North Carolina is being considered as the site for this. I haven't heard much about it and want to hear more. I'm just now starting my own research to read up on it, but I want to know what do people think about that?

2/22/2008 4:50:57 PM

From what I've heard, most people around the area are against it.

2/22/2008 4:53:07 PM

In what you've heard, what is the reasoning behind it?


I'm glad to see this is being discussed in the technician's campus forum; there was quite enough of talking about who is right and who is wrong, spanning many years I might add, in a rivalry when the very nature of having competitive rivalries means it will never be sorted out.

I don't know where I stand on this issue yet, but I'm intrigued by the prospect of learning more and hearing what others think.

[Edited on February 22, 2008 at 5:20 PM. Reason : .]

2/22/2008 5:04:20 PM

I’ve barely heard anything about it.

Just a brief mention on NPR, and someone talking about it on the Campus Forum part of the Technician Online.

On NPR I heard one guy say that people are against it because they are worried about a containment breach spreading disease in population center, whereas the other guy said people are just overreacting because they get scared when they hear words like “bio-defense” & homeland security in the same sentence.

The guy in the technician said this:

Quote :

" Don't bring the NBAF to N.C. I strongly oppose the construction of the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility. Day after day, behind the walls of laboratories, atrocities to animals go unseen. This biolab will surely lead to more living and feeling beings tortured and killed in the name of "science." Witness the reality of animal experimentation at http://www.StopAnimalTests.com and get the facts on the NBAF by visiting http://www.NoBio.org. Let us be the voice of all those who will be victimized by this taxpayer-funded facility and stand strong in opposition to the NBAF. Brandon Becker senior, sociology "

On the other hand this would have to bring jobs? And maybe there is something to say for duty to country in taking a facility with this one’s aims.

On NPR I also heard we were on a short list of a very few places left that are being considered for this, one of which was either an island or far from a population center anyways instead of so near the triangle area.

This issue reminds me a great deal of the "No OLF" issue, especially in regards to the animal rights aspect. There were so many signs against the outlying landing field across the eastern part of the state when I went on vacation last summer while visiting many cities and beaches across eastern NC.

2/22/2008 5:15:53 PM

The UNC system is campaigning heavily for it, primarily b/c of the $$$ but also the chance to exploit our technological research lead in the area.

I'm for it myself. None of the arguments against it have entailed anything new -- we do all sorts of pathology work now with federal grants, the NBAF won't add anything new to the mix in terms of danger (except becoming a new nuke target I guess)

2/22/2008 8:14:33 PM

i'm 100% for this and i hope it locks down here at ncsu

2/23/2008 11:23:48 AM

ditto

2/23/2008 11:35:28 AM

Raleigh = Raccoon City?

2/23/2008 12:06:45 PM

I went to Oxford a couple of weeks ago to get some tobacco sticks and there were signs everywhere against it. Has it been shown to be a credible threat to the environment or public health?

2/23/2008 11:29:47 PM

Not to my knowledge.

2/24/2008 12:24:52 AM

Here's the old island it was originally on:

Quote :

"The Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) is a United States federal research facility dedicated to the study of foreign animal diseases."

Quote :

"In 2002, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center was transferred from the United States Department of Agriculture to the United States Department of Homeland Security**. * o On September 11, 2005, It was reported by the United States Department of Homeland Security that the "Plum Island Animal Disease Research Center will be replaced by a new federal facility." The location of said facility is unknown (as of 2/10/07). Plum Island is the subject of a novel, The Poison Plum, by author Les Roberts, and one entitled Plum Island, by Nelson DeMille."

-wiki

^^I don't know if it has or hasn't been shown to be a threat to health, but when people see this some will no doubt think of things like animal testing, mad cow, rabies, and bird flu and all the baggage that comes with that.

2/24/2008 11:11:10 AM

ha ha

justified or not*, people like me who strongly oppose this are likely to win

nc doesn't need that shit -- too many population centers and rich ecosystems

that shit needs to be in a desert somewhere

iow, not in nc


(*iow, opposition doesn't have to be factually right about dangers and such, but will still likely win )

Quote :

"becoming a new nuke target"

yeah, that's all we need

2/24/2008 11:39:43 AM

so? at least it'll be quick

2/24/2008 11:46:31 AM

I do feel I am seeing more of one side than the other. Maybe the people against this are just louder than the people for this, or maybe there are more people against this, its difficult to tell. But I am seeing more of this side of the story:

There are several facebook groups against it, not just for NC, but for several locations that are on the short list.

http://wral.com/news/local/story/2273181/

Quote :

"Granville Commissioners Pull Support of Bioterror Lab Butner, N.C. — The Granville County Board of Commissioners has withdrawn its support for an effort to locate a federal bioterrorism lab in Butner."

Quote :

"But County Commissioner Hubert Gooch said mounting opposition to the proposed lab was enough to prompt county officials to pull their support for it this week. "I'm elected to represent the people of the county. If they feel that strongly about it, I don't want to force it on them if they don't want it here," Gooch said. "

http://wral.com/news/local/story/1419316/

Quote :

"The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility would sit on the Umstead Research Farm area. Scientists would study deadly diseases like ebola and anthrax. "Anytime you have a situation with lethal agents, there are issues and questions about how it's handled and how it's transported through our area," said Jim Warren, of the watchdog group N.C. Warn."

http://wral.com/news/local/story/2453360/

Quote :

"Raleigh Comes Out Against Proposed Bio-Defense Lab Raleigh Questions Safety of Proposed Bioterror Lab Posted: Feb. 19, 2008 Raleigh, N.C. — The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose a federal bio-defense laboratory proposed for Granville County. Butner is one of five finalist locations that the Department of Homeland Security is considering for a National Bio- and Agro-Defense facility, which would study animal diseases and diseases spread from animals to humans."

Quote :

"The idea of a lab studying avian flu, Mad Cow disease and other illnesses has upset local residents. Granville County commissioners withdrew their support for the project last month because of the growing opposition. Raleigh officials began questioning the site for the lab last fall, saying they feared contamination in the headwaters of Falls Lake, the city's primary reservoir."

So on the downside it comes with the risk of serious diseases spreading, animal testing, several articles mentioned citizens concerns over becoming a terrorism target, environmental pollution, & water concerns (which I imagine is more of a hot topic b/c of the drought & already limited water supplies), but on the plus side its more jobs in an economy that could really use them.

It’s an interesting coalition that’s against this project. Usually people who want the government/military to protect them from terrorists lean right, and those who worry about environmental concerns/drinking water lean left, but they both seem to be here.

2/24/2008 1:33:50 PM