The 2013 Lac-Mégantic rail disaster is a tragedy unparalleled in Canadian history. “It was a catastrophic event,” says Bruce Campbell, author of the new book “The Lac-Megantic Rail Disaster: Public Betrayal, Justice Denied.” “Forty seven people died, the town center was virtually eviscerated, and more than a million and a half gallons of oil spilled,” making it the largest land-based spill in North American history, Campbell said on the Union City Radio edition of WPFW's Arise! last Friday. Campbell and local rail-safety advocates will discuss the disaster's national and local implications at the Takoma Busboys and Poets tonight (see Calendar, above).