Janet Hennessey of Lucedale, MS
Roosevelt Love is another who says he got minimal training and virtually no protective gear. And he says he's still suffering because of it and his doctor is concerned about continuing heart palpitations and breathing problems since he worked on the clean up.
"We worked 12 hours a day seven days a week picking up boom and cleaning up oil. I saw people who passed out from working out there. But we were told not to complain or talk to the press about it or we would be fired. You started to feel like you were being used."
Ronzie Thomas was an oil clean up supervisor making $15 dollars an hour. He says he got little safety training and never was allowed to use a respirator, even though he says he was working in 100 degree heat and choking on toxic fumes. He still complains of headaches, a sore throat and memory loss.
"The oil would get all over us and we all had the same symptoms, rashes, respiratory problems and coughs. We've all been to the doctor but nobody ever paid for our medical expenses."
Former BP oil clean up supervisor Ronzie Williams of Lucedale, MS
Before the anniversary of the BP oil well blowout, Ronzie and four others were bused to Washington to attend the massive Power Shift conference, a gathering of 10,000 youths from around the country. He says they were well received and got national media attention. But since their return to Mississippi, the local press has been silent. No stories about their medical problems or their recent national exposure.
"It's shameful that turtles and dolphins get more press than people here," Ronzie says. "But our cause is just, our sickness is real, and we will be heard."
As nightfall descended on this rural Mississippi gathering, crickets chirped and barbque grills smoked. Residents forgot their painful experiences and new friendships were made. They enjoyed the company of people who shared a common vision, a mission to tell the world about the human costs of this oil disaster. They seemed a world apart from their troubles in the Gulf.
But 50 miles away on the coast, tar balls continued to wash in, a constant reminder that the troubles of last summer are far from over.
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