RE: Y2K Bug Could Cause Problems At U.S. Nuclear Power P

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Larry inadvertently sent this to me only. His comments are very 
valid, and as Larry intended, I'm passing this on to the rest of the 
Radsafers:


Sandy and all:

I cannot speak for the power industry, although I was once one of their
"Third party intervener media speakers", but I empathize with your
sentiments regarding why doesn't the industry do more to counter the anti
types regarding the Yk2 "problem",   If I may offer a couple of thoughts....

1)	Be aggressive, go after the idiots and counter their propaganda.  A
most satisfying approach but it takes time, money and manpower.  I did this
in Nebraska time and again (approximately 200 public presentations)
regarding the LLRW issue, and I saw some satisfying results.  I did this on
my own time and most often at my expense.  It was my cause.  If I had been
funded by the power people, I would immediately have been accused of being
their lackey and lost credibility.  So whom does the industry use to get the
message across?  I don't know.  I like the aggressive approach, but the
person doing it has to have a certain distance from the power industry.  How
many HP's are willing to take on the cause as I did?  How do we coordinate
the willing (and crazy) into an effective response group?  Such efforts work
very well at a grass roots level and, if successful, can translate to a
national level (it is the same thing the anti's have accomplished, but we
haven't-probably because we have to work for a living).
2)	 Lay low and ride out the storm.  As with this YK2 problem,
sometimes it might be best to lay low.  We are inundated with the YK2
"problem" and I would say that the public isn't paying much attention.  Sen.
Markey can rant and rave (he's been doing it forever), but like the Clinton
impeachment, not many are watching or listening.  In this case, the
"problem" will resolve itself with a little time, and the anti's will move
on to something else.  Personally, I think this is the best strategy for the
YK2 problem.  The lay low approach is frought with dangers on other issues,
and I generally like to see approach #1 used.

Enough for now. Anyone want to jump in?

Larry Grimm    lgrimm@admin.ucla.edu


------------------------
Sandy Perle
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205

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