Quote:The accounts, which parroted Kremlin talking points on myriad topics, claimed without evidence that authorities in Ohio were lying about the true impact of the chemical spill. The accounts spread fearmongering posts that preyed on legitimate concerns about pollution and health effects and compared the response to the derailment with America’s support for Ukraine following its invasion by Russia.
Some of the claims pushed by the pro-Russian accounts were verifiably false, such as the suggestion that the news media had covered up the disaster or that environmental scientists traveling to the site had been killed in a plane crash. But most were more speculative, seemingly designed to stoke fear or distrust. Examples include unverified maps showing widespread pollution, posts predicting an increase in fatal cancers and others about unconfirmed mass animal die-offs.
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It's difficult to see how anyone could interpret this as blaming Russia for causing the derailment. That would be stupid. And why would anyone think that concern about toxic residue and pollution from the disaster indicates a pro-Russian mentality? That's just as ignorant. FFS, the USA has train derailments almost as often as it has mass shootings. Environmental groups have been warning us about the toxins being hauled on our highways and railroads for years. Pro-rail groups (and not just rail unions) have been calling for upgrades to our rail system for just as long.
Yes, it's disgraceful that an environmental catastrophe has to occur before before anyone gets worked up about this situation. However, when tighter regulations on toxic cargo have been suggested the trucking and rail industries have resisted. Even successful attempts to tighten safety regulations have been watered down or rescinded, in order to protect profits (profits at the expense of the planet and the people). Our lawmakers are good at this – as we've seen lately with banking regulations.
Personalizing the country's long-standing victimization by the corporate sector and blaming everything on Joe Biden is childish but typical. If Russia had offered
constructive criticism, or merely pointed out the shoddy condition of our railroads, that would be much different. But in this case that might hit a bit too close to home for a country which is even more challenged by decaying infrastructure and state level corruption. So better just unleash the army of trolls and let the MAGAsymps spread the divisive messages on social media.
