Re: A comment on our News Networks

[Chris Davey <cdavey@med.phys.ualberta.ca>]

On Wed, 18 Oct 1995 VERNIG.PETER@FORUM.VA.GOV wrote:

> I have been following the thread on the news program and "deadly"
> plutonium.  Those that think we should try to flood the networks with
> mail don't understand one basic thing.  They have no interest in
> accuracy or honesty!
>  
> I will try to keep this short.  This is a true example.  The network
> was ABC or NBC, whichever one has Tom Brokaw.  It was one of a host
> of 60 Minutes wanna be news shows.  They broadcast a segment on the
> unrest and violence in Guatemala related to adoptions.  There are
> periodically rumors there that kids are kidnapped and or that organs
> are harvested.  The reported on an incident where a child was kidnapped.
> and many other incidents that were unrelated.  They did a lot of filming
> in front of Hogar La Esperansa [Home of Hope] the only thing directly re-
> lated to Hogar was an alegation by a novelist that he'd been at the
> Hogar and it was implied that he could "buy a baby" and that was his
> interpretation.  It was not related that the incident occured 8 years
> befor the broadcast.  I can't evaluate the incident enought from what I
> saw to say at all whether it was in anyway credible.  But I do know the
> adoption of our son Paul was legal.  We had to submit birth certificates
> income tax records, etc.  13 documents in all to the Court of minors.
> All had to be notarized, certified by the Attorney General of Colorado,
> and verified by the Guatemalan Consulate.
>  
> I called and talked to a stafffer at the network, that's how I found
> out that the novelist's visit was from 8 years earlier.  I was told 
> there would be a "clarification" broadcast.  It consisted of a mere
> mention of the fact that the attorney for HOgar had protested and 
> stated that all adoptions are carried out in strict accordance with
> Guatemalan law.  Our adoption was delayed by almost 6 months because
> the birth mother could not be located to confirm her intention to 
> place our son for adoption, he had to be declared abandoned.  I and 
> dozens, if not hundreds of adoptive parents wrote to complain of the
> false and misleading impression given by the show.  Folks, I didn't even
> get the courtesy of a form letter reply much less a retraction or real
> clarification.
>  
> THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT ACCURACY, HONESTY OR INTEGRETY ONLY RATINGS!
> BTW, my only consolation was that the show was cancelled and the one
> that carried their so called clarification was the last show.
>  
> So I guess I have to say I think letter writting to the networks is futile.
> These are of course only my opinions and do not reflect those of my
> employer or anyone else.
>  
> Peter G. Vernig
> 
I think one thing we can do is volunteer to educate, especially at 
schools, so that the new generation growing up can be more informed.

Radiation Protection should be taught to everyone!

Chris Davey, RSO
Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, Alberta