Pfizer Biotech Stem Cell Researcher To Report On Health And Safety Dangers

The commemoration of Workers Memorial Day in San Francisco will focus on the dangers of biotechnology for workers in this unregulated industry.
It will also honor Dr. Jeannette Adu-Bobie

Pfizer Biotech Stem Cell Researcher To Report On Health And Safety Dangers On April 28, 2009 Workers Memorial Day & Honor Dr. Jeannette Adu-Bobie

Injured Pfizer Biotech Stem Cell Researcher To Report On Health And Safety Dangers On April 28, 2009 Workers Memorial Day

Press Conference:

Tuesday April 28, 2009 3:00 PM

Pfizer Research Facility on the UCSF Mission Bay Campus

In front of Pfizer Research Facility - 455 Mission Bay Boulevard South at 3rd St., SF, next to the New UCSF Biotech China Basin building.



About:



Injured Pfizer Molecular Biologist Becky McClain to participate in Press Conference on dangers of stem cell research and need for proper oversight and health and safety protection. Billions of dollars of funds including from the tax payers of California is going into research and development of the biotech industry and stem cell research. Despite this massive public expenditure there is a complete lack of proper oversight and protection of workers who are in this industry.



The current developing pandemic in Mexico in Mexico of a swine flu is a clear example of the potential public and human cost of unregulated and uncontrolled development of genetic engineering without proper health and safety. Although there is no evidence at present that this flu was the result of genetic engineering this could have come from genetic engineering.



Becky McClain, a molecular biologist from the Pfizer corporation in Connecticut was working at their laboratory on stem cell research where she incurred biological exposures while on the job. She has been fighting since that time to obtain the rights to exposure records which are necessary for healthcare from these exposures. She will speak to educate the public about the lack of biotech worker’s rights and the dangers of new genetic engineered technologies.



The federal lack of protection of the introduction of new technology in the workplace is a growing danger not only to those technology workers but the public at large.

In light of the new emerging swine flu epidemic in Mexico, biotech workers rights and public health and safety are the first line of defense against accidental, negligent or intentional release of infectious agents that could cause new emerging disease.



This will be the first press conference and educational presentation at one of the largest biotech campuses in the world.



For interviews and contact information for Becky McClain and other speakers please call

(415)867-0628

California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day

http://www.workersmemorialday.org/documents/McClain.htm




7:00 PM Speak-Out
At ILWU Local 34 - 2nd St/Embarcadero on the left side of AT&T Park
Free Parking at ILUW Local 34
Speakers including: Shiela Davis, Executive Director Silicon Valley Toxic Coalition, Daniel Berman, author of Death on The Job, Becky McClain, injured Pfizer micro biologist, Dina Padilla injured Kaiser worker, Carl Bryant, NALC Local 214, Mike Daley, Iron Workers Local 377 on 9/11 NYC First Responders, Roland Shephard retired BA Painters Local 4 also representatives from the ILWU and other unions, injured workers and their families.

California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day (CCWMD)
P.O. Box 720027, San Francisco, CA 94172
http://www.workersmemorialday.org

(415) 867-0628


Workers Memorial Day Press Conference in San Francisco Honors Dr. Jeannette Adu-Bobie
http://watchdogonscience.blogspot.com/2009/04/workers-memorial-day-press-conference.html

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009

Workers Memorial Day Press Conference in San Francisco Honors Dr. Jeannette Adu-Bobie
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 is International Worker’s Memorial Day, a day to honor workers who have been killed, disabled or injured. This year, the California Coalition for Workers Memorial Day (CCWMD) will focus on the need for health and safety protections, regulations and standards for new industries such as biotechnology and nanotechnology.

This Tuesday, April 28th, 2009, Becky McClain, biotechnologist, will honor Dr. Jeannette Adu-Bobie at the San Francisco Worker's Memorial Day press conference at 3pm at 455 Mission Bay Boulevard South at 3rd St., San Francisco. Dr. Adu-Bobie’s struggle illustrates the difficulties injured biotech workers face.

In 2005 Dr. Adu-Bobie, a British scientist, who specializes in meningococcal bacteria research, lost her legs, left arm and right digits after contracting a meningococcal infection while working in a New Zealand vaccine lab. The vaccine lab strain was identical to the strain that had infected Dr. Adu-Bobie. Unbelievably, officials still denied her injuries originated from her workplace. It took three years of legal struggle, before experts finally admitted that her injury was caused by her work. In the end she only received $117,000 for damages. Her story highlights the realities and struggles that injured biotech workers face. She has been courageous enough to break the silence about dangerous work conditions in biotech laboratories. Dr. Adu-Bobie questioned safety procedures when she saw Neisseria meningitidis being plated out on an open bench and subsequently, but mysteriously, came down with the life threatening and disabling infection. We honor Dr. Adu-Bobie’s fortitude and courage.

Press release:http://www.workersmemorialday.org/documents/WMD%2009-SF%20flyer.pdf
See VIDEO:http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1983298
Article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/562741