KARANVIRSINGNAYAR

Nestlé: The Most Evil Business in the World Nestlé is one death ray away from cinematic levels of evil. If there weren’t laws about it, they would use lead-based colorants and shit like that in their food. This company has been involved in some of the worst atrocities against humanity. From refusing clean drinking water in Flint, Michigan to using “experimental” baby formula in Africa — and you’re probably also unaware of the child labor and forced labor involved to get your last choccy bar. These are some very bad hombres. Here’s everything that makes Nestlé the evilest company in the world. Experimental Baby Formula in Africa Baby formula. Nestlé used to give out free samples to mothers in third-world countries — most notably in Africa. They coupled this program with an advertising campaign promoting formula as a superior alternative to mothers’ milk. It would have turned out fine. But it didn’t. The samples that Nestlé gave out had been calculated to last long enough just for the mother to stop producing breast milk, but nowhere near enough to feed the baby until it could be weaned. This left almost all of the African mothers without any alternatives once their free supply was exhausted. Many infants grew up malnourished or died. Nestlé remained largely indifferent to the issue until they faced consumer backlash and boycotts in Western countries. Source African Slave Children Nestlé is the largest food company in the world. Sure, besides candy most of that “food” is powdered crap that you shouldn’t feed your dog, but it’s technically food nonetheless. And as the largest “food” company Nestlé has a market capitalization of $270 billion — in fact, cocoa futures are a thing too btw. In 2018 cocoa even outperformed Bitcoin. So, how does Nestlé become the most valuable food company? Easy, companies like Nestlé and Hershey have their own cocoa plantations and African slave children. They cut out the middle man and the high transportation costs that other food companies deal with. Back in 2005 the International Labor Rights Fund actually filed a lawsuit against Nestlé on behalf of three Malian children. The suit alleged the children were trafficked to the Ivory Coast, forced into slavery, and experienced frequent beatings on the plantation. (There’s an excellent documentary called The Dark Side of Chocolate that goes into this more) africametro Well, guess what? Nestlé got off scot-free! In 2010, a US District Court in California determined corporations cannot be held liable for violations of international law and dismissed the suit. It didn’t matter that Nestlé profited, knowingly so, from child slavery. Nestlé Pays $200 a Year to Bottle Water Near Flint — Where Water is still Undrinkable Water is still undrinkable in Flint, Michigan. It’s pure insanity. The lead lines are almost all replaced but there’s still more to go. Meanwhile, during the height of the Flint water crisis (and to this day), Nestlé only pays $200 a year to pump hundreds of thousands of bottles’ worth out of a nearby reserve. Flint residents were pissed. “It’s almost like a civics class for us Flint folks. You shouldn’t be able to profit off of water — it’s free. It came out of the ground.” — Gina Luster, Flint resident It wasn’t the first time Nestlé pulled off a stunt like this. Years ago they bought up land in South Africa preventing people from accessing groundwater and selling them Nestlé Pure Life brand instead. Takeaway And we didn’t even cover it all. Here’s what else they’ve done: Nestlé used an army to kill union workers in the Philippines They work with dictators, which included buying a farm owned by the wife of Robert Mugabe, one of Zimbabwe's most brutal leaders. They had a cartel in Canada While we’re at it, Nestlé Pure Life is the worst brand of water I’ve ever had. It tastes like crap and the plastic bottle is so thin that it feels like it will crumble under its own weight. Nestlé sucks.

