Media Advisory for: Wednesday, October 21
Nurses, Elected Officials, Environmental and Community Advocates to Speak Out about the Dangers of Oil Trains
On the Heels of Governor Cuomo's Announcement to Provide Local Fire Departments More Equipment for Battling Oil Train Disasters, Activists to Stage Die-In to Dramatize Threat of Oil Train Explosions
Saratoga Springs, NY — Members of the New York State Nurses Association along with local and state officials will stage a rally and die-in at the Saratoga Springs Amtrak station, where approximately 240 train cars containing oil from fracking pass each day.
The speakout will dramatize the danger to public health posed by oil trains, commemorate the people who have lost their lives in oil train disasters, and bring together advocates who have been working on solutions to protect communities throughout the state from potential derailments and explosions. Hundreds of RNs from around New York State will attend the event in conjunction with their union's convention that is currently underway at the Saratoga Springs Hilton
WHAT: Speakout against fracking oil trains
WHO: New York State Nurses Association, Assembly Member Pat Fahey, Assembly Member Richard Gottfried, Assembly Member Phillip Steck, Capital District Area Labor Federation, Citizen Action, Food & Water Watch, Healthy Schools Network, Rabbi Linda Motzkin, Scenic Hudson, Sustainable Saratoga.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21 from 10:30 – 11:30 AM
WHERE: Saratoga Springs Amtrak Station
344 Church St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
VISUALS: Dramatic and creative die-in action, signs, chants, huge crowd, train tracks that service oil trains, live music, multi-media presentation
Background: The state of New York placed a temporary moratorium on hydrofracking, but volatile, explosive oil produced from fracking travels through the state on its way to refineries on the East Coast, passing through cities such as Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Plattsburgh, Saratoga Springs, and Albany, as well as many smaller communities in between and along the Hudson River, skirting New York City.
The oil is shipped in train tank cars designed to hold liquids, but not hazardous liquids like fracking oil. This method of transporting oil has proven hazardous, and even deadly, as train derailments have caused massive explosions recently in Canada, Alabama, North Dakota and West Virginia.
Approximately 240 train cars of oil travels through New York State each day, creating a virtual pipeline through the state. The pace of transporting fracking oil by train is increasing steadily, along with the pace of accidents.
Elected officials and advocates are involved in proposed legislation and lawsuits to make transporting this fuel safer.
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 37,000 members in New York State. We are New York's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, please visit our website at www.nysna.org
Contact: Kristi Barnes, kristi.barnes@nysna.org
Carl Ginsburg, carl.ginsburg@nysna.org
Rich Bamberger, 212-929-0669
/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Oct. 20, 2015/
SOURCE New York State Nurses Association
