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Ruth,
I thought Norm gave a reasonable
explanation for the "mobile Chernobyl" mantra. Because it rhymes and is
catchy---That is why it is used! In the public relations arena, this approach
seems to be very effective.. Remember the OJ trial-- "If it fits, you must
acquit" . In short, because it works, that's why!
Scientific logic and reason have nothing to do with
it.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 5:22
AM
Subject: More on "Mobile Cherobyl" and
PTSD
From
the NIRS website I copied the following:
"On July 3, 2000, NIRS and
Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy and Environment Project launched the
Radioactive Roads and Rails Tour through the Heartland of America. >From July 3
through August 6 (Hiroshima Day), NIRS drove a full-size mock atomic waste
cask from Michigan to the proposed permanent nuclear waste site at Yucca
Mountain, Nevada. Traveling along highways that will experience tens of
thousands of real such casks, if nuclear industry-sponsored "Mobile Chernobyl"
legislation becomes law, the tour brought attention to the very real public
health and safety risks of such transport..."
No explanation or basis
for the term "Mobile Chernobyl" is given on the site or in any links.
There is an extensive distorted discussion of the accident history (a
database that is publicly available that I used to manage). The cask
mentioned in the above quote, and the NIRS people traveling with it were, by
the way, confronted by the nuclear engineering students and faculty at Rolla,
MO.
I suggest that those people who think that media presentations of
fallout, TMI, etc., cause post-traumatic stress disorder take a look at the
NIRS site (www.nirs.org).
I am also amused that Norman Cohen, who
takes PTSD very seriously (or claims to) just says that characterizing
SNF transportation as "Mobile Chernobyl" is a just a good sound bite!
Answer the question please: wouldn't the use of the term"Mobile
Chernobyl" be likely to cause PTSD, if PTSD can be caused by scary media
presentations?
My original question about "Mobile Chernobyl" has never
been answered, and the NIRS website doesn't answer it either.
Ruth Weiner, Ph. D.
ruthweiner@aol.com
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