2023 visit by Joe Biden to Ukraine On February 20, 2023, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, made a visit to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, his first since the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1][2] Out of security concerns, his travel plans had not been made public prior to his arrival, and only two journalists accompanied him, having been sworn to secrecy three days earlier.[3][4] The visit took place on the day Ukraine remembers the Heavenly Hundred, on the eve of a scheduled major speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin and four days ahead of the 1-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion. The trip lasted a total of 24 hours, the majority of which were taken by the long train rides. During the five hours of meetings in Kyiv, Biden announced another $500 million in military assistance to Ukraine. Biden's visit received a mixed reaction in the United States, split primarily along political party lines.[5][6][7] It was the first time in modern history that a sitting U.S. President has traveled to an active conflict zone not controlled by the American military, and was the closest a president had come to a combat zone since Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War.[3] The Pentagon and the Secret Service opposed the visit to Kyiv. Background On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War.[8][9][10] Throughout the war, the United States had been the largest supporter of Ukraine, committing over US$27 billion in security assistance since the invasion began.[11] The Pentagon and the Secret Service opposed Biden visiting Kyiv, and there were rumors about a possible meeting near the Polish border or in Lviv, Western Ukraine.[12] The visit also came during softening support for the U.S. supplying weapons to Ukraine, according to polls.[13][14][15] Visit to Ukraine External video video icon President Biden Visits Ukraine, February 20, 2023, C-SPAN Amid great secrecy, at about 4am EST on February 19, 2023, Biden departed the White House and travelled to Joint Base Andrews for a flight to Rzeszów, Poland, with a refueling stop at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, on a Boeing C-32A with the call sign "SAM060". Upon arrival at Rzeszów and transfer by car to Przemyśl, Biden boarded an overnight train to Kyiv, the method by which many world leaders visited the capital since the beginning of the invasion. The Russian government was informed prior to Biden's visit. The train ride lasted nearly 10 hours.[16] During Biden's five hours in Kyiv, he was transported in a black limousine rather than the usual armored presidential car.[17][18][19] Joe Biden visits the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine During his visit, Biden met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, and Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine.[20] The White House stated the visit to an active warzone was unprecedented as the U.S. does not have a military presence in Ukraine, nor a significant diplomatic footprint in Kyiv.[21] The visit was the first in modern history that a US leader has traveled into a war zone not under control of the US military.[22][17][23] Air-raid sirens blared in Kyiv while Biden and Zelenskyy were walking outside.[24] The sirens were triggered by a Russian MiG, carrying a hypersonic missile, taking off in Belarus.[24] There were no attacks on Kyiv during the visit.[24] The trip preceded a scheduled visit to Europe, but the White House released a schedule about four hours after Biden entered Ukraine indicating he was still in Washington and was leaving for Europe that night. The visit took place on the day Ukraine remembers the Heavenly Hundred, on the eve of a scheduled major speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin and four days ahead of the 1-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion by Russia.[25][26][27] The US government believes that while Biden was in Ukraine, Russia conducted a test of an RS-28 Sarmat ICBM that failed. Russia gave the US advance notice of the test.[28][29][30] Biden's trip in Ukraine lasted a total of 24 hours, the majority of which were taken by the long train rides.[31] Oleksandr Kamyshin, the CEO of Ukrainian Railways, said the company named the train "Rail Force One" and apologized for the delays caused to other passengers.[31] After the visit, Biden returned to Poland where he had a meeting with the Bucharest Nine and held a speech in Warsaw.[32] He also condemned Russia's backing away from the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty.[32] Joint press conference with Zelenskyy Biden held a joint press conference with Zelenskyy at Mariinskyi Palace, remarking that "One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you."[33][34][35] Military aid announcement Biden announced an additional military aid package for Ukraine, worth US$500 million and including ammunition for the HIMARS rocket launcher system.[20][36][37][38] Reactions Domestic reactions Zelenskyy receives Biden in Kyiv Media Luke Harding from the The Guardian called the visit "arguably the most consequential made by any US president to a European country since the end of the cold war."[6] The Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum wrote that the visit was a message not only to Moscow, but to European leaders as well as defense ministries and industries: "the paradigm has shifted, and the story has changed. The old "normal" is not coming back."[25] Politicians Political scientist Eliot A. Cohen compared the symbolism of the trip to President John F. Kennedy or President Ronald Reagan at the Berlin Wall, and saw it as a gut punch to Putin, a leader "obsessed with strength".