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Re: Energy site & education



The material on the site bears a very close resemblance to what our local
anti-nuclear groups, some of the Citizens' Advisory Boards (to DOE sites)
and groups like NRDC and EPI publish, as well as what I used to hear from
the anti-nuclear lobbyists when I was a Congressional Science Fellow.  It
also closely resembles many public comments on EISs for DOE sites, which are
generally prompted by leaflets from  national anti-nuclear organizations.

If the people who made up the site are really genuinely only misinformed,
what prompts them to generate proposed curricula?    If they were honest,
wouldn't they have checked their stuff with someone with even a little more
expertise than they show?   If I don't know much about something, I'm
certainly not going to display my ignorance on a Web site! This is not a
"chat room" or a list like RADSAFE where people ask genuine questions and
seek genuine answers.  The site seeks to broadcast its "information" and it
sure looks like propaganda to me (clever propaganda, I'll admit).

In my opinion, it is naive to think that this site is just innocently
displaying bad information.

Ruth Weiner
ruth_weiner@msn.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Lavely <lavelyp@uclink4.berkeley.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Date: Tuesday, December 26, 2000 12:00 PM
Subject: Re: Energy site & education


>--============_-1234266455==_ma============
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
>
>I went to the site for the group that developed this information.
>Information about them appears below. The web page is
>http://www.vcn.bc.ca/apase/plan.txt
>
>Perhaps before we condemn these folks we could just try to influence
>them by offering to provide better information and links to other
>sites that may give a more accurate view.  After trying to influence
>them and failing the next step would be to contact those who sponsor
>them. I doubt that the sponsoring companies are dedicated "anti-nuke
>groups."  You simply can not put one label on groups to say that they
>are "anti" anything until AFTER you have tried to influence them in a
>professional manner and have failed. I have seen no reports that
>indicate that we have even tried. Of course once we have labeled them
>it is just a lot simpler to say "well what do you expect - they are
>anti-nukes and will not listen anyway"
>
>Paul Lavely
>lavelyp@uclink4.berkeley.edu
>UC Berkeley
>
>
>APASE STRATEGIC PLAN
>
>
>MISSION APASE's mission is: Inspiring curiosity, innovation and
>lifelong learning through science education.
>
>
>VALUES We share these values: Integrity Leadership Service Innovation
>Lifetime Learning Commitment
>
>
>MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES As members of APASE, we are committed to being:
>Collaborative Equity-centred Learner-oriented Excellence-guided
>Cost-conscious
>
>
>STRATEGIC GOALS: At APASE, we strive to: Facilitate partnerships among
>schools, universities, governments and businesses.
>
>Research ideas and develop innovative and marketable products that
>advance science education.
>
>Stimulate scientific curiosity in elementary students and the adults
>who influence them.
>
>Increase public awareness of the importance of science education and
>the role of APASE in this field.
>
>Support the evolving demands of our audience and partners with
>creative products that meet their needs.
>
>Manage the financial affairs of APASE in a responsible manner and
>efficiently administer the functions that support APASE programs.
>
>Involve government and corporations in the support and advancement of
>science education.
>
>Uphold an equitable human resource policy that fosters personal and
>professional development.
>
>
>
>
>THE APASE TEAM
>
>Catherine Warren, Executive Director Bridget Walshe, Project manager
>Susan Simmons, Office Manager Christine Houston, Interactive
>Television Coordinator Michele Charbonnier, Production & Translation
>Services Coordinator Heather Ingram, BC Hydro partner
>
>
>BOARD OF DIRECTORS
>
>Barbara Moon, APASE President, U.C. Fraser Valley Margaret Begg, James
>Whiteside School Robert Carlisle, UBC Conrad Guelke, BC Hydro Barbara
>Holley, IBM Jolie Mayer-Smith, UBC Bruce Rozenhart, Robertson
>Rozenhart Marvin Wideen, SFU
>
>
>APASE The Association for the Promotion and Advancement of Science
>Education Suite 305 - 1140 Homer Street Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 2X6
>
>Tel (604) 687-8712 Fax (604)687-8715 Email cwarren@cln.etc.bc.ca
>
>
>
>>I believe the problem goes deeper.  The people who put this site together
>>know exactly what they are doing and saying -- the anti-nuke groups put
out
>>a great deal under the rubric of "curriculum" and "education."  We can
send
>>them lots of stuff and they won't put it up (we have been having this
>>discussion in microcosm in New Mexico).  The point has to be made to
>>teachers, colleges of education, and school systems:  don't use these
>>private group sites as references unless they represent college or
>>university-accredited courses or societies that publish peer reviewed
>>journals.  I answer questions for a site called "Mad Scientist" run by
>>Washington Univ., and the administrators demand references!  If a site
