In a
recent issue of Nuclear News (ANS -- sometime since January -- I can't locate my
back issues just now), I read that UNSCEAR has been dealt a severe budget
cut. In fact, there are not enough funds to cover a 2003 meeting of the
Committee. It's interesting to note that UNSCEAR is now the oldest
standing committee of the UN General Assembly, but its funding is controlled by
the UN Environmental Program (UNEP). Since radiation issues are far down
the list of current UNEP environmental concerns, it has fallen below the
bureaucratic cut line.
If I
recall correctly, they were funded at something like $50k (US), and it takes
about $75k to cover the expenses of a single meeting -- not much when one
considers the costs of airline fares, meeting venue, and support staff
costs.
A number of years ago the National Council of Radiation Protection and
Measurements (NCRP) was hit with a tremendous budgetary crises. Routine
government sponsors, like the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Dept of
Energy, etc., Cut funding due to reductions in discressionary
funding. The NRC contracted for $50,000 instead of the usual
$500,000. (Or something like that) My guess in the UNSCEAR is
taking the same kind of hit.
These actions have nothing to do with science (good or bad) but with
government "business" practices.
I
don't know what has happened to UNSCEAR (or my recent posting tot he list
which took several days to come back to me through the list?) But only
the other day I was able to access this report on the URL I gave in my
previous posting. I would repeat it, but I deleted the posting when it
got back to me. I tried after recieving the original e-mail from Maury
to access UNSCEAR from a search on Google, but I couldn't get into the
site. So any loss of the site must be very recent. A serch on
Goolgle does identify several other sitres where the Chernobyl information
can be found. I do have a copy of the original report in pdf format on
my work computer, but (although I can't remember the exact file size) I
suspect it is too large for an e-mail.
If anyone can shed any light
on t! his I would be interested. I recall from a presentation give by
Norman Gentner? the UNSCEAR secretary last year in Oxford that there
was some concern then over continuing funding for this body of th UN.
Does anyone know any more detail on whether funding has been stopped for
UNSCEAR?
Regards,
Julian
--
John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail:
crispy_bird@yahoo.com
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