run dry. We hope that a project such as this might encourage a continuation of support by demonstrating the ongoing need of those who were affected, but also the many different ways in which young people have managed to turn these experiences into something positive. 

We are looking to speak to anyone who was under the age of 18 at the time of 9/11 and was directly affected by the attacks in some way. This is a great opportunity for you to have your say on what the long-term emotional effects of 9/11 have been for you as a young person, and tell us how they have influenced and even inspired you to live the rest of your life.

To narrow things down a bit, there are several categories of young person who we are particularly interested in speaking to:

1. Those who have decided to use their experiences to help others. Have you become involved in fundraising or charity work of some kind? Or maybe you now work as a mentor or counselor to other bereaved or emotionally distressed children.   

2. Those who are preparing for an event or challenge of some kind. This would help us to understand how what you experienced in early life has influenced you to cope with the future that lies ahead. Are you getting ready for your prom or graduation? Are you planning to take part in some kind of competition? Perhaps after losing a parent your mom or dad is planning to remarry and you’re not sure how to feel about this. Maybe you’re about to embark upon a certain career inspired by what happened? Or are you planning some sort of special trip or journey, perhaps even to visit Ground Zero for the first time. 

3. It goes without saying that all those affected will still be working through the emotional repercussions of that day. However, we would also like to talk to those whose lives are still very much in the grip of 9/11. This could be for a number of reasons. Perhaps you are still coping with anxiety, a phobia or depression as a result of what happened. Or maybe you are caring for a parent who is living with an ongoing physical disability or emotional problems.

If you or anyone you know would like to speak to us, in complete confidence and without judgement, then please get in touch anytime by emailing me at jess.colmer@prospect-uk.com, or by calling me on either of the numbers below. 

I look forward to hearing from you. 

With best wishes,

Jess Colmer 

Prospect Pictures
www.prospect-uk.com
22 Glenthorne Road, London W6 0NG
t +44 (0) 208 563 6938

m +44 (0) 7971 256588
f +44 (0) 207 636 1236

Our generation was always accused of watching too much TV.

And it appears that our elected officials think we still do and find the

need to be on all of the time.

It seems that every time you turn on the TV the president is on.

And not just on the news channels.

Letterman, GMA…the list goes on and on.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns up on Dancing with the Stars or has

a guest spot on Desperate Housewives.

And he is not the only one.

It seems that our Governors, Senators, Congressmen right on down the

line spend as much time in the studios as they do in their offices.

No wonder nothing gets done.

If they feel this need maybe we should require them all to appear on

“Are You Smarter Then a 5th Grader” we might just find out why the

country is in the shape it is.

As both sides try to force their versions of the so called Health Care

Plan down our throats little else is getting any attention.

Whatever happened to reducing the troop size in Iraq?

Whatever happened to all the promises made to our injured veterans after

the Walter Reed scandal?

What about the freeze on bailout bonuses?

Or all of the other promises made during last year’s campaign.

And closer to home almost every campaign ad paints the opponent as

either a criminal or a liar.

We have a president who worked with a governor in one of the

historically corrupt states in America telling our governor not to run.

We have appointed a Lt. Governor who used to run the MTA.

The former head of the same MTA that has mismanaged their finances for

years at the expense of NY taxpayers is next in line to be governor.

We have a state senate that is laughing stock of the entire country with

most of its current or former leaders on trial or at least accused of

crimes.

And we have people dying every day as a result of not being able to get

proper treatment for illnesses resulting from 9/11.

These are the same people that came to help after 9/11 or went back to

work when they were assured by the government that the air quality was

safe even though the EPA knew it was not.

And most of those in power only seem to remember them one day every

year.

And it’s just not right.

But we allow it to go on.

We laugh with the president on Letterman.

We see nothing wrong with the endless parade of elected officials

involved in scandals or illegal activities.

To borrow a phrase from Pink Floyd when it comes to politics we have all

become “Comfortably Numb”

And those in power continue to take advantage.

If our country is to survive we need to break out of this apathetic

malaise.

We need to take back our government by making sure that those in office

remember they work for us.

In the words of Aristotle 2300 years ago… If liberty and equality, as

is thought by some are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be

best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the

utmost.

We can begin on November 3.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG RELEASES SECOND ANNUAL REPORT ON 9/11 HEALTH
Date: 2009-09-25
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Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today released the 2009 Annual Report on 9/11 Health, a review of the latest medical research on potential health impacts of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The report, which includes a review of 48 peer-reviewed studies collected and analyzed by the City’s World Trade Center Medical Working Group, was a recommendation of the 2007 report Addressing the Health Impacts of 9/11.

