Where In The World Is Dan Rather Update
 Monday, March 3rd, 2008

 
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Last week we published this article, pondering where in the world former CBS anchor Dan Rather is.  Well, since we are not in an area that is serviced by HDNet (through our cable company), we have been completely missing out on HDNet's "Dan Rather Reports."  Luckily for us (and you!), you can view back episodes of Rather's specials - which have been aired on and off for the past 15 months - here.

Tomorrow's program will be featuring more Dan Rather, as the episode airing tomorrow is Dan Rather Reports investigates FEMA and the CDC - did they downplay the dangers of the toxic trailers on the Gulf Coast?

"Dan Rather Reports" will be presenting an EXCLUSIVE interview with Dr. Chris De Rosa of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

In his first-ever television interview, Dr. De Rosa, tells Dan Rather that he wanted to warn the public about the dangers of formaldehyde exposure but his warnings were repeatedly ignored, and not included in the official government report until much later.

"I felt that this was potentially misleading and a threat to public health," De Rosa told Rather.

The federal government has recently acknowledged what many residents of the Gulf Coast had suspected for months - that the camper-trailers supplied to victims of Hurricane Katrina are exposing many of them to potentially toxic levels of the chemical formaldehyde.

De Rosa also told Rather that the government never included his warning, that formaldehyde is considered a carcinogen, until a year and a half after he raised the issue.

Dr. De Rosa has since been removed from his post.  He believes that his removal is partly due to his repeated warnings about the formaldehyde in the trailers.  Congress has now asked De Rosa to testify about his warnings that went ignored for so long.

De Rosa says FEMA was only interested in knowing what the short-term dangers would be.  He says he was alarmed when FEMA wanted to know if there was a "safe" level of formaldehyde exposure.

"Dan Rather Reports: Silencing the Scientist" will premiere on HDNet, Tuesday, March 4 at 8:00 pm ET with a re-air 11:00 p.m. ET to accommodate West Coast Prime Time.  For more information on where HDNet airs, visit their website here.

Thanks, Colette!

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