RE RE A comment on our News Networks

[VERNIG.PETER@FORUM.VA.GOV]

{Original Msg: 'Re: A comment on our News Networks' from <root@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
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{On Wed, 18 Oct 1995 VERNIG.PETER@FORUM.VA.GOV wrote:
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{> 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
{
 
 
Yes I agree with that.  My oldest son [not adopted BTW] Peter is
a high school freshman and I hope I'll be able to do some work with
his school.
 
My apologies I forgot to include my email address when I spouted off on
the "integrety" of the media.  I have answered this in a way that should
carry that and my phone # etc. in case anybody wants to respond privately.
 
Peter G. Vernig, vernig.peter@forum.va.gov
 
 
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