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(Media-Newswire.com) - Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today released the 2009 Annual Report on 9/11 Health, a review of the latest medical research on potential health impacts of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The report, which includes a review of 48 peer-reviewed studies collected and analyzed by the City’s World Trade Center Medical Working Group, was a recommendation of the 2007 report Addressing the Health Impacts of 9/11. The Medical Working Group, made up of 9/11 health experts from science, medicine and government, is co-chaired by Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs and Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, MD, MPH.

“We have to stay on top of the latest science to best help those whose health has suffered as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Eight years after the attack we continue to learn more about how people were injured, both physically and emotionally. We will keep taking care of those who have gotten sick and also keep fighting for a sustained stream of federal support for critically important 9/11 health programs.”

“One of the things we heard from first responders, rescue workers, and community members was that there was a need for a single source of reliable information about 9/11 health,” said Deputy Mayor Gibbs. “With the annual report of the Medical Working Group and our 9/11 Health website we have created that single source. This objective review of the latest research keeps community members informed and also helps us target resources and research where they are needed.”

“Since the formation of the WTC Medical Working Group in June 2007, our knowledge of the short-term health effects of 9/11 has come into sharper focus,” said Commissioner Farley. “With this new report, we better understand the longer-term health care needs of exposed individuals, in particular those who have developed chronic conditions that can seriously affect quality of life.”

The report includes, for the first time, a WTC Patient Population Report for Fiscal Year 2009, which ended on June 30. It shows that 15,688 people, including rescue, recovery and clean-up workers, members of the Lower Manhattan community and other WTC-exposed New Yorkers received publicly funded treatment for WTC-related health conditions at the City’s three Centers of Excellence (at the FDNY, the Mount Sinai Consortium and the WTC Environmental Health Center), or through the City’s 9/11 Benefit Program for Mental Health and Substance Use Services.

In addition, 19,760 rescue, recovery and clean-up workers, including FDNY and NYPD personnel, were screened or monitored in Fiscal Year 2009, bringing the total number of WTC responders and workers screened by FDNY and the Mount Sinai Consortium to 42,410.

The report also shows that nearly 20 percent of adults enrolled in the Health Department’s WTC Health Registry continue to report symptoms indicative of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although PTSD symptoms have been resolved for some, one in ten Registry-enrollees reported these symptoms for the first time 5-6 years after 9/11. Rescue and recovery workers and volunteers were more likely to report late-emerging symptoms than other groups who were exposed to the WTC disaster: the prevalence of PTSD symptoms increased from 14 percent in 2003-2004 to 19 percent in 2006-2007.

The report details how many people with 9/11-related PTSD symptoms are not receiving treatment despite the availability of publicly funded services. Nearly 5,000 WTC Health Registry enrollees who reported PTSD symptoms in 2006-2007 also reported that they hadn’t seen a mental health provider in the previous year; approximately half were residents, office workers or persons other than rescue and recovery workers who were in the vicinity of the WTC site on the morning of 9/11. The WTC Environmental Health Center and the WTC Health Registry have begun contacting these individuals directly with federal funding to refer them to appropriate care.

According the WTC Medical Working Group, it is unknown whether there is a relationship between WTC exposure and longer-term illnesses, including cancer, but clinicians, epidemiologists and researchers continue to actively study this.

The City has advocated vigorously for federal funding to monitor and treat people with 9/11-related mental and physical health problems, as recommended in Addressing the Health Impacts of 9/11. The City continues to work with Congress to advocate for the passage of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which would provide a consistent funding stream for 9/11-related treatment and the re-opening of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Stu Loeser / Jason Post (212) 788-2958

Jessica Scaperotti (Health)
(212) 788-5290

Most of you know by now that the Postcards 9/11 Memorial on Staten Island was damaged after being bashed with a pipe by an allegedly mentally unstable homeless woman.

There was also an article in the Daily News about an artist who had to repair a 9/11 mural after it was tagged by a young graffiti vandal.

These a just two cases where 9/11 memorials have been vandalized.

There have been other cases over the past eight years but they have been few and far between.

Most of them have been either the result of mentally unstable people or random acts of vandalism.

It has been my experience that the majority of 9/11 memorials have been respected and untouched since 9/11.

It has also been my experience that the majority of the people in our country are still respectful of those who have died on that tragic day in 2001.

Many of these people have done and continue to do wonderful things in memory of those lost on 9/11.

For every misguided person or common criminal there are thousands who continue to work every day to make our country the great nation that it is.

They continue to show that the global outpouring of love and tolerance that was generated after 9/11 is still alive today.

Their acts of goodness and decency will supersede any future acts of hate.

These are the people who we should be reading about.

We need to make them role models for our youth.

And we need to continue to take a positive, proactive approach to instill goodness and decency in our youth, assuring that all of those who were lost will always be our beams of light towards a better tomorrow.

A generation of caring individuals, concerned about their neighbors, who are not afraid to get involved, would be the greatest memorial we could ever build.

A memorial that will live on through future generations and keep the memories of our loved ones alive.

