I agree with Jerry's comments about BERT, DARI, etc.

[John Cameron <jrcamero@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

Jerry,  I did not propose BERT to solve any fundamental problems of 

radiophobia. My concern was to help a few people, probably less than 

one percent, who really believe radiation is as dangerous as they 

say. I believe in "patient power"-the patient has the right to an 

understandable answer to a question about their dose. The only way 

they can understand it is by comparing it to something they 

understand, that is time. In the process they will learn that 

everything, including themselves are radioactive.

	I think radiophobia will disappear eventually when it becomes 

clear to the ICRP, NCRP, etc. that we need some radiation to 

stimulate our immune systems. I don't expect to live long  enough to 

see that happen but I am confident that it will in the next 25 years. 

There is nothing dramatic we can do. We can continue to educate 

whenever we have a chance. That education will not happen on our list 

server.

Best wishes, John



>Perhaps it is somewhat perilous to generalize, but apparently the vast

>majority of the public is: [1] technologically ignorant, [2] innumerate, and

>[3]radiophobic. The radiophobia is not irrational in any way.  Since the

>public is incapable of technically evaluating information, the widespread

>fear of radiation is simply a reflection of what the public learns from the

>media and from government policies (i.e. if radiation wasn't so dangerous,

>why would we need ALARA, cleanup levels to a small fraction of bkgd. level,

>etc.)

>Given this situation, does anyone really believe that gimmicks such as BERT,

>& DARI, would be effective in giving the public a reasonable perspective on

>radiation effects. I wouldn't be optimistic. The abandonment of LNT, ALARA,

>and similar nonsense by regulatory agencies would be much more effective.

-- 

John R. Cameron (jrcamero@facstaff.wisc.edu)

2678 SW 14th Dr. Gainesville, FL 32608

(352) 371-9865 Fax (352) 371-9866

(winters until  about May  15)



PO Box 405, Lone Rock,WI 53556

(608) 583-2160; Fax (608) 583-2269

(summers: May 2002- September 2002)

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