[39] Republicans criticized the Biden's travel to a war zone that does not have a considerable American military presence saying that Biden would have been better off going to the Mexican border or East Palestine, Ohio, that was recently affected by toxic waste released by a crashed train.[5] United States Republican Congressmen Andy Ogles, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Matt Gaetz published statements on Twitter decrying the trip, while Democrats praised Biden's leadership and support of Ukraine.[40] National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said, "the visit today was an effort to show, and not just tell, that we will continue to stand strong."[25] White House officials described the visit as "unprecedented in modern times", due to the regular attacks that the site of the visit was under.[41] Ukrainian residents and officials welcomed the visit as a historic moment and Zelenskyy said it "is an extremely important sign of support for all Ukrainians."[26] Andriy Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said the visit also had strategic effect: "A lot of issues are being resolved and those that have been pending will be expedited".[26] International reactions Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed the visit as an effort to increase the "huge quantities" of weapons and money already sent to Ukraine.[42] Many of Russia's military pundits reacted with anger or embarrassment.[42] Igor Girkin suggested "the grandfather" could have gone to the heavily contested Bakhmut area without any personal danger.[42] Journalist Sergey Mardan wrote that it was a "demonstrative humiliation of Russia."[42] A collective of service members noted the irony of Biden setting foot in Kyiv before Putin.[42] Analysts as well as Polish President Andrzej Duda saw the trip as an important morale boost for the Ukrainian soldiers.[12][43] After news of the visit broke, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced $5.5 billion in new financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.[44][45][46] Gallery

BlackRock: The Company that Owns the World BlackRock is a global investment management corporation that is widely regarded as one of the most influential financial institutions in the world. With over $8 trillion in assets under management, BlackRock is the largest asset management company on the planet, controlling vast sums of money on behalf of its clients, which include governments, pension funds, insurance companies, and wealthy individuals. BlackRock's power and influence extend far beyond just its assets under management, however. The company has a significant stake in many of the world's largest corporations, including tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, and it exerts considerable influence over the companies in which it invests through its shareholder voting power. In addition to its role in global finance, BlackRock has also been criticized for its environmental and social impact. The company has been accused of investing in fossil fuels and contributing to climate change, and it has faced protests over its involvement in companies that profit from activities such as deforestation and weapons manufacturing. Given its size, scope, and influence, BlackRock has been referred to as "the company that owns the world," highlighting the enormous power it wields in global finance and its potential impact on the world's economy, environment, and social fabric. blackrock,larry fink,housing market,private equity,federal reserve,housing market 2021,dividend investing,stocks,bitcoin 2021,real estate,inflation,blackstone,the great reset,too big to fail,world bank,lehman brothers,best stocks to buy now,tesla stock,stock market crash 2021,ipo,penny stocks,swing trading,market,yahoo finance,nate obrien,graham stephan,andrei jikh,stock market crash,make money online 2021,business ideas 2021

The CIA’s Plot to Assassinate Julian Assange LONDON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - A British judge ruled on Monday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should not be extradited to the United States to face criminal charges including breaking a spying law, saying his mental health problems meant he would be at risk of suicide. The United States said it would continue to seek the extradition of Australian-born Assange and U.S. prosecutors are set to appeal Monday's decision to London's High Court. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The U.S. authorities accuse Assange of 18 offences relating to the release by WikiLeaks of vast troves of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables which they say put lives in danger. article-prompt-devices Register for free to Reuters and know the full story Assange's lawyers will seek bail on Wednesday for their 49-year-old client, who has spent most of the last decade either in prison or self-imposed confinement. read more "We will continue to seek Mr. Assange's extradition," said a U.S. Justice Department statement, adding that the United States had won on all the legal points, including arguments relating to freedom of speech and political motivation. Latest Updates Australia's treasurer says curbing inflation remains economic 'main game' With backing from business lobby, Japan PM calls for workers' pay hikes Russian Soyuz spacecraft docks at ISS to bring back stranded crew New Zealand police search for 8 people still missing after Cyclone Gabrielle Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes New Britain, Papua New Guinea A spokeswoman for the transition team of President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on Jan. 20, had no comment. read more The Obama administration, in which Biden served as vice president, decided not to prosecute Assange over concerns about the precedent the case could set for free speech and journalists. Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have sent mixed messages on Assange and there was no immediate White House comment on the ruling. