Re: Three mile island syndrome

[ROCKWD@aol.com]

In answer to your question regarding convincing people of Nuclear Power's 
positive side, see the book "The Dynamics of Technical Controversy."  I think 
the author was Maher (I lent my copy and am not sure).  His thought is: When 
a controversy boils down to a pro technology side versus an anti technology 
side, the motivated anti's will usually win the battle for public opinion.  
Especially when the technology is very complex and not easily understood by 
the public.  The reason is the technologists, by their nature, are not 
equipped to resort to the sort of emotional appeals of the motivated anti's.  
Pro's talk about projected (or in the case of Southern California, current) 
energy needs and anti's get on the evening news screaming about your children 
mutating while dressed in a skeleton suit and throwing blood on the utility's 
headquarters building.

Roland Hanson
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html