Radiation Honesty

The “LEVEL” of radiation, in an accident of the Fukushima magnitude, does not indicate how dangerous the exposure is. “Low level radiation” is merely and indication that accompanying radio nuclides are present which cannot be detected by a geiger counter.

Almost thirty years ago two other ladies and myself worked as lobbyist to stop the reopening of a uranium mine in Lakeview, Oregon. I was raising five children and I learned from literature written about the Australian uranium mining some key points.

First the mine would expose every man, woman, child and infant being carried in the womb to the same exposure workers get working at a nuclear facility. At that time, the nuclear physicists were divided. There were those who supported the industry and were paid handsomely to do so. They were opposed by those who due to conscience had dropped out to inform the public of the dangers.

Some ranchers were looking for a way to generate more wealth from their land. Western Nuclear (historically very disreputable company) was contacted and began test drilling for uranium all over. Ranchers who were not involved began to have concern that drilling so many core samples would drop the water table. 

Prior to this I had been moved to show a documentary film at the library on the impact on the Navaho Nation as a result of exposure to low level radiation. Even though Lake County had a 20 history of exposure no one had documented the effects on the population.  As we carried our grass roots petition from door to door we heard about and saw with our own eyes the devastating effects. We collected thousands of signatures and the measure was placed on the ballot. The people were so grateful that we were making the effort to do something. Lake County is one of the largest counties in Oregon and has a very sparse human population.

I appeared as a witness before the Oregon Legislature, attended many Facility Siting Council meetings. Lloyd Marbett well respected Oregon activist who was at the time fighting to stop the Trojan Power Plant, breeder reactors, and storage of fuel rods in Oregon, attended with us when he had time. Once when I speaking on a TV show where callers were addressed. The callers were mostly very supportive one asked if I was a physicist I said no. At that time there was lots of information so all one had to do was read it. I gave the caller names and titles of the literature. After the show ended I was asked if I wanted to speak to the last caller. He was a retired Navy Chief. The gentleman explained how power could be easily created by placing small water wheels along the Columbia River and hooking them up to alternators (already stored in a place he knew of) and connected directly to the Bonneville Power line that runs next to the river.

Years passed my life unfolded. After the cancer death of my mother (at 57) I moved to Ashland with the knowledge I had gained I was the first to call the EPA and DEQ when the Chernobyl accident occurred. I spoke to the scientist who was monitoring the radioactive readings for the state. He mailed me a 25 page document that was a list of all the radioactive materials that they were picking up. The list was overwhelming. I showed it to several doctors one made a copy. 

It is documented that 1/4 pound of plutonium broken into it’s smallest particulate has the potential to kill every human being on the face of the Earth.

In light of the desire to have a renaissance in nuclear power I will say it is the most NOT GREEN way to create a steam engine. It was compared to using a chain saw to cut butter. There is simply no responsible excuse to continue on this deadly path.

What I did several days after Chernobyl was keep the kids inside and taped up all windows and doors for a week. We did not drink milk or eat cheese for a year. You must understand that Chernobyl was only one uranium reactor that had a partial melt down. 25 years later it is responsible for over a million deaths.

Japan is much more serious if everyone had the benefit of my experience they would have kept their children indoors. Children are 20X more at risk that adults because of their cell division. This accident is not just a Japanese experience it is a global experience. The radio nuclides expelled into the atmosphere will have an effect on everyone literally forever. How can they tell you this? They don’t they just keep lying to you. 

After fighting the fight against the nuclear industry which is a horrific unnecessary manmade danger I was exhausted. I moved and continued on with raising my children.

There is deviant goal in society that does not respect the right of the individual to know what the heck is going on. This goal is a game and short term with every long term consequences. Money or return on investments can be acquired many ways are we not tired of the current dishonorable game. Hopefully now we are not all too busy to listen to our Hearts and know what is right and who is lying and why.