RE: A Reporter Questions Rokke

[Stanford, Dosimetry]

Asking him to prove health problems sounds easy, but won't work.  I have

tried this, asked for specifics.  He won't do it.  Here is a typical

response : "On medical I can't change what my and our physicians have

found but that has been quashed by DOD to prevent liability.  If you

want copies all of the reports call Marty at AEPI in Atlanta." 

-sounds very impressive, but is of course empty



He uses any challenge as an opportunity to spout more. He gets the

attention of all of his listeners/readers and the carefully reasoned

response/cross examination is ignored or seen as an in-humane attack

against a poor victim.  He moves the target, responds with another piece

of misinformation. It is classic shock effect stuff. He writes like a

raving lunatic, but his audience accepts that, perhaps it is due to his

radiation injuries, they think.  After all, one of the injuries he

claimes to have sustained as a result of exposure to DU is neurological

damage.



My hope is that every time we challenge him, we get one or two

listeners/readers to at least think about it a little more. I forward on

links from reputable independent agency www sites with fact sheets (his

response to the WHO site: "this has lots of pure bull shit  to sustain

use and prevent liability.")  I have had a handful of people even in my

little town in WA tell me of an article or news story they read/heard

about how DU is killing so many, how it is the cause of the Gulf War

Syndrome.  Every time, the source of the disinformation is Rokke.  For

the most part, I can neutralize his impact on these people.  But still

they wonder why, if he is wrong, he is not being publicly challenged.  



It is a very difficult situation, but ignoring it isn't working. If not

at an agency level, then at least at a personal level, we need to

respond when we read or hear this stuff. Like Barbara H. and Bob C. are

doing.



Neill Stanford, CHP

--------------------------------------------------

Stanford Dosimetry LLC

www.stanforddosimetry.com

stanford@stanforddosimetry.com

360 293 9334                              

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-----Original Message-----

From: owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

[mailto:owner-radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu] On Behalf Of John Jacobus

Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 5:21 AM

To: maury; BobCherry@AOL.COM

Cc: radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu

Subject: Re: A Reporter Questions Rokke





This may sound like a silly question, but why doesn't

someone just ask him to prove he has health problems

associated with his exposures?  The burden of proof is

on him.



If he cannot provide his own records, then hammer him.



--- maury <maury@webtexas.com> wrote:

> Bob,

> Are various govt. agencies, e.g., VA, USA, DOE, NRC,

> subject to the same

> legal restraints -- or at least a prevailing fear of lawsuits? Someone

> on Radsafe recently said something to the effect that none of the

> regulatory agencies seem able to change public

> fearful perceptions of

> things nuclear. I have seen no serious attempts in

> recent years by govt.

> agencies or by industry to change these public

> perceptions. It seems to

> me that the govt. agencies Rokke refers to could at

> least refute

> publicly his false assertions if they cared to do

> so. I have the

> impression that they prefer to let the little dogs

> keep on yapping.

> 

> The Rokke's will thrive until there is some

> institutional attempt to

> counter the false information. I believe all

> personal efforts (such as

> yours) with the media and with congressmen do help

> change some minds,

> but the larger institutionalized effort could

> finally turn this

> foolishness around -- but I see nothing yet about to

> happen along these

> lines.

> 

> Along with others, my sincere thank you for your

> efforts and I hope you

> will continue to the extent you can.

> Sincerely,

> Maury Siskel     maury@webtexas.com

> . . .





=====

-- John

John Jacobus, MS

Certified Health Physicist

e-mail:  crispy_bird@yahoo.com



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