RE: Sabotage/"Exposive" Meltdowns and ABC News Accuracy

["Kofler, James M." <jkofler@MAYO.EDU>]

Reading this post invoked a thought I had several years ago but never

pursued (and, unfortunately, can't pursue now but I'll throw it out all the

same).  I think it would be interesting and perhaps draw some media

attention if the HPS (or some other scientific society) were to generate a

yearly "top ten" list of media personalities (reporters, broadcasters, etc.)

that present the most erroneous reports on anything involving radiation.

Such a list may not change the way the media reports (then again, who

knows?) but at least it might draw some attention to the problem.  Send the

results to top networks, CNN, Newsweek, etc., and let them do with it what

they will--the media seems to be fond of lists, especially when their

company fairs better than their competitors).  I'm sure many people would be

surprised at the many of the names that "make" the list.  For folks like me,

I could at least reference it as the collective opinion of informed

scientists on specific media reports.



I appreciate that this would be a fair amount of work but I doubt there

would be shortage of candidates (I suspect many of you are thinking of prime

candidates as you read this).  Haven't worked out any details such as

criteria for ranking, etc. (this is the "work" part) and I can't volunteer

to do so now but if anyone (or any committee or any society newsletter)

wants to run with the idea...



Thoughts?







Jim



James M. Kofler, Ph.D.

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, MN 55905



PS. An extrapolation on the concept would also be to rank the top "most

scientifically accurate" reports involving radiation (this would be more of

a challenge--how many shades of "accurate" are there?)

















> ----------

> From: 	SAFarberMSPH@CS.COM

> Reply To: 	SAFarberMSPH@CS.COM

> Sent: 	Monday, October 22, 2001 10:32 AM

> To: 	radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu; ncohen12@HOME.COM

> Subject: 	Re: Sabotage/"Exposive" Meltdowns and ABC News Accuracy

> 

> Radsafe: 

> 

> The article by an ABC reporter "Amanda Onion" [excerpt below] which was

> posted to radsafe by Unplug Salem's Norm Cohen will likely bring tears to

> some folks. This "news" article employes technically erroneous, and

> sensationalistic imagery concerning nuclear plant sabotage which could it

> reports: 

> "trigger an explosive meltdown that could spread radiation for hundreds of

> miles and trigger lethal health problems, if not immediate death among

> large populations." 

> 

> Its always great to be reminded how our mass media report so accurately on

> PWR and BWR core nucleonics and do their part to reduce hysteria among the

> general public in a time of real crisis involving bioterrorism and airline

> suicide bombers against truly vulnerable targets.   

> 

> The sad reality is that many anti-nuclear activists are spreading this

> kind of dis- and misinformation, and some of them are so blinded by their

> misdirected blind  "jihad" against all things nuclear to even believe a

> nuclear plant can explode like a nuclear weapon. It is clear the

> propaganda concerning nuclear plant supposed vulnerability by many

> anti-nuclear activists is distracting the US from dealing with real

> threats to public health and safety posed by terrorism against such

> targets as natural gas and LNG tanks, dams, chlorine storage, toxic

> chemical storage, pipelines, etc., etc. To the extent misdirection of

> focus is happening,  the anti-nukes themselves represent a real threat to

> public health and safety. 

> 

> Stewart Farber, MS Public Health 

> email: SAFarberMSPH@cs.com 

> ========= 

> Posted by Norm Cohen: 

> 

> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/abc/20011022/ts/strike_nukesafety011022_1.htm

> l 

> > 

> > Monday October 22 08:26 AM EDT 

> > Are Nuclear Plants Safe From Attack? 

> > By Amanda Onion ABCNEWS.com 

> > Protecting the nation's nuclear facilities. 

> > 

> > . 

> > In light of the Sept. 11 attacks and the recent string of anthrax

> exposures, 

> > scientists and authorities have been forced to plan for another kind of 

> > unthinkable attack - on nuclear power plants. 

> > 

> > If the improbable happened and terrorists managed to attack and

> penetrate a 

> > nuclear reactor core at a power plant, it could trigger an explosive 

> > meltdown that could spread radiation for hundreds of miles and trigger 

> > lethal health problems, if not immediate death among large populations.

> An 

> > undercover intruder could wreak similar havoc by sabotaging a plant from

> the 

> > inside. 

> > 

> > Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and others

> emphasize 

> > that such events are highly unlikely and claim that facilities are

> protected 

> > against attacks....... 

> > 

> 

> 

************************************************************************

You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To unsubscribe,

send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu  Put the text "unsubscribe

radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail, with no subject line.