Re: Energy site & education

["ruth_weiner" <ruth_weiner@email.msn.com>]

I should probably characterize the site more accurately as trying to purvey
its own brand of "science" than as just "anti-nuke."  I simply cannot
believe that a group that is generally dedicated to promoting interest in
science would be so ready to display such a degree of misinformation.  And
in what way does, for example, their description of nuclear power generation
spur anyone's interest in the subject?

We have seen locally (I am part of a group looking at statewide curricula)
that what the local environmental and, yes, anti-nuclear groups do, in the
name of promoting education and science, is to reiterate repeatedly the bad
things about nuclear power, pesticides, water pollution, etc.  That's not
going to excite anyone's interest.

By the way, thanks for the compliment!  The fourth grade was really fun!

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 1:13 PM
Subject: Re: Energy site & education


>
>This is what I was trying to say, Paul.  I don't condemn the site or the
>organization running it.  It appears that the information they have
>gathered is at best, elementary.  Although I hate to rag on you, Ruth,
>don't assume that all of these sites are anti's.  Some are just what they
>appear to be, just information sites that are running with the best
>information they have.  Unfortunately the anti-nuke groups have more sites
>and better spin doctors than we do.  What Paul says is true, give these
>people better resources and they will get the information they need.
>Everything I have read about APASE argues that they are trying to get kids
>(and adults) to like science and appreciate what science can do, rather
>than fear it.  If this is true we need to support such organizations.
>
>BTW, Ruth, can I get about 200 clones of you to run around the country for
>about four years and do what you described for that 4th grade class?
>
>Philip Barringer
>KDHE
>785-296-6342
>"My opinions, not the State's"
>
>
>
>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.
>
>
>
>
>************************************************************************
>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