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Chernobyl on the Hudson

Chernobyl on the Hudson

Date: Jan 11 2008

Themes: Health, News

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

It snowed on September 11, 2001 in New York. For a few miles around the World Trade Center, everything was covered in white dust. The government said the air was safe to breathe. They were glad to get the city back to normal as quickly as possible.

But now, thousands of people who helped clean up the attack site, or who simply lived nearby, have severe lung and sinus problems as well as other issues. It turns out the dust was toxic and that government officials had known it was all along. Over 100 people have died of illnesses caused by the dust and many more will soon.

Yet almost no help is available to people who have become sick. And Manhattan was never completely cleaned. It seems that 9/11 was a nightmare that only began six years ago. Listen to Jason and Marni talk about this problem.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Jason

Marni

Marni

Jason:  So, you know how every now and then the United States has one of these, like, enormous blunders, like the Japanese internment camps or something?

Marni:  Uh, yeah, that would qualify, yes.

Jason:  I think we’re on to one of those blunders right now with the whole 9/11 ills thing, with all the people getting sick in New York.

Marni:  Absolutely, yeah.

Jason:  I mean, it’s just crazy that there’s thousands of people being denied treatment and they all got sick because of this thing that’s this huge rallying point for the whole country, yet, they’re totally ignored.

Marni:  Yeah, isn’t it interesting? All those those people who are getting sick? And I know, Sicko, Michael Moore talked about that because he brought the people who worked there to Cuba to get treatment because they couldn’t get treatment here. It’s so messed up. It’s kind of creepy. And obviously, we’re six years out now from that event and more and more people are getting sick from it.

Jason:  Absolutely. There’s 70,000 people, is what I read, who were within the range of the toxic dust, who probably will become sick at some point in the next 20 years…

Marni:  Agh. So disturbing.

Jason:  ...which is crazy! And it’s so much more easily dealt with if it was just given money right now, you know? But instead if we wait until it’s this massive disaster and we just look horrible to the international community and to our own people and it costs way more, and people are going to die…

Marni:  Well that’s how our health care system is in this country. It’s not at all based on preventative care. It’s all about, like, “Oh, let’s see how bad it gets” and then, “Oh, we have a catastrophe.” And then we try and fix it. You can’t put a Band Aid on a gaping wound. It’s just ridiculous.

Jason:  But it’s just so crazy with this particular thing because it’s like, everyone has that bumper sticker, “9/11 never forget,” but all these people are totally forgotten.

Marni:  Exactly. No, you’re right, you’re right. It’s sad.

 

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Discussion

Jason says that he thinks the lack of treatment for illnesses related to 9/11 will go down in history as a horrible injustice. He compares it to when Japanese-Americans were imprisoned during World War II.

Marni points out that the American health care system isn’t really into preventative care. So while the situation is sad, it’s really not unusual.

But Jason says it’s very unusual because 9/11 is such a source of pride and patriotism for many Americans that it’s particularly terrible to let people who are sick because of it go untreated.

What do you think? Did you know about this issue before? Were you surprised to learn that people are still getting sick as a result of 9/11?

For more information on 9/11 ills check out this article in Discover Magazine.

The title of this lesson is taken from a statement by George Tabb, one of the most outspoken victims of 9/11 ills. Click here to see a video he made about it.

 

Comments

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mango sorbet

Malaysia

its really so sad, 6 years ago when i heard this news i really cry nonstop. So sad about this, this will effect people in that area.i really don’t know why the world getting worst?

06:55 PM Jan 12 2008 |

kuaileniao66

China

Why did it happn?

01:38 PM Jan 12 2008 |

gerald-young

China

I was shocked after read this! can't believe it!

12:29 PM Jan 12 2008 |

China

Hello,everyone! I am a new comer.I need your help to study English and make friehdes.I will become your good,I believe!All right,Iam a Chinese…

12:24 PM Jan 12 2008 |

Monika Anna

Poland

Shock! People say most about Chernobyl in the east Europe.

11:58 AM Jan 12 2008 |

KWAKU

Ghana

hi thanks for meeting u .hope all is well please Email me or call.. 0233 275465506 .or

11:49 AM Jan 12 2008 |

nagendra

India

it's a coward thing

11:03 AM Jan 12 2008 |

angel only

angel only

China

i  think  i  need  a  fiends  to talk with,

 

who  want to talk  with me ,

 

i think  i  need  you

10:23 AM Jan 12 2008 |

angel only

angel only

China

i  think  i  need  a  fiends  to talk with,

 

who  want to talk  with me ,

 

i think  i  need  you

10:23 AM Jan 12 2008 |

Kenny Ren

Kenny Ren

China

Just do it!!

10:14 AM Jan 12 2008 |

muhammad ayat

Pakistan

but i don't who is responsible for bringing this great calamity to america. no one know exactly about it .

 But every one who brought calamity to Afghanistan and Iraq's sociaty. this is america.

Now iu wnt to leave the decision on who is terrorist and who is annocent

07:59 AM Jan 12 2008 |

boo_boo

Viet Nam

hi i'm thao and i'm from vietnam. i want to improve my english. i think you anh me can practise together

07:24 AM Jan 12 2008 |

boo_boo

Viet Nam

hi. i'm love my life, so alway smile and try all my best for my life

 

07:13 AM Jan 12 2008 |

xiongfeng

China

I am happy to join in englishbaby!

I will study english well.

06:54 AM Jan 12 2008 |

xiongfeng

China

I am very happy to join in englishbady!

I will study english well.

06:51 AM Jan 12 2008 |

momocha

momocha

China

PITY

06:04 AM Jan 12 2008 |

joy9215

joy9215

China

i don't understand some words.

04:49 AM Jan 12 2008 |

Christoph07

Germany

Thats terrible. It shows that Terror act at 9/11 will cost much of lives in future too. Terror is contemptible like many wars because innocent people must die. I thought about toxic exposition from dust as I saw the pictures and now I know it is real. It is not much hope for any concerned person that in China are dieing 100-thousands of people at toxics in environment every year and much more in the whole world. This death is slowly and silently without guns and bombs and sometimes only next generation is concerned.

Its horrible.

Stand up, save Your environment and clean the world from toxic waste and fanatic terrorism.Wink

 

10:31 PM Jan 11 2008 |

fantas

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

you shoud know that american goverment just taking about the justice

 

09:36 PM Jan 11 2008 |

thelava

thelava

Saudi Arabia

that pity and i hope it doesnt come agein

 

 

09:34 PM Jan 11 2008 |

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