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Shortly before the 2016 presidential election, Trump praised WikiLeaks after it released hacked emails which caused embarrassment for his opponent Hillary Clinton, saying, “I love WikiLeaks.” But within months of Trump becoming president, his first CIA director Mike Pompeo, now secretary of state, denounced WikiLeaks as "a non-state hostile intelligence service." Assange's legal team argued that the U.S. effort to extradite him was launched under pressure from Trump's administration, and that his extradition would pose a severe threat to press freedom. But it was only the risk he would commit suicide if he were held in a U.S. maximum security jail that led Judge Vanessa Baraitser to reject the extradition request. Assange, she said, suffered at times from severe depression and had been diagnosed with autism. Half a razor blade was found in his London prison cell in May 2019, and he had told medical staff of suicidal thoughts and made plans to end his life. "I find that Mr. Assange's risk of committing suicide, if an extradition order were to be made, to be substantial," Baraitser said in her ruling at London's Old Bailey court. "The overall impression is of a depressed and sometimes despairing man, who is genuinely fearful about his future." WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange makes a speech from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, in central London [1/5] WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange makes a speech from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy, in central London, Britain February 5, 2016. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls She said Assange had made regular calls from jail to the Samaritans suicide-prevention charity. Wearing a navy suit and a mask, Assange showed little emotion at the ruling. Outside court, his partner Stella Moris, with whom he had two children while seeking asylum in London's Ecuadorean Embassy, said the decision was a victory but the threat of extradition was still hanging over him. "I call on the president of the United States to end this now: Mr President, tear down these prison walls, let our little boys have their father. Free Julian, free the press, free us all," she said. U.S. prosecutors and Western security officials regard Assange as a reckless and dangerous enemy of the state whose actions imperilled the lives of agents named in the leaked material. ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT HERO Supporters see Assange as an anti-establishment hero who has been victimised because he exposed U.S. wrongdoing in Afghanistan and Iraq and say his prosecution is a politically motivated assault on journalism and free speech. Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his country would offer Assange political asylum. read more "Assange is a journalist and deserves a chance, I am in favor of pardoning him," he said. "We'll give him protection." WikiLeaks came to prominence when it published a U.S. military video in 2010 showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff. It then released thousands of secret classified files and diplomatic cables. The legal saga began soon afterwards when Sweden sought Assange's extradition from Britain over allegations of sex crimes. When he lost that case in 2012, he fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he spent seven years. When he was finally dragged out in April 2019, he was jailed for breaching British bail conditions although the Swedish case against him had been dropped. Last June, the U.S. Justice Department formally asked Britain to extradite him. Baraitser rejected the arguments that the case was political and an assault on freedom of speech, saying there was insufficient evidence that prosecutors had been pressured by Trump's team and little evidence of hostility from the U.S. president. read more She said there was no evidence Assange would not get a fair trial in the United States and that his actions had gone beyond investigative journalism. But she said there was a real risk that, if found guilty, he would be held in the ADX Florence maximum security prison (SAM) in almost total isolation, and that he would find a way around their suicide prevention measures. "I am satisfied that, if he is subjected to the extreme conditions of SAMs, Mr. Assange's mental health will deteriorate to the point where he will commit suicide," Baraitser said #CIAAssassinationPlot #JulianAssangeTargeted #AssangeAssassination #WikiLeaksRevenge #FreeAssangeCampaign #USGovtConspiracy #NoExtradition #AssangeProtection #JournalismUnderThreat #StopCensorship #TruthMatters #WhistleblowerProtection #ExposeTheCorruption #DefendFreeSpeech #FightForPressFreedom #ExposeTheLies #StandWithJulianAssange #ProtectFreedomOfThePress #AssangeIsNotACriminal #StopTheWarOnJournalism #SolidarityWithAssange #ExposeTheTruth #AssangeIsAHero #FreePressUnderAttack #ProtectJournalists #HumanRightsAbuse #SaveJulianAssange #DefendAssange #ProtectWhistleblowers #JusticeForJulianAssange #ReleaseAssangeNow #AssangeWasRight #NoUSExtradition #ProtectDemocracy #AssangeTorture #ProtectSources #SupportJulianAssange #ExposeGovernmentLies #DefendTheTruth #StopTheCIA #StopTheAssassinationPlot #AssangeUnderAttack #ExposeTheCoverup #SaveFreeSpeech #AssangeInDanger #ProtectTheTruth #TruthWillPrevail #AssangeVsCIA #NoMoreSecrets #AssangeExposedTheTruth

