Tracklist: Mass Media mentions of Freewinds situation

Link to mass media mentions of the Freewinds situation here, so we can have a kind of index. This can help us keep track of whether or not the situation is being properly pursued by the mainstream media.

The lifetime of this topic is possibly until any potential lawsuits are resolved, I suppose. But for now, obviously the situation just being MENTIONED by big media (heck, even medium and small) is enough.

Here's what comes up easily, from Google news. So far it's really only the "usual suspects" of anti-Scientology reporting sites:

GlossLip Glosslip Exclusive: Scientology Cruise Ship Freewinds Hides Asbestos Danger

Fresh Intelligence : Radar Online : Cancer on the Lido Deck? Scientology Responds

This one's interesting though:

Scientologists Exposed to Blue Asbestos—for 21 Years


Meanwhile, in the world of the oblivious (okay, to be fair its from before the asbestos story broke), you can read about how well trained the Freewinds crew is, and how lovely and HELPFUL they are to the local authorites in St. Kitts, HERE!: SKNVibes.com News: Local Sailors Receive Safety Training Certificates


Alas, there's no ABC, no CNN, no Reuters, no New York Times, no MSNBC, etc. to point to on this story.

Gawker reported it too, but they aren't on Google News. Page Six was going to report it, but backed out after Radar Online posted theirs.

I will be having Lawrence and Astra Woodcraft on Glosslip Radio on Monday. I would be great to use that as a chance to come up with fresh info to send out to the MSM. If anything new happens, please keep me informed.

Got it.

I'd even seen that but forgotten about it:

Sail Away: Scientology's Party Boat Docked Due to Asbestos

It sucks that Google News doesn't index Gawker. Then again, Yahoo News, when searched for the term "Freewinds" seems to get ZERO results, so I suppose we can bless what little Google does get.

Originally Posted by WileyCoyote

This one's interesting though:

Scientologists Exposed to Blue Asbestos—for 21 Years

I love the look-alike tom cruise in the lower right corner of this site with the facepalm. How fitting.


(yes i know its an ad. yes its not really tom)

I have NO idea who insurancenewsnet is, or "Thomson Business Intelligence Service", and they are about as far from "major media" as you can get, but its at least SOMEONE new posting this story. Which otherwise seems to be non-existent or dead to the mass media.

Curacao Dry dock Company: Scientology's Cruise Ship Sealed Due To Asbestos Danger - - insurancenewsnet.com

Curacao Dry dock Company: Scientology's Cruise Ship Sealed Due To Asbestos Danger

Copyright: M2 Communications Ltd.
Source: M2 PressWIRE
Wordcount: 519

RDATE:01052008

Officials in Curacao have sealed and cordoned off the Freewinds, Scientology's flag ship, after dock workers found dangerous levels of blue asbestos during routine repairs.

Curacao Dry dock Company (CDM) workers discovered the blue asbestos during routine repair and renovation work while the ship was in dry dock in Otrobanda, Curacao. After an extraordinary meeting, alarmed Government officials ordered the ship sealed off and decided to inform the public of their actions in order to avoid rumour and panic among dock workers.

Reportedly, the 40 year old ship is extensively contaminated with blue asbestos, the most dangerous form of the carcinogenic mineral. Studies have shown that there are no safe levels of exposure to asbestos and a single microscopic particle could remain lodged in the lungs for years and in the right conditions, cause lung cancer. Decontamination, if it is even possible, is likely to cost tens of millions of dollars and would result in the ship being in dry dock for many months.

Alarm was raised amongst Government officials after it was revealed that the captain of the Freewinds took no action to alert the crew after CDM workers accidentally released the asbestos dust into the ventilation system. Despite being informed of the accident, and the danger, the captain chose to keep the incident secret.

Members of the public have noted with concern that the Church of Scientology appears to have been aware of the asbestos problem for 21 years and has chosen not to address it, despite being informed of the health risks. In a 2001 affidavit Freewinds' architect Lawrence Woodcraft states that after the purchase of the Freewinds in 1987 he went aboard to supervise the renovation and refitting of the old cruise liner. During the renovations blue asbestos was discovered in the engine room and then throughout the ship. He immediately informed senior Scientology management of the discovery and of its health risk to passengers and the ships Scientologist refit workers. Scientology chose to take no action, stating that since L Ron Hubbard, Scientology's founder, had never said that asbestos was dangerous there was no risk.





