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Re: Letter to NPR
"However, we still do not know his background, or his experiences or
expertise that leads one to accept anything he has said in the past or will
say again in the future."
Sandy doesn't know and apparently doesn't need to know. David Lochbaum works
for the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and, unfortunately, that single
fact is sufficient to lead Sandy to summarily dismiss "anything [Mr.
Lochbaum] has said in the past or will say again in the future." When you
can't refute the message, attack the messenger.
Mr. Lochbaum has made numerous public written and spoken statements on
nuclear issues. I've heard Mr. Lochbaum speak, and I suspect that he would
be the first to caution against merely "accepting anything he says," but
rather he would say critically analyze the facts, his statements, and the
statements of those who disagree, and make up your own mind. Can Sandy say
the same?
I reiterate: I must point out that you don't even suggest that the UCS
statements were inaccurate, let alone cite an inaccurate statement.
See http://www.ucsusa.org/about/Lochbaum.html for a very brief bio of Mr.
Lochbaum. I believe he worked for KG&E at the Wolf Creek Plant.
Glenn A. Carlson, P.E.
St. Charles, MO
GlennACarlson@aol.com
<< Subj: Re: Letter to NPR
Date: 10/3/99 9:12:16 PM EST
From: sandyfl@earthlink.net (Sandy Perle)
Sender: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
Reply-to: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
To: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu (Multiple recipients of list)
> > "In addition to getting a bachelor's degree, [Dave] Lochbaum [of the
UCS]
> > suggests working in an internship during college and joining a student
> > chapter of the American Nuclear Society. 'Getting involved with the ANS
gives
> > insight into what's going on in the industry and what the focus of the
> > nuclear industry is.' "
In that Bill Lipton didn't appreciate my poetic license taken with
respect to Glenn's posting, I'll add the following, directly related to
the quote above:
(1) I am in full agreement that all professionals should become
members of professional societies.
(2) Mr. Lochbaum should be commended for joining the ANS as a
student.
(3) However, we still do not know his background, or his
experiences or expertise that leads one to accept anything he has
said in the past or will say again in the future.
(4) His own statement 'Getting involved with the ANS gives
insight into what's going on in the industry and what the focus of
the nuclear industry is.' is vague. What insight? That all nuclear is
bad, and because he was a member of ANS makes that so?
(5) Glenn gives credence to Mr. Lochbaum, implying that he is
doing the right thing, while Bernie should not have been applauded
for his letter to NPR. How ridiculous! Bernie suggested that NPR
should question only having anti-nuclear individuals in their
programming, without also considering those who are pro-nuclear.
Fairness in the media. We should all be in favorable of that. Why
not Glenn?
The bottom line .. what credentials does Mr. Lochbaum bring to the
table, and why should we give credence to anything he says?
------------------------
Sandy Perle
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
<< Subj: Re: Letter to NPR
Date: 10/3/99 8:53:27 PM EST
From: sandyfl@earthlink.net (Sandy Perle)
Sender: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
Reply-to: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
To: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu (Multiple recipients of list)
> "In addition to getting a bachelor's degree, [Dave] Lochbaum [of the UCS]
> suggests working in an internship during college and joining a student
> chapter of the American Nuclear Society. 'Getting involved with the ANS
gives
> insight into what's going on in the industry and what the focus of the
> nuclear industry is.' "
Defending the UCS is like Pat Buchanan defending Adolph Hitler
(not to the same degree though).
------------------------
Sandy Perle
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205 >>
<< Subj: Re: Letter to NPR
Date: 10/3/99 8:12:24 PM EST
From: liptonw@dteenergy.com (William V Lipton)
Sender: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
Reply-to: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
To: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu (Multiple recipients of list)
While I generally appreciate your comments, even if I don't agree, this is
irresponsible, and makes the anti-nukes look reasonable.
You should have your poetic license revoked for reckless analogies!
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
Sandy Perle wrote:
> Defending the UCS is like Pat Buchanan defending Adolph Hitler
> (not to the same degree though).
>
> ------------------------
> Sandy Perle
> E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
> Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
>
<< Subj: Re: Letter to NPR
Date: 10/2/99 10:05:30 PM EST
From: GlennACarlson
To: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
While the choir cheers, I must point out that you don't even suggest that
the UCS statements were inaccurate, let alone cite an inaccurate statement.
Rather than appealling for rationality and accuracy, you come off as just
another disgruntled anti-anti-nuke. Sticking to the facts (as you ask NPR to
do) might have been more effective. NPR might have even called on you to set
the record straight, but not now. NPR obviously judges Dave Lochbaum and UCS
as credible experts on nuclear safety issues, your letter doesn't give NPR
any reason to think otherwise.
Glenn A. Carlson, P.E.
St. Charles, MO
In a message dated 10/1/1999, blc+@pitt.edu (Bernard L Cohen)writes:
< In response to the coverage of the Japanese nuclear accident on
National Public Radio Morning Report, I sent the following:
In your Oct. 1 coverage of the Japanese nuclear accident, you
explained the health effects of radiation by interviewing a representative
of Union of Concerned Scientists. That organization is a highly political
one with no standing in the scientific community. There are true
scientific experts on health effects of radiation in many dozens of U.S.
Universities, and any one of them would have been a more credible source
of information on the subject. There is also Health Physics Society, the
international scientific Society of experts on the subject which would
have been the most credible source of information. Use of organizations
with a strong political agenda as a source of scientific information is
highly irresponsible for NPR.
Bernard L. Cohen
Physics Dept.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Tel: (412)624-9245
Fax: (412)624-9163
e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu
>
>>
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