Madam, - We write to express great concern at the manner in which the media are facilitating various groups, mostly amateurs as regards expertise in radiation, to dismiss the recently published Chernobyl Forum Report. This extensive report summarises the findings of over 100 scientists, the collaboration of eight UN bodies including the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the governments of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, and deals with the human health, environmental and economic effects of the Chernobyl accident in 1986. The WHO wrote the section of the report on health implications.
The opponents of the Chernobyl Forum Report claim that it grossly underestimates the effects of the accident, particularly on people's health. But the "evidence" they present is based mostly on personal impressions and anecdotal testimony. Such opinion is far too flimsy to seriously threaten the credibility of the Forum Report. Yet newspapers, radio and television regularly air this amateur viewpoint, frequently unbalanced by the absence of any scientist to reflect the findings of the Forum Report.
The public needs to know that science and scientists must make their statements and conclusions based on convincing evidence and without interference from their private opinions. The media must take care not to give more weight to personal opinions than to experts, particularly when these opinions contradict the evidence-based report of hundreds of scientists. The public is almost entirely dependent for information in this area, and the general science area, on the media. It deserves a decent chance to discriminate between the wheat and the chaff. - Yours, etc,
Prof JAMES HEFFRON, Biochemical Toxicology Lab, Prof WILLIAM REVILLE, College Radiation Protection Officer, Department of Biochemistry, University College Cork.
Madam, - I would like to express my admiration for the efforts of the thousands of Irish volunteers who have helped the victims of the Chernobyl disaster for 20 years now. That the disproportionately generous response of the Irish people to the victims of the disaster continues to this day fills me with admiration for all those who give of time, money and skills to help the people affected. Seeing the enormous convoy of aid being sent to Belarus recently was a timely reminder that generosity is still alive in the Ireland of 2006.
Every one of the affected children who received medical treatment here is a testimony not only to the folly of nuclear power but also to the generosity of the Irish people. Aside from aid we also owe it to the people of Belarus, Western Russia and the Ukraine never to allow another Chernobyl disaster. We must continue to exert pressure on governments, including our own, to turn away from the foolhardy economic and environmental cul-de-sac that is nuclear power. - Yours, etc,
MARTIN O'KEEFFE, Beechfield Estate, Fermoy, Co Cork.
Madam, - Thank you for supporting objective journalism by publishing Dr Edward Walsh's article on the benefits of nuclear power ("Nuclear energy 'the safest of all'", Opinion & Analysis, April 26th). It was a much needed riposte to Fintan O'Toole's column of the previous day, which stressed the dangers of the most viable, ingenious and efficient fuel mankind has ever discovered. - Yours, etc,
JOHN LALOR, Tel-Aviv, Israel.