Welcome back to another day at sea 🚢 [Scene: A cargo ship slowly makes its way through the Suez Canal, with a narrator providing voiceover.] Narrator: "The Suez Canal, one of the world's most important trade routes, connecting the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Every year, thousands of ships make their way through this narrow waterway, but for some, the journey is not without its challenges." [Cut to the ship's captain, played by you, standing on the deck of the ship.] Captain: "We've been waiting for days to pass through the Suez Canal. The port authorities are backed up with ships waiting to cross, and it's causing a major delay in our shipment." [Cut to the ship's crew, unloading cargo and checking equipment.] Narrator: "The ship's crew works tirelessly to prepare for the crossing, knowing that every minute counts in the world of international trade." [Cut to the ship's captain, speaking with a port official on the shore.] Captain: "Is there anything we can do to expedite the process? We're willing to pay extra if it means we can cross sooner." Port official: "I'm sorry, Captain. We can't accept bribes or special payments to speed up the process. We have to follow the rules and treat all ships equally." [Cut to the ship's crew, continuing to prepare for the crossing.] Narrator: "The ship's crew works even harder, knowing that they'll have to wait their turn like everyone else." [Cut to the ship's captain, talking with the crew.] Captain: "We'll just have to be patient and wait our turn. We'll get through the canal eventually, and our cargo will arrive on time." [Cut to the ship's crew, continuing to work as the ship approaches the canal.] Narrator: "Finally, the ship enters the Suez Canal, navigating the narrow passage with skill and precision." [Cut to the ship's captain, observing the canal passage from the bridge.] Captain: "This is quite a feat of engineering, isn't it? It's amazing what human beings can accomplish when we work together." [Cut to the ship's crew, finishing up the crossing and celebrating their successful journey.] Narrator: "With the crossing complete, the ship's crew celebrates their success, knowing that their hard work and determination paid off in the end." [End scene.] I hope this script provides you with a helpful example for your project. Please let me know if you have any further questions or if there's anything else I can help you with. SUEZ CANAL TRANSIT This transit is one of a kind , wherein there is absolutely no margin for error in NAVIGATION . As you can see behind me , the canal is really narrow and being on the biggest ship in the world , THINGS do get tensed . Make sure you watch the video till the end It's going to fun & enjoyable 😉 DONT FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL #MERCHANTNAVY #KSN To buy the things I carry onboard / my vlogging-editing setup check the following link : https://www.amazon.in/shop/karanvir.n... MY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS 📹 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/karanvir.na... Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karanvir-... Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/karanhiyo ► Company Credit : 'Maersk Line' Website - https://www.maersk.com ► Social media https://www.instagram.com/maersk_offi... ► Camera - GOPRO HERO 8 BLACK ► MIC - Standard wireless mic ► Ship Credits - Emma Maersk under Maersk Line ►Music Credit | Song: Bayza & Dimatis - Serenity Music provided by Vlog No Copyright Music. Video Link: • Bayza & Dimatis -... Song: Dimatis - Overcoming Music provided by Vlog No Copyright Music. Video Link: • Dimatis - Overcom...

THIS IS HOW JOE BIDEN IS KILLING OHIO || YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS OUT ABOUT OHIO AND EAST PALESTINE 2023 Ohio train derailment The 2023 Ohio train derailment (also called the East Palestine train derailment) occurred on February 3, 2023, at 8:55 p.m. EST (UTC−5), when 38 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, United States.[1] Several railcars burned for more than two days, and then emergency crews conducted a controlled burn of several railcars at the request of state officials,[2] which released hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the air.[1] As a result, residents within a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) radius were evacuated, and an emergency response was initiated from agencies in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Background The derailed train was Norfolk Southern train 32N[3] operating from the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis yard in Madison, Illinois, to Norfolk Southern's Conway Yard in Conway, Pennsylvania, on the Fort Wayne Line. Aboard the 9,300 feet (1.76 mi; 2.8 km) long train[4] were an engineer, conductor, and conductor trainee.[5] The train consisted of 141 loaded cars and 9 empty cars.[6] Other reports note one more car, for a total of 151 cars, weighing 18,000 tons.[7] Of those cars, 20 were carrying hazardous materials, including chloroethene (vinyl chloride), butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, isobutylene, combustible liquids, and benzene residue.[8][9][10] The train departed Madison on February 1, and had suffered at least one mechanical failure before the derailment.[11] Derailment Smoke from the accident, on February 3 Video of smoke and fire Security footage from a business in Salem, Ohio (20 miles [32 km] NW from East Palestine), and a Ring doorbell camera from New Waterford, Ohio (4 miles [6 km] NW from East Palestine), show fire emanating from underneath a rail car.[12][13][14] After this, at around 8:55 pm EST on February 3, 2023, 51 cars derailed on the east side of town, near the border with Pennsylvania. 49 of the cars ended up in a derailment pile, which caught fire and burned for several days.[15][16] Of the 51 derailed cars, 11 of them were tank cars which dumped 100,000 gallons of hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride, benzene residue, and butyl acrylate.