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May 31, 2012
Contentious activists Posted by Bob Smith , 9:49 am Reprinted from a SquallLines posting on May 30 Combative and counter-productive environmentalists continue their attacks on the Carolinas Cement Company. Filing lawsuits based on foolishness with intent to stall production and add cost to the company is their short term game plan. In the longer run they hope to shut down our productive industries and lock up our natural resources in preserves. Company managers, engineers, technicians, construction workers and a host of other people must wait to begin work while environmental gamesters play their litigation cards. Ms. Queram writes: “The permit…came after three years of wrangling and contentious battles between the cement corporation and local residents and environmental groups….” Based on my observations over this time, company people didn’t wrangle or battle with anyone. But they have been ruthlessly and relentlessly attacked. On occasion, they’ve attempted to defend their good name from slanderous assaults, but they have never been quarrelsome. Quite the opposite; company people came to this area offering goodwill and economic benefits. They were rebuffed by a small number of well-funded and organized environmental activists who immediately set up an antagonistic Stop Titan Network. Further, company officials have been unbelievably patient with the vicious assaults on their work—even their intentions have been impugned. Activists (in groups such as the N. C. Coastal Federation and Cape Fear River Watch) tried to defame the company; spread unfounded malicious propaganda about assumed dangers to humans from plant operations; and hired the regional hostile SELC to bring lawsuits crafted to stall company operations. Ms. Queram provides some credibility and cover by writing that these people are “deeply concerned” about “potential impacts”—assuming all of them to be negative and failing to question the flimsy basis for concerns. This latest frivolous attempt to stall the company plans didn’t warrant a comment from the state Air Quality Division spokesman (the SELC accused the agency people of dereliction of duty). Bob Odom, Carolinas Cement manager calmly reminded all the belligerent parties that his company must meet all state and federal regulations regardless of what plans they have. Further, he has told us that the company must also endure a long, expensive federally mandated environmental review to be granted another permit required for the company to operate their facility. It’s clear to me who are the contentious ones. (For more about recent unscrupulous activities committed by the Stop Titan Action Network against Titan Cement read blogs, “Connecting the dots” and “The rest of the story” by Kate McClain at the Carolinas Cement Company site.)
 May 4, 2012 Connecting the dots Posted by Kate McClain , 9:51 am It has come to our attention that on Saturday, May 5, the Stop Titan Action Network (STAN) is hosting a protest on Wrightsville Beach to “connect the dots” between climate impacts and its causes. STAN is touting this event as a show of solidarity with Alexandria, Egypt and locations in Greece where Titan Cement, our parent company, operates cement plants. If protestors would take the time to truly connect the dots between Titan and its environmental records, here is what they would discover: - On Friday, December 30, a group of armed terrorists and unarmed protestors stormed Titan’s cement plant in Alexandria, Egypt and set it on fire. The attack shut down the plant and put innocent lives at risk. The crowd dispersed after the military arrived to reopen the roads and protect the plant. - The protest at the Alexandria plant was an illegal act spurred by political unrest against the Egyptian administration, not against Titan or its environmental record. Egypt is going through political transition after 60 years of an oppressive regime. This incident had less to do with Titan and its operations and more to do with Egypt’s massive civil unrest and general chaos at that time. - An anti-Titan activist contacted Stop Titan about the December 30 protests using Facebook and blog postings, escalating his rantings into a “solidarity” protest without corroborating any of his statements or asking for verification. - The Alexandria plant employs approximately 2,000 people. It was not built by Titan, but since Titan Cement acquired it, it has been continuously upgraded to ensure it operates in the cleanest and most efficient manner possible. - The people of Greece are also experiencing traumatic economic and social difficulties. To protest an environmentally responsible jobs creator such as Titan Cement only exacerbates this unrest and certainly does nothing to ameliorate the struggle faced by Greek citizens. - Concrete is the final end product of cement. It is the most environmentally and sustainable materials for the construction of buildings and roads. Thanks to its resilience, it is essential for disaster prevention, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes and can positively address climate change adaptation. A good place to start is at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub at http://web.mit.edu/cshub/index.html. We, at Titan America, encourage you to use caution before forming alliances. We also invite you to research the exemplary environmental and community stewardship of Titan America and our parent company, Titan Cement. Perhaps most importantly, learn about the sustainable benefits of our products. As always, we welcome your thoughts and questions.
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Recent: Corrections to SELC's allegations Roanoke Cement helps Glenvar Elementary cut costs Excellence in quality, outstanding environmental practices. Sums it up nicely. More straight talk Archive:
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