Woodcraft reported that as the renovations fell behind schedule an independent non-Scientologist company was brought in to assist, but left in fear for the safety of the refurbishment crew after a few weeks. Renovations continued regardless, this time with dozens of contracted Scientologists protected only by dust masks.

Since 1987 thousands of passengers have travelled on the Freewinds, both for Scientology's advanced courses as well as for conferences and other events. Many, if not all passengers and crew may have been exposed to asbestos dust churned up by the movement of the ship and standard maintenance work. Medical advice for dealing with asbestos recommends ongoing monitoring for lung cancer is required for anyone who believes they may have been exposed to the carcinogen.

Woodcraft affidavit: Lawrence Woodcraft Affidavit about Asbestos on the Freewinds - January 24, 2001 Asbestos and Mesothelioma, effect on health: Abestos and Mesothelioma: Asbestos' Effects on Health

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at M2.COM: Delivering the World's News on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).



This is a news service of Thomson Business Intelligence Service ©2006. This content is for your personal use only, subject to Terms and Conditions. No redistribution allowed.

NVM

OK, not exactly mass media, but of interest nonetheless.
ASBESTOS DANGER (Bonaire Reporter)

The Freewinds calls regularly at Bonaire and many island residents go aboard for various events.
...
The Curaçao Drydock Company (CDM), where the ship was taken for a haul out, heard from the marine surveyor of the presence of asbestos on the ship.
...
Samples taken from the paneling last week by inspectors were sent to the Netherlands. Results of testing showed that they contained significant amounts of blue asbestos. After an extraordinary meeting, the Curaçao Executive Council decided to inform the public about the incident to avoid rumors and panic.

Color image FTW:

They are going to have a hard time selling the idea that OTs anr invincible when OT8's start droping dead from this. Even more so since the usual PTS excuse may be hard to explain, considering you in the middle of the ocean, on a boat full of the most scientology crazed people on the planet. Im sure they will think of something though.

Here is a BIG question the mass media should be looking into: What steps have the Church of Scientology taken to ensure that all parishioners who took courses and all Sea Org members who worked on the Freewinds have been notified about their possible exposure to blue asbestos? Has the Church informed these people of the dangers of asbestos and advised them to seek medical advise? And if not, why not?

I just got a response from that reporter in bonaire who exposed the dumping grounds.
Posted the response in the big long ass thread under breaking news its pushed back to pg 32 or so now. He mentioned that at the rate they were dumping, maybe they were trying to keep something (BA) wet?

I can't figure out why more media outlets aren't interested in this story :( It's one HELL of a story, but nobody has picked it up yet.

Originally Posted by Apology

I can't figure out why more media outlets aren't interested in this story :( It's one HELL of a story, but nobody has picked it up yet.

corporate lawyers. 99.9% chance that's the reason.

"Thanks for all the reporting that you do. In my opinion, this is a MAJOR story, and one that has fatal consequences for those who may have been exposed to the blue asbestos dust that the owners have known about since 1987. The ship has been seized, sealed, and dry-docked in Curacao:"

Article quoted ITT.

Submitted here, to CNN:
CNN - Contact Us

I am speculating/hoping that the reason we haven't seen more msm coverage of this is that editors have realized how HUGE the story is, and that it is worth spending time doing proper investigative reporting, which can be a slowwww process.

For this story to be covered properly, it would have to be covered from a number of angles, and lots of double and triple fact-checking. If I were covering this, I would want to be able to say more than the asbestos is there, but would also want to know, who knew it was there, and when. Hopefully some OG exscilons who either worked on the original retrofiting of ship (I am frankly more worried about the Sea Org crew) or how crewed the ship.

One reason this kind of approach would take time would be that a reporter working on this would have to spend time finding and gaining the trust of both on-the-record and "unnamed" sources.

I am hoping anyway.

i just remembered something scientology's scientologist lawyer Earle Cooley mentioned
during a break during a depostion in RTC vs Lerma, the lawyers were chit chatting and he mentioned that
he used to represent Johns Manville (a manufacturer of the stuff) in asbestos litigation...