Re: The Realism Project

[Charles Pennington <cpennington@nacintl.com>]

Ted



Just got back in the country and read the NW article.  It was  excellent,

and your follow-up crystalizes the core points for everyone to keep in

mind.  Well done!



However, I was disturbed by the page 1 lead article in that issue of NW,

"UNSCEAR probes low-dose radiation link to non-cancer death rate", which

continues on page 13 just before the article covering your Realism Project.

This UNSCEAR effort is clearly focused upon discrediting and countering the

benefits of LDR work developed over the last 10 - 15 years, and this looks

to be an effort we must begin to expose and oppose quickly.  I'm sure you

and Jim have been tracking this UNSCEAR effort as its new leadership

redirects it in an ominous direction.  Clearly, they must be pulling

statistically insignificant data from studies and making more of it than is

warranted.  Studies, such as the NSWS or the one in the abstract sent out

by Jim today on low mortality rates in UKAEA workers, show the error of

what UNSCEAR is doing.



Is there organized opposition to confront UNSCEAR on this or to expose this

effort as fraud by displaying more compelling information that his been

ignored?



Charlie







                                                                           

             "Ted Rockwell"                                                

             <tedrock@starpowe                                             

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             06/20/2004 11:01                                      Subject 

             PM                        The Realism Project                 

                                                                           

                                                                           

                                                                           

                                                                           

                                                                           

                                                                           









Friends:



In response to the Nucleonics Week write-up on the Realism Session at ANS,

I

wrote the following note to the author:



Jenny Weil:



Thank you for your accurate and informative coverage of our ANS session on

realism.  There will continue to be newsworthy activities in this area for

some time.  I suggest you keep two points in mind in reviewing this work.

First, that this is not a move to put spin on our public relations; it is

addressed to the nuclear community, referring to how we should carry on our

work.  If that is done properly and honestly, it will not require spin in

the reporting.  And, incidentally, the initiative is not coming from the

industry and the advisory ommittees, which have been happily spending money

addressing non-existing risks.  The initiative is coming from the

scientists, engineers and regulators, for whom the disconnects between the

scary claims and the scientific data have become too obvious to live with.



Second, there is no attempt here to lower safety standards or performance.

Basing design and performance on scientifically valid premises, increases

safety.  It does not decrease safety.



Thanks again for your interest and reportage.  This is a vital turning

point

in nuclear technologies, and it warrants all the understanding it can get.

Please feel free to call me any time if I can help.