Re: Scare tactics

[col_eric_daxon@medcom2.smtplink.amedd.army.mil]

    This is a good example of scare tactics and the improper use of what 
    may be correct numbers.  One method for bringing some sanity to the 
    process is contained at the bottom of the article.  If you are in 
    the district of the Congressmen who are sponsoring the resolution 
    listed in the original article, write or call them and ask their 
    rationale for sponsoring the bill.  Entering into a constructive 
    dialogue works.  The long-term solution in my opinion still rests 
    with education at the high school and college level about risk and 
    how to interpret risk statements.

       Once again the part that is missing from the article, as Susan 
    Gawarecki correctly pointed out, is a statement about the amount 
    that actually reached the cities cited.  
    
    Risk is determined by the amount present not the presence of an 
    amount.

    Standard disclaimers.
    
    Eric G. Daxon
    egdaxon@juno.com
    
    ______________________________ Reply Separator 
    _________________________________
    Subject: Scare tactics 
    Author:  <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu > at internet-mail
    Date:    2/8/99 2:22 PM
    
    
    This just came to my screen.  The scare tactics are classic.  The 
    author uses the groundwater contamination to segue into the 
    contamination of downstream drinking water, without pointing out the 
    huge dilution factor, which undoubtably brings the uranium 
    concentrations into the range of background.  Hot button words like 
    "toxins" and well-worn anti-nuke phrases like "glow in the dark" are 
    also used to frighten the public.  It's too bad reality doesn't sell 
    newspapers.
     
--Susan Gawarecki
     
     http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_exnews/19990205_xex_does_your_wa.
     shtml


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