In stories reported about the Carolinas Cement Company’s proposal to rebuild a plant near Castle Hayne, N. C., Wilmington StarNews journalists invariably provide comments from various environmental nonprofit “advocates” with presumed credible authority to criticize, defame and litigate against the company. (link)
After more than three years of this, in my opinion, it’s way past time for StarNews “Watchdogs” to do some investigative reporting. We need answers to nagging questions about these people. The press has provided only superficial and self-promoting propaganda on them. Readers should learn who they are, how they are funded and what’s really behind their rabid, irrational attacks on the company. Below are a few of the questions that might help us understand what’s really behind this:
Why does the N. C. Coastal Federation and allied groups (some operating out of state) target the Carolinas Cement Co. alleging potential environmental and public health harms, while ignoring other big industries and government projects operating near Wilmington and the Cape Fear River with possibly greater potential threats?
(For example: the U.S. Army Military Ocean Terminal(link);
the N. C. Port at Wilmington(link);
an ADM plant at Southport(link);
GE Hitachi Nuclear facility at Castle Hayne(link);
the Brunswick Nuclear Plant(link);
and the New Hanover County WASTEC facility(link))
Who is Mike Giles, really? What authorizes him to be frequently cited by StarNews reporters as a “coastal advocate”? What’s behind his comment: “We’re going to keep a watch on them and not take our pressure off of Titan.”? Why does he go unchallenged when making false charges and threats?
What’s the activist agenda of the Southern Environmental Law Center? What are its connections with UNC and Duke Universities? Who funds this group and why? On what basis do these people have legal “standing” to bring lawsuits against Carolinas Cement Co.?
With no substantiation to support their charges and allegations, why aren’t the environmental activists being investigated for accountability and transparency in what they say and do? It’s time we had answers to these questions.
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