[cdn-nucl-l] "Life without radiation is like a radio without electricity"

[Muckerheide <muckerheide@comcast.net>]

Friends,

I have sent this to our science group, but that's not the key audience. This
group will have better perspectives on the effort to challenge erroneous
perceptions within the technical (industry and policy) communities.

Please let me know if you "try it out" on others.

Thank you.
Regards, Jim Muckerheide
========================

Please comment on the subject statement. Please consider both its technical
validity and its communication value to various audiences.


When I first used this I included the following to clarify the central point
which would not be understood/accepted by most people:

"Life without radiation is like a radio without electricity" - inert.


I also considered:
"Life without radiation is like a radio without electricity" - dead.


Or include a second line, like:

"Radiation is essential for biology to function."

(Or "Ionizing radiation...")


A further line might help people overcome the conceptual misperceptions that
radiation is just damaging to biological functions, something that must be
overcome:

"When living organisms are "protected" from radiation, they sicken and die."