>>provides information without citing a peer-reviewed journal or
publication,
>>teachers shouldn't use it as a resource (nor should anyone).  This makes
>>putting information on the web cumbersome, but something should be done to
>>counteract the disinformation that is so easy to put up.
>>
>>Ruth Weiner
>>ruth_weiner@msn.com
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: PBarring@kdhe.state.ks.us <PBarring@kdhe.state.ks.us>
>>To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
>>Date: Tuesday, December 26, 2000 9:17 AM
>>Subject: Re: Energy site & education
>>
>>
>>>
>>>Bjorn,
>>>I think the most disturbing part of this site is that it is the teachers'
>>>tool for teaching K-7 students.  I followed the teacher's links to see if
>>>they led to a bit more advanced material ... nope, they led right back to
>>>the same page.  Either this is a VERY little used resource or the
teachers
>>>have better references (I hope).  Ruth's letter may provide a wake up or
it
>>>may just annoy them.  Maybe we (RADSAFE) could put together an
educational
>>>package to distribute to sites like this.  Hey, there's a whole new topic
>>>for discussion!!  Any takers?
>>>
>>>Philip Barringer
>>>KDHE
>>>785-296-6342
>>>"My opinions, not the State's"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>FYI: Ran across the following site by a chance:
>>>http://www.swifty.com/apase/charlotte/nuclear.html#RISKS
>>>It is at "Association for the Promotion and Advancement of Science
>>>Education, APASE". Nuclear risks are summarized as:
>>>
>>>"To understand the risks of nuclear energy, we need to know that uranium
is
>>>radioactive, which means that it constantly gives off energy in the form
of
>>>radiation. When plants, animals, or people are exposed to too much
>>>radiation, they can be burned, become sick, or even die. When uranium is
>>>mined, the leftover bits of uranium at the mine are harmful to plants and
>>>animals in the area, and pollute the soil and water."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>************************************************************************
>>>The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
>>>information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
>>
>>
>>
>>************************************************************************
>>The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
>>information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
>
>--============_-1234266455==_ma============
>Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
>
><!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN">
><html><head><style type="text/css"><!--
>blockquote, dl, ul, ol, li { margin-top: 0 ; margin-bottom: 0 }
> --></style><title>Re: Energy site &amp;
>education</title></head><body>
><div><font face="Palatino" size="+2" color="#000000">I went to the
>site for the group that developed this information. Information about
>them appears below. The web page is<u>
>http://www.vcn.bc.ca/apase/plan.txt<br>
><br>
></u>Perhaps before we condemn these folks we could just try to
>influence them by offering to provide better information and links to
>other sites that may give a more accurate view.&nbsp; After trying to
>influence them and failing the next step would be to contact those who
>sponsor them. I doubt that the sponsoring companies are dedicated
>"anti-nuke groups."&nbsp; You simply can not put one label on groups
>to say that they are "anti" anything until AFTER you have tried to
>influence them in a professional manner and have failed. I have seen
>no reports that indicate that we have even tried. Of course once we
>have labeled them it is just a lot simpler to say "well what do you
>expect - they are anti-nukes and will not listen anyway"<br>
><br>
>Paul Lavely<br>
><u>lavelyp@uclink4.berkeley.edu<br>
></u>UC Berkeley<br>
><br>
><br>
>APASE STRATEGIC PLAN<br>
><br>
><br>
>MISSION APASE's mission is: Inspiring curiosity, innovation and<br>
>lifelong learning through science education.<br>
><br>
><br>
>VALUES We share these values: Integrity Leadership Service
>Innovation<br>
>Lifetime Learning Commitment<br>
><br>
><br>
>MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES As members of APASE, we are committed to
>being:<br>
>Collaborative Equity-centred Learner-oriented Excellence-guided<br>
>Cost-conscious<br>
><br>
><br>
>STRATEGIC GOALS: At APASE, we strive to: Facilitate partnerships
>among<br>
>schools, universities, governments and businesses.<br>
><br>
>Research ideas and develop innovative and marketable products that<br>
>advance science education.<br>
><br>
>Stimulate scientific curiosity in elementary students and the
>adults<br>
>who influence them.<br>
><br>
>Increase public awareness of the importance of science education
>and<br>
>the role of APASE in this field.<br>
><br>
>Support the evolving demands of our audience and partners with<br>
>creative products that meet their needs.<br>
><br>
>Manage the financial affairs of APASE in a responsible manner and<br>
>efficiently administer the functions that support APASE programs.<br>
><br>
>Involve government and corporations in the support and advancement
>of<br>
>science education.<br>
><br>
>Uphold an equitable human resource policy that fosters personal