[17][18][19] List of derailed cars carrying high-hazard chemicals[18] Line # Car ID Contents Capacity Hazard class 28 TILX 402025 Vinyl chloride (stabilized) 25,800 US gallons (98,000 L) 2.1 (flammable gas) 29 OCPX 80235 Vinyl chloride (stabilized) 25,800 US gallons (98,000 L) 2.1 (flammable gas) 30 OCPX 80179 Vinyl chloride (stabilized) 25,800 US gallons (98,000 L) 2.1 (flammable gas) 31 GATX 95098 Vinyl chloride (stabilized) 25,800 US gallons (98,000 L) 2.1 (flammable gas) 36 SHPX 211226 2-Butoxyethanol 30,110 US gallons (114,000 L) Combustible liquid 38 DOWX 73168 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate 25,800 US gallons (98,000 L) Combustible liquid 49 NATX 35844 Isobutylene 30,110 US gallons (114,000 L) 2.1 (flammable gas) 50 UTLX 205907 Butyl acrylate (stabilized) 30,110 US gallons (114,000 L) 3 (flammable liquid) 55 OCPX 80370 Vinyl chloride (stabilized) 25,800 US gallons (98,000 L) 2.1 (flammable gas) 59 DPRX 259013 Benzene 30,110 US gallons (114,000 L) 3 (flammable liquid) 60 DPRX 258671 Benzene 30,110 US gallons (114,000 L) 3 (flammable liquid) About 48 hours later, the NTSB released preliminary findings indicating that the derailment was caused by a mechanical problem on one of the railcars' trucks,[20][5] which may be connected to reports that an axle was observed throwing sparks about an hour before.[21] The crew received an alarm from a wayside defect detector shortly before the derailment indicating a mechanical problem, and then an emergency brake application initiated.[22] Emergency response and burn off The crash site on February 5 Air monitoring device Workers digging up a creek and filtering the water at the entrance to a park Clean up of a small creek Nearly 70 emergency agencies from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania mobilized in response.[23] East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway declared a state of emergency.[24] Norfolk Southern personnel were first to respond on February 3.[25] On February 4, they noticed water spillage into Sulphur Run and Leslie Run, and installed booms and underflow dams to separate the floating pollutant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began monitoring air quality on February 3. According to the EPA, humans can smell butyl acrylate at a concentration lower than the screening level (exposure limit).[26] The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit for butyl acrylate is time-weighted average 10 ppm (55 mg/m3).[27] On February 5, a temperature change in one of the train cars caused fears of an explosion with the potential to disperse shrapnel as the fires continued to burn.[16] Although five cars containing vinyl chloride remained intact following the crash,[28] the relief valve on one of the cars had malfunctioned.[29] Ohio Governor Mike DeWine activated the Ohio National Guard to assist local authorities in what he called "a matter of life and death".[16][30] Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered an evacuation in areas of Beaver County which bordered the site.[23] Officials in both states went door-to-door to evacuate residents.[31] The fire from the accident burned until February 5.[26] On February 6, DeWine and Shapiro ordered the mandatory evacuation of all residents within a 1-by-2-mile (1.6 by 3.2 km) area.[16] In an effort to prevent further explosions, Norfolk Southern emergency crews conducted a controlled release and burn of the five tanks of vinyl chloride into the air.[32] Small shaped charges were used to breach the tank cars, and the vinyl chloride was allowed to flow into a trench, where it was ignited by flares.[33] The burn caused black clouds to form above the area, and released phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air.[9] Although officials reported that air quality readings were not showing anything concerning,[34] residents in nearby Mahoning and Trumbull counties reported a chemical smell in their areas. Officials in the Youngstown region advised residents to stay indoors.[35] Air monitoring conducted on February 7–8 revealed an increase in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air below the screening level and an increase in particulate matter, probably from the soot.[26] On February 8, state and federal EPA workers noticed oily spillage on the soil and notified Norfolk Southern, which began removing it with a vacuum truck.[26] On the evening of February 8, Norfolk Southern resumed traffic through the town. East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway said that he was displeased because the railroad had said that trains would not run again until all residents were able to return to their homes.[36][37] The evacuation was lifted on February 9 after the EPA reported that the air inside and outside the evacuation zone had returned to normal levels.[38] Although toxicants were detected at the derailment site, they were not detected outside the area. The Ohio EPA also reported that drinking water (sourced from different waterways) was safe. In a testing report from February 8, the Ohio EPA showed WKBN-TV that vinyl chloride, benzene, some chlorinated organic compounds, and other VOCs were not detected in the water.[39] On February 16 the Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael S. Regan visited the scene to provide assistance.[40] Health and environmental concerns Norfolk Southern contractors during cleanup operations at the crash site on February 7 The Ohio Department of Natural Resources stated the chemical spill killed an estimated 3,500 small fish across 7.5 mi (12 km) of streams as of February 8.[41] Several captive foxes at Parker Dairy became sick over the following weekend, and one died, which its owner attributed to the derailment.[42] Material from the crash was observed in storm drains and detected in samples from Sulphur Run, Leslie Run, Bull Creek, North Fork Little Beaver Creek, Little Beaver Creek, and the Ohio River. An oily product was seen seeping into the soil. Emergency response staff are assessing potential impacts[clarification needed] on aquatic life.