Re: precautionary principle

[John Jacobus <crispy_bird@YAHOO.COM>]

Jerry,

You probably misunderstood my comments.  Apparenty

this individual has never had to deal with the many

faceted aspects of scienctific research.  There are

many groups that believe they are know what is best

for society, be they scientist, environments, pro-LNt,

anti-LNT, etc.  Scientific principles work well in the

laboratory, but in the society, scientific "truth"

have to compete with the viewpoints of others.  As I

have said before, the laws are what govern our

regulations.  You should certainly contact your

representatives about your concerns, since they can

the laws you want.



I certainly believe that research should continue.  It

is up to organizations like NCRP, BEIR, etc., to

review the various results and try an present a

reasonable view of what the data suggests.  As you

pointed out in a previous post, in some cases we may

not be able to know, at least, all of the aspects of

low level radiation.  By we need to continue the

search.  After all ". . a man’s reach should exceed

his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?"



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

> 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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