Re: cartoon

[Susan L Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

The Tennessean has a reputation for being notoriously anti-nuclear and

for stirring up concerns regarding health effects at Oak Ridge (160

miles away).  Several years ago they ran two series "Toxic Burn" about

the TSCA Incinerator (mixed waste/PCB incinerator on the Oak Ridge

Reservation) and "Toxic Burden" about alleged health effects from the

incinerator and other sources.  They ran dozens of pages on these

"investigative" reports.



I was particularly impressed by the article where the reporter went door

to door in the small rural community nearest the incinerator asking if

people who lived there were ill and if they attributed it to the DOE's

facility.  Of course they all thought that must be the cause of their

ailments ... chronic sinus infections, heart disease, diabetes,

impotence, etc., etc.  Each person with their photo in the paper and all

of his or her ailments listed below.  As you might imagine, very

scientific -- NOT!



Reasoned rebuttals from members of the community and the state

regulators were largely ineffective against the tide of ink.  However,

members of the community did prevent the paper from receiving a Pulitzer

by pointing out the fallacies and misinformation to the committee.

-- 

.....................................................

Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director

Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee

102 Robertsville Road, Suite B, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Toll free 888-770-3073 ~ www.local-oversight.org

.....................................................

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