Notice from Joel Moskowitz, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
Excerpt: Dr, David Carpenter is a distinguished professor at the State University of Albany and an international expert on health damages caused by PCBs. He has written 450 peer-reviewed scientific papers and edited six books on environmental health issues.
Dr. Carpenter is under attack by Monsanto (which is now owned by Bayer). Monsanto manufactured most of the PCBs used in the US until PCBs were banned by the EPA in 1977.
It is common practice for professors and researchers to serve as expert witnesses when polluters are sued. Dr Carpenter stood up for people damaged by PCBs in 7 lawsuits filed against Monsanto. This year, Monsanto will be sued by the St. Regis Mohawk Indian Nation because of immense damage caused by PCBs to the Mohawks, who have consumed PCB contaminated fish from the St. Lawrence River. Levels were so high that Mohawk women were urged not to breastfeed because of the high levels of PCBs in breast milk.
Last year, attorneys for the polluters filed a Freedom of Information Request to secure David Carpenter’s records about the PCB contamination of the Mohawks. And two additional Freedom of Information requests were filed by Mosanto/Bayer lawyers. Rather than simply reviewing the requests and sharing what is required by law, the State University of Albany (SUNYA) directed Dr. David Carpenter to stop teaching classes, stop mentoring his students and prohibited him from being on campus.
David Carpenter has done nothing wrong. He has stood up for people and wildlife damaged by PCBs and now we all have to stand up for Dr. Carpenter.
Monsanto set a trap and SUNY Albany Stepped Right into the trap.
Now, Monsanto is claiming that because SUNYA is investigating the work of Dr. Carpenter (prompted by Monsanto information requests) Dr. Carpenter should not serve as an expert witness in the trial defending the Mohawks.
After eight months of being frozen out of his classroom duties (which is about 90% of his time) SUNYA has made an offer to Dr. Carpenter to allow him back in the classroom but at the same time tying him in knots and interfering with his right to serve as an expert witness…..SNIP
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