[32][26] On February 23 Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources stated that the derailment potentially killed more than 43,000 fish, crustaceans, amphibians and other marine animals. State officials said that they have not yet seen deaths or other negative effects on animals living on the land.[43] Neil Donahue, a chemistry professor at Carnegie Mellon University, expressed concern about the potential production of dioxins during the burning of vinyl chloride, while Lynn Goldman, dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health, worried more about residual vinyl chloride. Gaseous pollutants dissipate quickly in the air, but dioxins are persistent.[44] The Bristol Panthers girls basketball team forfeited their Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament road game against the East Palestine Bulldogs,[45] citing safety concerns.[46] William M. Diesslin, board chair of the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management[47][48][49] suggested that burning vinyl chloride was "the lesser of two evils", from reading from the emergency response guide and from safety data sheets.[50][51] Lawsuits and compensation On February 8, affected businesses and residents filed three class action lawsuits against Norfolk Southern Railway.[52][53] One demands the company to pay for the medical screenings and treatments of people living within a 30 mi (48 km) radius of the derailment.[54] Norfolk Southern Railway offered $1,000 payments to locals to "cover costs related to the evacuation". Some residents expressed concerns that taking these payouts would limit their ability to join future legal actions.[55] On February 4, 2023, Norfolk Southern made a donation of $25,000 to the Red Cross to support its efforts in East Palestine.[56] On February 14, the company pledged a $1 million "community support fund", and free chemical testing of air, water, and soil. On February 16, the support fund was increased to $2.5 million.[57] On February 21, 2023, the EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to find and clean contaminated water and soil, and to pay for the EPA's own cleaning efforts.[58] Reactions Commentary following the derailment centered around industry working conditions and safety concerns, such as the lack of modern brake safety regulations,[59] the implementation of precision scheduled railroading (PSR),[60] reduced railway workers per train, and increased train lengths and weight. Critics said that train companies have failed to invest in train maintenance to prevent accidents, even though they conduct stock buybacks, in which capital that could be used on maintenance and safety measures is instead distributed to existing shareholders.[61][62] On February 14, Governor Mike DeWine told reporters that he was not seeing any problems in the area after the controlled release of chemicals and that President Joe Biden had offered federal assistance but DeWine said that no further assistance was necessary.[63][64] A town hall meeting was held on February 15 between residents and local, state, and federal officials. Norfolk Southern representatives declined to attend due to a perceived physical threat. Some residents expressed distrust in the company and government.[65] On February 16, DeWine released a statement saying after speaking with the White House, he requested more aid from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Health and Emergency Response Team (HERT), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DeWine also said his office had been informed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that it was not eligible for FEMA assistance. He said during a press conference on February 17 "although FEMA is synonymous with disaster support, they're most typically involved with disasters where there is tremendous home or property damage", such as tornadoes, flooding, or hurricanes.[66] Biden's spokesperson said FEMA was supporting the other agencies which were better matched to this type of disaster.[67] Health teams from the CDC and HHS were expected to arrive as early as February 20.[68] Former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine on February 22, giving a speech a half a mile away from the wreckage in which he criticized the federal response to the disaster and offered relief.[69][70] Trump provided gallons of bottled "Trump Spring Water" for the community, walked through East Palestine, flanked by his son Donald Trump Jr. and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and then visited a local McDonald's to purchase food for the first responders.[71] On the evening of February 22, Gov. DeWine, EPA Administrator Regan and Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw appeared at a CNN town hall in East Palestine, and Shaw apologized to the community's residents. "I'm terribly sorry for what has happened to your community." He added, "I want you to know that Norfolk Southern is here, and we're going to stay here. And we're going to make this right."[72] In the aftermath of the disaster, Norfolk Southern was accused of prioritizing $10 billion stock buybacks[73] for shareholders instead of maintenance.[74] Shaw has been accused of sidestepping questions about Norfolk Southern's support for then president Trump's 2017 overturning of the Obama administration requirement for ECP brakes and Norfolk Southern's pressing the federal government against a rule that in most cases would require more than one person operating a freight train.[75][76] Several unions and consumer organizations have expressed concern with regard to private ownership of railways and a "profit-driven approach", which they claim puts workers and communities at high risk. The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) also called for public ownership of the US railway systems.[77] The Biden administration and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg have received criticism over their response to the derailment, with some lawmakers and locals of East Palestine describing the response as delayed and lackluster.