Re: Shut down of Brookhaven Nat Lab's HFBR

["D. Kosloff" <dkosloff@ncweb.com>]

The loss of public confidence is a serious matter.  This was shown in the
old movie "The Oxbow Incident".  Three innocent men lost the confidence of
the public and were hanged.   Now many guilty men have also lost the
confidence of the public and have been hanged at no loss to society.  I
think there is a difference between the two situations.  Emotion is much
more powerful than reason and  therefore more effort and energy must be
expended on behalf of reason to allow the public to wisely choose where to
place their confidence.  Politicians rationally are more willing to listen
to actors and supermodels than scientists and engineers.  Actors and
supermodels are much more entertaining.  Things are what they are.  So make
friends with some actors, supermodels and directors.

Don Kosloff mailto:dkosloff@ncweb.com
Perry OH

----- Original Message -----
From: Weiner, Ruth <rfweine@sandia.gov>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2000 12:30 PM
Subject: RE: Shut down of Brookhaven Nat Lab's HFBR


> Was there a public referendum vote on the HFBR?  "Lost the confidence of
the
> public" sounds suspiciously like a euphemism for "caved in to the  hue and
> cry raised by the local anti-nukes."  Since when did all federal
operations
> dealing with research that involved radioactive or fissile material have
to
> have "the confidence of the public?"  I worked for a publicly funded state
> university for about 20 years.  When the local business community didn't
> like the findings of our water quality research, they too raised a fuss,
but
> the university and state stood by us.  We would be in sad shape in the U.
S.
> if the local "public" (whoever they are) could dictate the research we do.
> Clearly only my own opinion.
>
> Ruth F. Weiner, Ph. D.
> Sandia National Laboratories
> MS 0718, POB 5800
> Albuquerque, NM 87185-0718
> 505-844-4791; fax 505-844-0244
> rfweine@sandia.gov
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: William V Lipton [mailto:liptonw@dteenergy.com]
> Sent: January 07, 2000 8:12 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: Re: Shut down of Brookhaven Nat Lab's HFBR
>
> If anyone ever wrote a book about RADSAFE, it should be titled,  "Days of
> Whine
> and Roses."  (My apologies to Jack Lemon!)
>
> Even if the decision to close the HFBR can, arguably, be considered
> "unfair"
> or "political," the underlying cause, IMHO, is that the management of
> Brookhaven
> lost the confidence of the public in its ability to run the facility
safely.
> This is more likely due to its decision (It was a decision, even if by
> default.)
> to allow a release  from the fuel pool over several years, than to the
> personal
> crusades of actors and supermodels.
>
> In any event, this is now history.  The question that we should be looking
> at is
> what other potential fiascos are out there.  These must be identified and
> addressed before they become public concerns, if the industry is to
survive.
>
> The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
> It's not about dose, it's about trust.
>
> Bill Lipton
> liptonw@dteenergy.com
>
>
> "D. Kosloff" wrote:
>
> > The article linked here provides a clear indicator of the need for
> > scientists and engineers to develop close ties with some actors and
> > supermodels.   Its a tough job, but somebody has to do it.  This will be
> > even more important after campaign reform is completed.  All national
> > decisions then will be made by actors and supermodels because no one
will
> be
> > able to spend money to counter their opinions.
> >
> > Don Kosloff mailto:dkosloff@ncweb.com
> > 2910 Main St., Perry OH 44081
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Jacobus, John (OD) <JJacobus@exchange.nih.gov>
> > To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> > Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2000 10:01 AM
> > Subject: Shut down of Brookhaven Nat Lab's HFBR
> The following Web Site features the article that appeared in this
> month's
> > > Physics Today magazine.  It give the intrigue surrounding the decision
> to
> > shut
> > > down the High Flux Breeder Reactor on Long Island in November.  It
shows
> > > politics at its worst.
> > >
> > >  http://www.aip.org/pt/washdoe.htm
> > >
> > > -- John
> > >
> > >
> > > John Jacobus, MS
> > > Health Physicist
> > > National Institutes of Health
> > > Radiation Safety Branch, Building 21
> > > 21 Wilson Drive, MSC 6780
> > > Bethesda, MD  20892-6780
> > > Phone: 301-496-5774      Fax: 301-496-3544
> > > jjacobus@exchange.nih.gov (W)
> > > jenday@ix.netcom.com (H)


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