Pilot could lose job over refusal of full body scan

On Saturday October 16th, Pilot Michael Roberts declined a full body scan at a security checkpoint in a Memphis Tennessee airport. After declining the scan, the security attendant sent Michael through the metal detector. When no alarm sounded as he walked through the detector Roberts assumed he was good to go. That is when the security attendant said he would have to be frisked. When Roberts (in full pilots uniform) declined the frisking, the airport police as well as a TSA investigator were summoned. After stating to the TSA investigator that he has been a pilot for nearly 5 years without any sort of issues, Roberts declined being searched again. He was not allowed to pass through the checkpoint, by the time he left the airport the TSA had already contacted Roberts' superiors and his job status was put on hold.

In the case of Michael Roberts I agree with the actions of the airport security and the TSA fully. Everyone has to comply with regulations implemented for the public's' safety, no one should be above the law. Regulations and laws protect people. There are strict regulations as to what items people can bring onto planes. This helps to protect passengers from those who wish to do harm. It doesn't matter who you are, you still have to abide by the rules. Just because you work for an airline does not mean you can do whatever you want in an airport. If you don't like it get out. If you choose to work in an environment where there are security screenings, you have to abide by them. Unless it is stated in the policies that staff are exempt from screenings, they will have to go through them. Regulations and laws are implemented for a reason, in this case for the public's safety. Everyone should have to abide by them.

Tidal wave of toxic sludge kills 4 and threatens thousands

firefighters wade through toxic sludge to rescue residents

Just a few days ago (october 4) 184,920,000 gallons of toxic red sludge leaked out of a toxic waste reservoir in Hungary after a section of the wall broke. The thick opaque red sludge contains a dangerous cocktail of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium.

So far four people have died as a result of the flood that occurred when the wall broke. Many who came in physical contact with the sludge have been hospitalized with extremely painful skin burns. The company responsible (MAL Hungarian Aluminum) has not accepted any blame for the incident as of yet. There is speculation that the company overloaded the reservoirs beyond the maximum approved level. I was shocked at first when I heard about this disaster on the news, and then proceeded to be disturbed when I looked into the details. I thought "should companies be allowed to stockpile city sized amounts of toxic waste?" I concluded that the answer was a blatant NO! Not only is it undoubtedly wrong to produce such mass amounts of waste. But it is even worse to let it all just sit there. To make no attempt to neutralize the waste should be considered an ecological crime. MAL should be financially responsible for all the damages to the villages effected by the leak of their toxic waste. MAL should also be responsible for the environmental damages that they have caused. They need to be held accountable for this disaster.