Re: precautionary principle

["Jerry Cohen" <jjcohen@PRODIGY.NET>]

John,

    Maybe you are correct. Scientists may be wasting a lot of

time in laboratories, data analysis, technical literature review, 

and similar frivolities when they should be out taking public 

opinion surveys to learn the way things really are.  

     BEIR uses this approach in seeking input from public  

interest group to determine of low-dose radiation effects.    

                 Jerry





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

From: John Jacobus <crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM>

To: Jerry Cohen <jjcohen@PRODIGY.NET>; <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>

Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 1:44 PM

Subject: Re: precautionary principle





> And who is S. Fred Singer?  Has he heard that science

> does not work in a vacuum, but is also responsive to

> the forces of society (the public) and politics?

>

> --- Jerry Cohen <jjcohen@PRODIGY.NET> wrote:

> > some words of wisdom from S. Fred Singer:

> >

> > "Public-health officials and media alike prefer to

> > err on the side of

> > sounding the alarm when faced with ambiguous risks,

> > but this "precautionary

> > principle" does more to protect them - ensuring that

> > they get attention and

> > that they can't be accused of complacency in the

> > face of danger - than to

> > protect a vulnerable and bewildered public. What the

> > public truly needs is

> > a responsible, balanced view of scientific research.

> > If the public health

> > community continues to let out cries that are not

> > rooted in scientific

> > principles, there may come a day when a real crisis

> > arises and they find

> > that no one is listening."

> >

> >

>

>

> =====

> -- John

> John Jacobus, MS

> Certified Health Physicist

> e-mail:  crispy_bird@yahoo.com





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