>and<br>
>professional development.<br>
><br>
><br>
>&nbsp;<br>
><br>
>THE APASE TEAM<br>
><br>
>Catherine Warren, Executive Director Bridget Walshe, Project
>manager<br>
>Susan Simmons, Office Manager Christine Houston, Interactive<br>
>Television Coordinator Michele Charbonnier, Production &amp;
>Translation<br>
>Services Coordinator Heather Ingram, BC Hydro partner<br>
><br>
><br>
>BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br>
><br>
>Barbara Moon, APASE President, U.C. Fraser Valley Margaret Begg,
>James<br>
>Whiteside School Robert Carlisle, UBC Conrad Guelke, BC Hydro
>Barbara<br>
>Holley, IBM Jolie Mayer-Smith, UBC Bruce Rozenhart, Robertson<br>
>Rozenhart Marvin Wideen, SFU<br>
><br>
><br>
>APASE The Association for the Promotion and Advancement of Science<br>
>Education Suite 305 - 1140 Homer Street Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B
>2X6<br>
><br>
>Tel (604) 687-8712 Fax (604)687-8715 Email
>cwarren@cln.etc.bc.ca</font><br>
><font face="Palatino" size="+2" color="#000000"></font></div>
><div><br></div>
><div><br></div>
><blockquote type="cite" cite>I believe the problem goes deeper.&nbsp;
>The people who put this site together<br>
>know exactly what they are doing and saying -- the anti-nuke groups
>put out<br>
>a great deal under the rubric of &quot;curriculum&quot; and
>&quot;education.&quot;&nbsp; We can send<br>
>them lots of stuff and they won't put it up (we have been having
>this<br>
>discussion in microcosm in New Mexico).&nbsp; The point has to be made
>to<br>
>teachers, colleges of education, and school systems:&nbsp; don't use
>these<br>
>private group sites as references unless they represent college or<br>
>university-accredited courses or societies that publish peer
>reviewed<br>
>journals.&nbsp; I answer questions for a site called &quot;Mad
>Scientist&quot; run by<br>
>Washington Univ., and the administrators demand references!&nbsp; If a
>site<br>
>provides information without citing a peer-reviewed journal or
>publication,<br>
>teachers shouldn't use it as a resource (nor should anyone).&nbsp;
>This makes<br>
>putting information on the web cumbersome, but something should be
>done to<br>
>counteract the disinformation that is so easy to put up.<br>
><br>
>Ruth Weiner<br>
>ruth_weiner@msn.com<br>
>-----Original Message-----<br>
>From: PBarring@kdhe.state.ks.us
>&lt;PBarring@kdhe.state.ks.us&gt;</blockquote>
><blockquote type="cite" cite>To: Multiple recipients of list
>&lt;radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu&gt;<br>
>Date: Tuesday, December 26, 2000 9:17 AM<br>
>Subject: Re: Energy site &amp; education<br>
><br>
><br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;Bjorn,<br>
>&gt;I think the most disturbing part of this site is that it is the
>teachers'<br>
>&gt;tool for teaching K-7 students.&nbsp; I followed the teacher's
>links to see if<br>
>&gt;they led to a bit more advanced material ... nope, they led right
>back to<br>
>&gt;the same page.&nbsp; Either this is a VERY little used resource or
>the teachers<br>
>&gt;have better references (I hope).&nbsp; Ruth's letter may provide a
>wake up or it<br>
>&gt;may just annoy them.&nbsp; Maybe we (RADSAFE) could put together
>an educational<br>
>&gt;package to distribute to sites like this.&nbsp; Hey, there's a
>whole new topic<br>
>&gt;for discussion!!&nbsp; Any takers?<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;Philip Barringer<br>
>&gt;KDHE<br>
>&gt;785-296-6342<br>
>&gt;&quot;My opinions, not the State's&quot;<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;FYI: Ran across the following site by a chance:<br>
>&gt;http://www.swifty.com/apase/charlotte/nuclear.html#RISKS<br>
>&gt;It is at &quot;Association for the Promotion and Advancement of
>Science<br>
>&gt;Education, APASE&quot;. Nuclear risks are summarized as:<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;&quot;To understand the risks of nuclear energy, we need to know
>that uranium is<br>
>&gt;radioactive, which means that it constantly gives off energy in
>the form of<br>
>&gt;radiation. When plants, animals, or people are exposed to too
>much<br>
>&gt;radiation, they can be burned, become sick, or even die. When
>uranium is<br>
>&gt;mined, the leftover bits of uranium at the mine are harmful to
>plants and<br>
>&gt;animals in the area, and pollute the soil and water.&quot;<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;<br>
>&gt;*****************************************************************<span
>></span>*******<br>
>&gt;The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and
>subscription<br>
>&gt;information can be accessed at
>http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
>*********************************************************************<span
>></span>***<br>
>The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and
>subscription<br>
>information can be accessed at
>http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html</blockquote>
><div><br></div>
></body>
></html>
>--============_-1234266455==_ma============--
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>The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
>information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html



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