Confronting Media & Other Bias Against
Nuclear Power, Uranium Exploration & Mining,
and Associated Environmental Issues
M. D. Campbell and Associates, L.P.
Natural Resources Group
Houston - Seattle - Denver
In recent months, C&A personnel have noticed an increase in the number of poorly written, inaccurate, and deceptive articles by various types of media on the subject of nuclear power, uranium exploration and mining, and associated environmental issues. These come from the national media to local citizens' groups. Because they all seem to have many shortcomings in common, we have begun to examine them in some detail. We will review and comment on each article selected through a process involving at least three and perhaps additional members of C&A and publish our results on this C&A News web page as an educational contribution to the general public.
We will endeavor to point out how some public officials and media reporters employ certain words to make a particular impact on the reader, or who make statements that have no basis in fact or appropriate reference, or that combine and confuse subjects treated in the article in order to encourage the reader to draw certain conclusions that the general public might not otherwise make. We have also noticed a problem with paid activtivists who are credentialed in one academic field but claim knowledge in another technical field and attempt to influence others on subjects about which they know very little.
A quick examination of our credentials and associated activities should make it apparent to the general public and other professionals alike that C&A consists of a group of professional geoscientists who have been involved in environmental projects as well as mining-related activities for many decades. Hence, we are active in the protection of natural resources and in their development. As consultants, and as licensed geologists in Texas and in a number of other states, we have an obligation to conduct our business in a professional manner as do other professionals in Texas and throughout the U.S. with similar licenses, credentials and training. We conclude that it is part of our professional duty to speak out on public matters relating to controversial issues regarding natural resources and the environment.
In this new C&A program of commenting on selected media articles, we are alerting the general public on the vagaries of the news media and of the graduates of the various schools of journalism and news media in general around the country. We encourage the general public to take notice of how some public servants, activists, and news media are sowing the seeds of misinformation, creating unnecessary controversy and mistrust around the U.S. This includes the dissemination of shoddy and blatantly-biased articles related specifically to inhibiting the expansion of nuclear power and uranium exploration and mining. To this end, we invite the general public to send us articles to review as either examples of poor reporting (or outstanding reporting) for consideration in the C&A News Analysis program.
We list below the articles that we have reviewed to date:
Power Struggle: Opponents of a Proposed Uranium Mine Near Nunn Find Kindred Spirits in South Texas.
By Rebecca Boyle, Fort Collins Now, February 6, 2008 (C&A Review #22)
Original Article: http://www.fortcollinsnow.com/article/20080206/NEWS/340020944Powering Up Nuclear: Uranium Industry Still Has its Supporters, Opponents.
by Kevin Killough, The Independent, Gallup, New Mexico, January 4, 2007 (C&A Review #21)
Original Article: http://www.gallupindependent.com/2008/January/010408kk_pwrngupnclr.html
Mining Company, Uranium Opponents Seek Public Approval
By Sonny Long - Victoria Advocate, December 9, 2007 (C&A Review #20)
Original Article: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/896217/
Hot Air and Wind: A National Renewable Power Requirement.
By Robert J. Michaels, Professor, Economics at California State U., Fullerton, December 20, 2007 (C&A Review #19)
Original Article: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTlhN2I4ZDhmZTg2N2NmM2EzNmExYTEwNWRjNzU3Mzk=Two Strikes Against New Nuclear Reactors
By Lara Cushing - San Antonio Express - News, October 24, 2007 (C&A Review #18)
Original Article: http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA102507.01Onukecomment.2332aa9.htmlU.S. Nuclear Industry Set for Expansion
By Kim Laners - Australian Broadcasting Company, ABC News, November 21, 2007 (C&A Review #17)
Original URL: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/21/2097451.htm?section=world
A Uranium Alliance Formed
By Brandon Bennett - Black Hills Pioneer, Rapid City, November 12, 2007 (C&A Review #16)
Original URL: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1300&dept_id=156925&newsid=19015356&PAG=461&rfi=9Uranium Company Won't Admit the Health Dangers
By Lilias Jones Jarding, Ph.D. - Fort Collins Coloradoan, October 29, 2007 (C&A Review #15)
Original URL: http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071029/OPINION04/710290313Water Group: 'We Want Action'
By Sonny Long - Victoria Advocate, October 16, 2007 (C&A Review #14)
Original URL: http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/847/story/137670.html#Uranium Rally Focuses on Water
By Sonny Long - Victoria Advocate, July 29, 2007 (C&A Review #13 )
Original URL: http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/428/story/97702.htmlHype on Nuclear Power is Misleading
By Brahma Chellaney - The Japan Times OnLine, September 27, 2007 (C&A Review # 12)
Original Article: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20070927bc.htmlTypical Questions from Citizens & Landowners Regarding Uranium Mining in Texas and Typical Responses by Uranium Companies in Texas and Elsewhere By C&A Natural Resources Group, August 27, 2007 (C&A Summary of Typical Questions from the Community)
Global Warming Heats up the Nuclear Option
By Greg Lavine - The Salt Lake Tribune, July 16, 2007 (C&A Review #9)
Original Article: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_6379800Nuclear Power is Back -- Not a Moment Too Soon
By Geoffrey Colvin - Money.cnn.com, May 30, 2005 (C&A Review #8)
Original Article: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/05/30/8261234/ index.htmUtilities Seek Licenses to Build 33 Additional Nuclear Reactors
By Nolan Hicks, The Daily Texan, Austin, TX, July 25, 2007 (C&A Review #7)
Original Article: http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007 /07/25/ TopStories/ Utilities. Seek.Licenses.To.Build.33.Additional.Nuclear.Reactors-2927015.shtmlTexans: Say No to Uranium Mining
By Zsombor Peter - Gallup Independent, Gallup, NM, July 24, 2007 (C&A Review #6)
Original Article: http://www.gallupindependent.com/2007/july/072407zp_txnssynotorunmmng.htmlWaste Drums Tipped at Nuke Plant after Deadly Japan Quake; Thousands Evacuate Quake Zone
by Eric Talmadge, Associated Press, Kashiwazaki, Japan, July 17, 2007 (C&A Review #5)
Original Article: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=13149
A Barrel of Gaffes: Earthquake Causes Nuclear Headaches in Japan
by Aileen Mioko Smith - Daily Grist ((Green Action), July 17, 2007 (C&A Review #4)
Uranium Mining Causes Concern
by Jocelyn Mercer, Bowesonline.com, July 6, 2007 (C&A Review #3)
Original Article: http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=46&x=story&xid=321347Just say, 'No Way' to Uranium
by Jackie Adolph - The Coloradoan.com, June 11, 2007 (C&A Review #2)
Original Article: (Here)Uranium May Reach $200 in Two Years, Macquarie Says
by Angela Macdonald-Smith, Bloomberg, Sydney, June 5, 2007 (C&A Review #1)
Original Article: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601072&sid= ameL3kcWKT5o&refer=energy
Blog Follow-Up: http://findout9884.blogspot.com/2007/11/uranium-demand-showing-price-weakness.htmlBack to C&A Home Page
Note: Because this page is dynamic, C&A makes additions, revisions, and updates on a regular basis. Only the current version presents C&A's position on the matters discussed above.
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