[78] East Palestine's mayor criticized Biden's visit to Ukraine amid the derailment crisis.[79] Buttigieg received backlash from right-wing and Republican lawmakers, as well as from some on the political left.[79][80] The Biden administration defended their response to the derailment saying they had "mobilized a robust, multi-agency effort to support the people of East Palestine, Ohio."[81] Brakes Main article: Electronically controlled pneumatic brakes Electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes may potentially reduce stopping distances by up to 60 percent over conventional railway air brakes.[59] The derailed train was not equipped with ECP brakes, which former Federal Railroad Administration official Steven Ditmeyer said would have mitigated the severity of the accident. The Obama administration proposed rules safety regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials in 2014; these were weakened by lobbying from the railway industry. In 2017, further lobbying persuaded the Trump administration to begin a repeal of the regulations requiring the use of such brakes on trains.[59] The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) said the FAST Act, enacted by the Republican-controlled 114th United States Congress and signed by President Barack Obama, instead required them to repeal ECP brake mandates, after a regulatory impact analysis report stated, "the expected costs of ECP brakes are significantly higher than the expected benefit" in 2018.[82] The Trump administration finalized a roll back of the requirement for electronically controlled brakes in September 2018.[83] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended this technology for all trains.[84] As of 2023, the Biden administration had not reinstated this ruling,[59] and transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg made a tweet claiming that this technology may have prevented the derailment.[85] NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy explained that the train in this accident would not have been required to utilize the ECP braking system even if the FAST Act was not repealed, because the term high-hazard flammable train means a single train transporting 20 or more tank cars loaded with a Class 3 flammable liquid. As it had only three such placarded train cars, the derailed train did not meet the qualifications of a "high-hazard flammable" train.[85] Misinformation The derailment sparked the spread and circulation of misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories. Some of the most frequently repeated claims—most of which were heavy exaggerations of the derailment and the events surrounding it—included these allegations:[86][87][88][89][90] The train cars had exploded (as opposed to a controlled burn), with crews or police responsible The government had locked down East Palestine Local residents who had been evacuated or left were ordered not to return Some commentators alleged that concurrently-reported high-altitude object events were being overemphasized or even faked as a red herring to distract the public from the derailment or cover it up entirely.[86] Conspiracy theorists, such as congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and football player Aaron Rodgers, claimed the U.S. government had faked the high-altitude objects to distract from the derailment, allegations of American responsibility for the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, and the release of Jeffrey Epstein's client list.[91][92] Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying and South China Morning Post columnist Alex Lo suggested Western media organizations were deliberately overemphasizing high-altitude object stories over the derailment, though neither suggested a clear reason as to why.[93][94] However, the derailment received constant coverage from news outlets since the initial derailment,[87][95] though Media Matters for America noted most television news coverage did not cover it in depth and presented it merely "as an accident", with little mention of railway industry lobbying or safety regulation concerns.[96] A Wired editorial noted that while social media attention increased coverage on traditional media outlets, it also created a "perfect storm" for alarmist posts and conspiracy theories.[97] Allegations that police were arresting journalists attempting to report on the incident were also false. Only one journalist was arrested—NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert on February 8 for disorderly conduct and trespassing[98][99]—but this was recorded live in a room full of witnesses and other journalists (making any attempt at a cover-up impractical),[100] and charges against Lambert were dismissed on February 15, with him freely continuing to report on the derailment after his release.[101][102] The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker and the Committee to Protect Journalists have reported no further arrests since Lambert's, nor have they been aware of any press restrictions.[87][95][100] Criticizing the spread of misinformation in regard to the derailment, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy urged the public to let the NTSB investigate and stop "adding pain to a community that's been through enough", adding that if people genuinely wanted to help, the NTSB was hiring.[103] White Noise The derailment has been compared to the Netflix film White Noise,[104] a 2022 film about a cataclysmic train accident that creates a plume of toxic chemical waste over an Ohio town. It was adapted from the 1985 novel with the same title. The central character, Jack Gladney, teaches at an Ohio college. The film was shot in Salem, Ohio (20 miles away), Cleveland, on the campuses of Akron University and Kent State University, and elsewhere around the state.[105]