World Says Good Bye to Dr. Rosalie Bertell, Noted Biometrician and Environmental Epidemiologist

"...she remained in good spirits and most interested in all of the works of justice she strove to support throughout her life right to the end."

Dr. Rosalie Bertell lived a fascinating life and was kind and helpful to Salem-News.com many times in our research of stories relating to TCE, a deadly contaminant prevalent on military bases. Above photo courtesy: hildamurrell.org

(YARDLEY, PA) - It is a sad day for those of us who have followed the incredible life work of Dr. Rosalie Bertell, she passed away 14 June 2012, leaving many friends and followers to carry on her energetic, ambitious work.

One of the kindest and most accomplished activists for justice; Sister Rosalie knew a great deal about the history of biochemistry and she witnessed in her professional career, a nation go from the Great Depression- to the age of environmental indifference inspired by the sweeping military industrial complex.

Rosalie was always there to answer a complex question about toxic contaminants that cause cancer in veterans and have come to pose a widespread health issue. She was a true champion and cared about humanity, and this fragile environment that supports us.

Rosalie Bertell, Ph.D., GNSH

From http://www.rosaliebertell.net/bio_rosalie_bertell.htm

Rosalie Bertell, Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart, received her Ph. D. degree in Biometrics with minors in Biology and Biochemistry from the Catholic University of America, in 1966. Since that time she has worked as a biometrician and environmental epidemiologist. By choice, Dr. Bertell works for the victims or potential victims of industrial, technological and military pollution with a particular emphasis on assisting the struggles of third world and indigenous people to preserve their Human Right to life and health. The major issues are the dangers associated with economic globalization, war and the proliferation of chemical and radioactive pollutants as the result of preparation for war and the toxic products and processes developed from weapons research and production.

The International Institute of Concern for Public Health (IICPH), of which she is Founder and Immediate Past President, opened its doors in 1984 in Toronto Canada and continues to serve as an institutional support for her work. She is also a founding member of the International Commission of Health Professionals, and the International Association of Humanitarian Medicine.

Among many projects she has headed, the most notable are:

Director of the International Medical Commission Bhopal which investigated the aftermath of the Bhopal disaster in India, and organizer of the International Medical Commission Chernobyl to present testimony to the Permanent People's Tribunal. She assisted the people of the Philippines with problems stemming from toxic waste left by the U.S. Military on their abandoned Subic and Clark military bases.

Rosalie Bertell

She has worked with the government of Ireland to hold Britain responsible for the radioactive pollution of the Irish Sea, and is assisting the Gulf War Veterans and the Iraqi citizens dealing with the illness called Gulf War Syndrome. She acted as Consultant to local, Provincial and Federal Governments, unions and citizen organizations.

She is the recipient of five honourary degrees. Among her many awards can be numbered the Alternative Nobel Prize, Right Livelihood Award; World Federalist Peace Award; Ontario Premier's Council on Health, Health Innovator Award; the United Nations Environment Programme Global 500 award and the Sean MacBride International Peace Prize. She has recently been selected to be one of the 1000 Peace Women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, 2005. Rosalie has published numerous articles, reviewed articles for professional journals and was editor of the journal, "International Perspectives in Public Health". Her books, "No Immediate Danger: Prognosis for a Radioactice Earth" and "Planet Earth: The Latest Weapon of War" can be obtained from IICPH. "Handbook For Estimating Health Effects From Exposure To Ionizing Radiation" intended for the health Professionals, which she edited, is also obtainable from IICPH.

Robert O'Dowd wrote:

“

I’m saddened to pass on this news, but Dr. Rosalie Bertell died. Good people like her are not commonly found in the world today. She will be missed.

”

Chris Borello wrote:

“

So very sad to learn that Dr. Rosalie Bertell has passed. Dr. Bertell championed the Uniontown IEL case, writing ATSDR's top officials as well as the US Surgeon General regarding her serious concerns about the IEL radiation, with sometimes scathing comments regarding the flawed assessments. She provided CCLT with spiritual support as well as technical, and brought people with similar concerns from around the country together. In her memory, I urge folks to obtain a copy of one of her books, "No Immediate Danger", which explains in laymen's terms important radiological aspects, how semantics games have played a long standing role and continue on today. Her important works must never be forgotten for the good our our country.

”

“

Dear Friends and Colleagues of Rosalie Bertell, It is with sadness that I’m writing to inform you that our dear Sister Rosalie died early this morning, June 14, 2012, after a week or so in the hospital with severe respiratory distress due to advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite her illness, she remained in good spirits and most interested in all of the works of justice she strove to support throughout her life right to the end. She died very peacefully. Her funeral Mass will be here at our Motherhouse Chapel on Monday, June 17th at 10 a.m. We will be remembering all of you as well as Sister Rosalie in our prayers that day, along with all the people who were victims of nuclear disasters and the many other societal ills that were the concerns of her heart and her life’s work at the International Institute of Concern for Public Health. Sincerely, Sister Julia Sister Julia C. Lanigan, GNSH President Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart 1750 Quarry Road Yardley, PA 19067 215-968-4236 Website: www.greynun.org Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart Creating a Compassionate World

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