Re: CSI Miami I-131 Episode

[BLHamrick@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 2/11/2003 3:05:29 PM Pacific Standard Time, slavak@gj.net writes:


> What is troublesome is the matter-of-fact way in which all nuclear
>
> industries are portrayed in such shows.  Sorry, the public gets an image
>
> from that.  They may forget the details, but the overall view remains.  If
>
> you don't think there are media industry people with an anti-nuclear agenda,
>
> you need to get out of your office more.



I would tend to agree.  According to today's LA Times the "Hollywood" community is the number four contributor to the democratic party at the federal level, and I suspect their contributions may be more substantial within the state of California.


While these TV shows and movies are "fiction," they still, unfortunately, represent one of the primary avenues for people to develop impressions about various technical issues.  And, they are produced and supported by the same people who carry substantial political weight.


In a letter to Governor Davis last year, Barbra Streisand wrote, "Common sense tells us that radioactive waste must always be isolated from human surroundings and contact."  In this case, the "radioactive waste" Ms. Streisand was referring to was residual radioactive material in soils and building debris that had been safely released for unrestricted use (which might include post-release disposal to landfills).  "Common sense" tells her to isolate these materials, because our TV, movies and uninformed news coverage tells her this.  It is certainly not because she's studied any radiation or health physics.  Nevertheless, while her opinion failed to convince Governor Davis last year, who vetoed the bill she wrote to him about, her opinion no doubt carries weight with many lesser officials, who have this session reintroduced the same bill Davis vetoed (i.e., SB 13 - requiring clean-up to "background" levels).  And, it should be noted that although Davis vetoed the bill, he never officially took a public position on the bill (either personally or through the agencies he directs) until the veto at the midnight hour of last year's legislative session.  The decision was made in a black hole as to the public, without a real opportunity for the public to understand what state scientists thought.


As another poster just pointed out, these misrepresentations in our media engender unnecessary fear in the public, and when the day comes that we face the repercussions of a "dirty bomb," the panic, fear and misinformation the public has will indeed be dangerous in my opinion.


This is an area where public health agencies should be leading the way in my opinion, providing appropriate education at all levels to the public, and responding in a timely manner to all misrepresentations in the press and even in the pure entertainment fora.  Where the agencies fail to respond, due to political pressure, or other reasons, then I believe the responsibility falls to the professional community to repeatedly set the record straight.


I am not just venting in the forum, by the way.  I do try to bring this message to the public through the press, through my elected representatives, and, indeed I tried earnestly to provide accurate information to the writer of this episode.


Sincerely,

Barbara Hamrick