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Re: Sec. Ridge accurately addresses the impact of a "dirty bomb"
Dear colleagues,
Someone once said that everyone is afraid of radiation except for experts -
If this is
true, it is easily explained. In general, any unknown things are scary. As
soon as they
become familiar, any unjustified fear diminishes and justified fear
persists. The
experts know what to be afraid and what is harmless. Radiation matters are
not more difficult than any other Scientific Matters: unfamiliar words can
be explained and phenomena can be compared to everyday events. Clearly we
can talk about computers without peculiar abbreviations and about illnesses
without medical latin. And this bring to the following important lesson to
be learned to those that intend to communicate about radiation risk:
"Communication on nuclear issues may appear to be a simple and direct
subject, however, it will often arise to be an issue of psychosocial and
political complexity:
Limitation in the science of risk assessment and risk management, in media
coverage, in public perception induce serious obstacles for communication"
(Vincent T. Covello - Informing people about radiation risks: A review of
obstacles to public understanding and effective risk communication, 1988)
The conclusion is: you cannot expect the man of the street to learn the
language of the experts, therefore, experts have to learn to express
themselves in normal, everyday language.
My I offer to those interested the paper - Adjusting Ability and Sensibility
for an Accident -
that I presented at the International Conference Goiania 10 years Later,
Goiania, 26-31 October 1997, published in the IAEA proceedings
Those interested please send me an e-mail
Jose Julio Rozental
joseroze@netvision.net.il
Israel
----- Original Message -----
From: Ted de Castro <tdc@XRAYTED.COM>
To: J. J. Rozental <joseroze@netvision.net.il>
Cc: Sandy Perle <sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET>; Radsafe
<radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>; <powernet@hps1.org>
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 5:34 PM
Subject: Re: Sec. Ridge accurately addresses the impact of a "dirty bomb"
Agreed - your statement is technically correct - BUT - when people hear
that they will just tune out and say - "see even he doesn't know".
The original statement is indeed imprecise - but it is what the public
listens to. This is one reason the anti's do so well - to them the end
justifies the means and if ambiguity and just flat out lying are what it
takes to make a simple, short statement using small words - that is
exactly what they will do.
"J. J. Rozental" wrote:
>
> Sandy,
>
> " He stated that one would receive more radiation from a NY to LA flight,
> then being near a dirty bomb after it explodes."
> What does the expression "being near a dirty bomb after it explodes."
means?
>
> The example was not a good example associated with communicating technical
> information, and this is not good to the credibility of Competent
Authority.
> A good example could be, for example:
> The impact (effects) of a dirty bomb is not simple to predict, as they
would
> depend on factors such as weather conditions and the type of material
used.
> People could be exposed to radioactivity, not only from the initial dust
> cloud, but also from particles that settled on the ground and buildings or
> entered water or food supplies. Although such an attack may not
necessarily
> result in large numbers of casualties, there could be significant
> psychological and social impact.
>
> Jose Julio Rozental
> joseroze@netvision.net.il
> Israel
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Sandy Perle <sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET>
> To: <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>; <powernet@hps1.org>
> Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 7:22 PM
> Subject: Sec. Ridge accurately addresses the impact of a "dirty bomb"
>
> I was just watching "Inside Edition with Wolf Blitzer" and Sec Ridge
> addressed the
> real impact of a dirty bomb as being primarily a psychological impact,
> rather than a
> human injury impact. He stated that one would receive more radiation from
a
> NY to
> LA flight, then being near a dirty bomb after it explodes. He then
> reiterated that the
> impact is mostly psychological, and that he said, is one of the things a
> terrorist
> wants, psychological impact.
>
> Now if only his message received broader distribution!
> ***************************************************************
> Sandy Perle
> Director, Technical
> ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service
> ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue
> Costa Mesa, CA 92626
>
> Tel: (714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100 Extension 2306
> Fax: (714) 668-3149
>
> E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com
> E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
>
> Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/
> ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/
>
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