Lest We Forget

Dennis

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http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=49360

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Dear Friends,

Over the next few weeks we would like to conduct a few interviews with family members, 9/11 organizational leaders and elected officials about the Hearts and Hands Memorial.

We really need to make people realize how important this is.

If you would like to help us out please let me know.

I have new brochures detailing our plans and will have them tomorrow after the ceremony.

Give me a call at 718-619-2371 and I will find you.

We really need to get this moving so that we can have it completed by the 10th Anniversary.

You will be in my thoughts tomorrow.

Dennis

The entire 9/11 event will be live on channel 2 and streaming live on our web site www.wcbstv.com

The Associated Press will have live coverage as well starting at 7am. Go to www.video.ap.org

CNN will be streaming it live on their website starting at 7AM and staying with the ceremony until it ends.

People will be able to find the live stream at www.cnn.com/live.

Subject: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR DEPT TO DISPLAY A PIECE OF WTC STEEL

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR DEPT TO DISPLAY A PIECE OF WORLD TRADE CENTER STEEL

As we approach 9/11/09, we have been asked to share this information with you. It is a rare opportunity to allow ALL fire departments, police departments, EMS agencies and related community based organizations to further insure their community never forgets 9/11-and do so not just in “words”- but in action.

The following message is from FDNY FF Lee Ielpi (Ret), the Father of FDNY FF Jonathan Ielpi who was murdered in the Line of Duty on 9/11/01.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is accepting requests from organizations that would like to request a piece of World Trade Center steel. The steel was recovered from the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001 and secured at JFK Airport by The Port Authority of NY and NJ until now.

The September 11th Families Association is proud to be part of this great effort to distribute steel to organizations interested in creating memorials. The steel withstood the most horrific attack on American soil that took the lives of 2,973 innocent people - one of whom was my son Jonathan Ielpi a Firefighter with FDNY Squad 288. This is an extraordinary opportunity to obtain a piece of World Trade Center steel.

The steel MUST be used in a memorial open to the general public such as in parks, fire/EMS/police stations, emergency service training grounds for uniformed personnel or places of public assembly. The steel is not intended for and may not be used in personal collections, sold or used for fundraising. All requests for steel MUST be in writing on official letterhead from an officer of the requesting agency, or a not for profit organization and will be verified.

Requests from departments outside the United States are welcome.

This is a rare opportunity to create a lasting memorial IN YOUR COMMUNITY honoring the lives lost and educating future generations about the events of September 11, 2001. Everyday, your service as a Firefighter, Police Officer, EMT or related emergency personnel demonstrates the power of good. A public memorial in YOUR community to the victims and heroes of 9/11 is a powerful way to insure their memory lives on.

READ CAREFULLY:

INSTRUCTIONS HERE: http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.911families.org/WTC%20Steel%20Public%20Memorials.pdf

SAMPLE LETTER HERE: http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.911families.org/WTC%20Steel%20Sample%20Letter%20Form.pdf

CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE, JR.
District of New Jersey

September 12, 2009 Richard McGrath/Tali Israeli 202 246 6721

Pallone Announces Action on 9/11 Bill

New York City - U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., announced on Tuesday that he will be scheduling a mark-up of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009 in the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee at the end of this month. At the same time, Pallone, who chairs the Health Subcommittee, urged all supporters of the measure to mobilize and to press other members of the subcommittee to provide enough votes for approval.

“We can start the momentum with a mark-up, but we need to generate enough support to get it voted out of the subcommittee,” said Pallone. “The emergency responders put their lives on the line when they were needed, we should respond to their needs now.”

Thousands of emergency workers, volunteers and members of the local community went to Ground Zero in the hours and days following the attack on the World Trade Center and now are suffering from chronic conditions caused by the tons of dust, glass fibers and other toxins from the site. The 9/11 bill would provide medical treatment for them. It would also establish a monitoring program to detect and track any future health problems.

“The first responders were told there were no contaminants at the site,” said Pallone. “They didn’t stop to ask questions or slow down out of fear. The took action when they were needed in the hope they could save lives. We have a moral obligation to step up to treat their medical problems.”

The bill would:

· Establish a federal health and compensation program for 9/11 responders and community members.

· Provide ongoing medical care of 9/11 health conditions to approximately 15,000 additional WTC responders and 15,000 additional WTC community members.

· Require a matching contribution from the City of New York for the health program.

· Reopen the Victim Compensation Fund to provide compensation for those who have been sick by 9/11 exposures and to address the over 10,000 pending lawsuits brought by sick 9/11 responders.

Studies have shown that up to 70 percent of the first responders suffer from complex resistor problems, one-third of them have pulmonary problems and one-in-eight experience post-traumatic stress conditions.

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Days before anniversary, woman accused of defacing Sept. 11 memorial

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http://www.where-to-turn.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=49316