[ RadSafe ] Educating USA antinucs

[Sinclair, Michael]

May I be so bold as to point out that one of the key hurdles to addressing
the uninformed is the lack of a concensus among the health physics community
about where to draw the line on the danger from radiation hazards. What
frustrates the effort to reduce public anxiety about radiation is the simple
fact that responsible and recognized authorities in the field cannot seem to
agree on what is dangerous and what is not.
Many of the people who categorize as "anti-nuclear" are simply afraid.
People need to know when they should be be afraid. It is self-defeating to
point out that there is always radiation present in the environment while
asserting that even the lowest level of exposure is hazardous to your
health!
My two cents worth...
Mike Sinclair

-----Original Message-----
From: John Jacobus [mailto:crispy_bird at yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 12:37 PM
To: jastharris at aol.com; hflong at pacbell.net; Rainer.Facius at dlr.de;
radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Educating USA antinucs


Jason,
I certainly agree that we should not treat those who
fear radiation or are anti-nuclear as being stupid or
ignorant.  Look as some of the anti-nuclear groups
like the NIRS (Nuclear Information and Resource
Service).  If you have a condensing attitude, your
listeners will dismiss what you are saying.  

In many cases, what we consider irrational fears and
idea may not be those who hold them.  And in some
cases you have to realize the you cannot "convert"
everyone to your way of thinking.  However, if you
plant an idea that what they have heard may be
inaccurate, you have at least started to have a
dialogue.

--- jastharris at aol.com wrote:

> Part of the problem is how to go about talking to
> the public.  For example, I have been told by many
> media experts that we should not be "educating" the
> public, rather we should be "informing" them.
> "Educating" in this context is perceived as
> demeaning, as if non-radiation protection people are
> stupid or ignorant.  Communicating effectively and
> respectfully is key. Just my two cents worth.
>  
> Jason
>  
> Jason T. Harris
> Health Physics Doctoral Fellow
> Purdue University
> School of Health Sciences
> Civil Engineering Building, Room 1287
> 550 Stadium Mall Drive
> West Lafayette, IN 47907-2051
> w(765) 494-1530 h(217) 417-4937
>  
>  
> 

+++++++++++++++++++
On Oct. 5, 1947, in the first televised White House address, President
Truman asked Americans to refrain from eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry
on Thursdays to help stockpile grain for starving people in Europe. 

-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail:  crispy_bird at yahoo.com


	
		
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