Re: public education

[Ruth Weiner <rfweine@SANDIA.GOV>]

     I do hate to be cynical about that article, but I would like to call 
     your attention to the "Epilogue: ... In June, 1997, the Midwest 
     Compact Commission voted to halt the process of siting a low-level 
     waste facility in Ohio...."  So what did all their well-intentioned 
     public information accomplish?  Not much, it seems to me. Why?  
     Because if the information had got through the barriers and the 
     cisizens of Ohio had both been adequatelky informed and had acted on 
     that information, the process WOULD have continued and a LLW facility 
     WOULD have been sited.
     
     I am sure the information was sound and well reviewed, and I am 
     reasonably sure it was well and adequately presented.  When oh when 
     are we all going to learn that the political movers and shakers among 
     the anti-nuclear folks -- those who really effectively deal with 
     elected officials and the media -- are neither uninformed nor 
     frightened nor unable to understand science nor overwhelmed by jargon 
     nor any of these other excuses.  Their agenda is political power, they 
     know when they have it, and they will not relinquish it in the face of 
     any information, no matter how overwhelming!
     
     Ruth F. Weiner, Ph. D.
     Transportation Systems Department
     Sandia National Laboratories
     Mail Stop 0718
     P. O. Box 5800
     Albuquerque, NM 87185-0718
     505-844-4791
     505-844-0244 (fax)
     rfweine@sandia.gov
     
     Very clearly my own opinion and one in which neither my employer nor 
     any sponsor are implicated.
        

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: public education
Author:  karam.1@osu.edu at hubsmtp
Date:    1/22/98 9:52 AM


There is an article in the month's Nuclear News (p.30) titled "Providing 
information to the public:  A case study from Ohio" by Dr. Audeen Fentiman 
that summarizes a successful public education project conducted by the Ohio 
State University.  In addition to a summary of what was accomplished, there 
is a section on lessons learned from this work.  I found the article to be 
clearly-written with some valuable insights for anyone who deals with the 
public.
     
Andy
     
The opinions expressed above are well-reasoned and insightful.  Needless to 
say, they are not those of my employer. (with apologies to Michael Feldman)
     
Andrew Karam, CHP  (karam.1@osu.edu)          (614) 292-1284 (phone) 
The Ohio State University                     (614) 292-7002 (fax)
Office of Radiation Safety                    "The mind is not a vessel to 
1314 Kinnear Road                         be filled but a fire to be 
Columbus, OH  43212                         lighted." (Plutarch)