Re: Request for suggestion

[Pxrfcorp <tom@XRFCorp.com>]

Folks are worried that the nukes are going to give them cancer and lead to a slow
miserable death.  Instead of a comparison of energy generation options only, how about
an ordered list of all the causes of cancer that people are faced with every day.  That
would add a perspective of the relative risk from nukes, which I think would rank low
on such a list.
Tom Hazlett

Sandy Perle wrote:

> The public is interested in 2 main objectives, be it source of energy
> or buying a car.
>
> When buying a car, the order of preference appears to be cost first,
> and safety second. I say that because if safety were the prime issue,
> small death trap cars would not be bought in such large numbers. The
> buyer wants the most economical car they can buy, and hopefully, one
> that also provides some degree of safety (often not the case).
>
> In the area of energy sources, the order, as I see it is, safety
> first and then cost. The cost of energy has increased in many places,
> yet the acceptance of nuclear generated electricity has not increased
> significantly, statistically speaking. In Europe the cost of energy
> is very expensive, yet many countries are shutting down their nuclear
> units. The concern is safety.
>
> How does one help Bernie focus on the real issues that will change
> the public's opinion? I don't know. There are too many paradigms that
> need to be changed for there to be a general public acceptance of
> nuclear power.
>
> In the USA there is no real effort by any large pro-nuclear
> organization to rebut accusations. The HPS doesn't do this, and when
> I asked why not, I was told that they do not have the mechanisms in
> place to really go out and spend large funds on public education. I
> suggested that they eliminate the annual trek by the president-elect,
> who travels to each chapter around the country, and funnel those
> funds in to public education, TV spots, radio spots, etc. That's not
> about to happen.
>
> The Nuclear Energy Institute, an arm of the nuclear power industry,
> does provide information, but when was the last time you saw a pro-
> nuclear spot duirng the evening prime time TV shows? I don't remember
> seeing anything for probably a decade now. The former EEI used to
> provide TV spots, but they are now defunct, giving way to NEI.
>
> There are no easy answers. The key is $$$$$$$$$$. The anti's have it,
> they are experts in getting out their message to the public, and
> hammering away at those who do favor the nuclear option. In some
> cases, I agree with some of the points they focused on. Those points
> did in fact make our industry a better one, and more importantly, a
> safer one as well. The 80s were not very kind to nuclear energy, as
> far as problems to be dealt with. The 90s showed marked improvement,
> Safety indicators showed that the plants were operating more
> efficiently, and more safely.
>
> The question is, what with the coming decade bring, with all fo the
> plant buyouts, continued downsizing and significant cost cutting
> measures being put into place. Will the positive trend continue, or,
> have we reached the pinnacle of the bell shape curve?
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sandy Perle                                     Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100
> Director, Technical                             Extension 2306
> ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service         Fax:(714) 668-3149
> ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.                       E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
> ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue           E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com
> Costa Mesa, CA 92626
>
> Personal Website: http://sandyfl.nukeworker.net
> ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com
>
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