Copyright (c) 1999

Subject: Responses to newsletter #87 -- STOP CASSINI newsletter #88 February 1st, 1999

Hi!

Kai Petzke points out that there are actually two seminars on the safety issues of the space nuclear policies. But both seminars are really not about safety at all, but about how to modify public perceptions of the risk!

And (of course) I've received several (and expect to receive more) emails ragging on me for suggesting that Gagnon's Global Network made a less-than-innocent mistake in sending the notification out so late -- the second day of the symposium (which I mistakenly called the first day of the meeting).

Hard though they may be, I stand by my remarks. Perhaps Gagnon can explain this delay away, but I don't think he could ever explain everything that he has done that hurts the movement.

Sincerely,

Russell D. Hoffman

Today's subjects:

• From the mailbag: Kai Petzke responds
• From the mailbag: Jonathan Haber responds
• From the mailbag: Regina Hagen responds
• From the mailbag: Jim Spellman responds

>>>> INCOMING EMAIL >>>>

Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 19:35:28 +0100 (CET)
From: Kai Petzke
To: "Russell D. Hoffman"
Subject: Re: 16th Happy Symposium on the wonderful uses of space nuclear power and propulsion... STOP CASSINI #87 February 1st, 1999

Hello Russell,

this time, you are wrong. Topics E19 und E20 focus on safety issues.

I agree, that the safety aspect comes too short. But it hasn't been omitted completely.

There is NOT ONE SEMINAR on the health risks of anything they want to do!

CLIP FROM NOTIFICATION OF SYMPOSIUM (newsletter #87)

E19. LAUNCH SITE CONSIDERATIONS

JONATHAN STABB, Chair
NASA Kennedy Space Center, MC: BC-B, Kennedy Space
Center, FL 32899, 407-867-4163, Fax: 867-7644,
jonathan.stabb-1@pp.ksc.nasa.gov

Papers are invited which address a broad spectrum of launch site considerations for the processing of nuclear systems and their integration onto launch vehicles/payloads. Specific focus should be given to how launch site planning and operations can better enable scheduled and future missions. Launch site considerations include, but are not limited to, integration of nuclear systems with payloads/spacecraft, testing and nuclear system verification, public affairs/perceptions, facility requirements, differences between processing fission systems and radioisotope systems, and regulatory issues.

E20. SAFETY AND LAUNCH APPROVAL PROCESS

LYLE L. RUTGER, Chair
U.S. Department of Energy, GTN A-247, Germantown, MD
20874 301-903-6470, Fax: 903-5057,
lyle.rutger@hq.doe.gov

JOSEPH A. SHOLTIS, JR., Co-Chair
Sholtis Engineering & Safety
Consulting, 2
Oso Drive, Suite 200, Tijeras, NM
87059,
505-281-4358, Fax: 281-4358,
sholtis@aol.com

Papers are solicited that address safety and launch approval considerations for space missions involving nuclear power, thermal control, or propulsion systems. Topics include safety analysis and testing, safety policy and requirements, public perception of nuclear risk, and the launch approval process. Papers on lessons learned and recommendations for improving the safety analysis process and communications of risk are especially encouraged.

END OF CLIP

Grüße

Kai Petzke
--
Kai Petzke, Inst. fuer Theor. Physik,
TU Berlin, Sekr. PN 7-1,
Hardenbergstr. 36
10623 Berlin

If you don't like formulas, then this web page is made specifically for you!
http://troubadix.physik.tu-berlin.de/~petz0433/

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*** From the mailbag: Jonathan Haber responds
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INCOMING EMAIL

Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 14:04:36 -0500 (EST)
To: "Russell D. Hoffman"
From: Leonard Peltier Support Group
Subject: Re: 16th Happy Symposium on the wonderful uses of space
nuclear power and propulsion... STOP CASSINI #87 February 1st, 1999

why be so critical about the

At 09:36 AM 2/1/99 -0800, you wrote:
Sent to: Subscribers, Press, Public officials.
Subject: 16th Happy Symposium on the wonderful uses of space nuclear power
and propulsion... STOP CASSINI #87 February 1st, 1999

Hi!

Any readers in or near Albuquerque, New Mexico may want to attend this if possible.

I would have written about it sooner, but this email just arrived today, forwarded to me, and originally from the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space . The symposium starts today -- thanks for the lead time, fellas. Did Global Network just learn about it too, were they simply asleep at the wheel, or was the delay in notifying the public actually (horrors!) deliberate? Or is Global Network simply run by incompetents?

russell, this response seems vindictive while not knowing why the delay in getting the information to us, rather than being appreciative that we were informed..

jmh

END OF INCOMING EMAIL

MY RESPONSE

Hi!

Thank you for your email.

I understand your feeling that way, but Bruce K. Gagnon has let us down many times before. If there is a fair explanation for the delay he should have mentioned it himself, because anyone with half a brain had to wonder why he didn't pass around any literature until the 2nd day of the meeting. I consider him incompetent and unfit to lead the movement. If this is NOT a perfect example of his incompetence, it certainly appears to be a pretty good one.

Sincerely,

Russell D. Hoffman

END OF RESPONSE

**********************************************
*** From the mailbag: Regina Hagen responds
**********************************************

INCOMING EMAIL

Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 20:02:54 +0100
From: Regina Hagen
To: "Russell D. Hoffman"
CC: Global Network Against Weapons And Nuclear Power in Space
Subject: Re: 16th Happy Symposium on the wonderful uses of space nuclear
power and propulsion... STOP CASSINI #87 February 1st, 1999
References: <2.2.32.19990201173723.006dbb84@mail.adnc.com>

Russell D. Hoffman wrote:

I would have written about it sooner, but this email just arrived today, forwarded to me, and originally from the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space (globenet@afn.org). The symposium starts today -- thanks for the lead time, fellas. Did Global Network just learn about it too, were they simply asleep at the wheel, or was the delay in notifying the public actually (horrors!) deliberate? Or is Global Network simply run by incompetents?

Russell,

you admit yourself that you learned about this conference by the mailing from the GN. So why would you want to let people think that Bruce might have known about it any longer? I am sure he sent the mail off to his list as soon as he got the information. If learning about the event on the day it starts means being incompentent, do you mean to imply the same applies to you?... Please, Russell, stop fighting other groups. Let's continue to oppose what is worth the effort - like nuclear power in space.

Friedliche Gruesse

Regina

END OF INCOMING EMAIL

MY RESPONSE

Hi!

Thank you for your letter -- I confess to have expected some people to wonder about that.

If Bruce wants to clear his name for all the crap he's done, that's his business. But as far as I can see he just keeps doing more crap, and this is just one instance. It goes way beyond just what I've written; I have many (I'd guess well over a dozen) letters from people who have become disenfranchised with the movement because of Bruce. Many more who simply were upset because he didn't even take the time to answer their questions -- oh, yeah, I forgot how busy he is.

You call ME uncooperative! How blind can you be, Regina? Ask yourself how, for instance, have I stepped on YOUR toes?

If you want to accuse me of waging a war within the movement, that's your business, but your friend Bruce has excluded me (and others) from EVERYTHING he could, at every stage. I don't do that. I would have met you two years ago in Darmstalt were it not for his negativity, and I certainly would be going there in March of this year too -- but didn't get an invite (didn't even hear about it until a few days ago).

So, you may think what you want, but personally, I'm pretty fed up with your accusations that it is my dirty little war, not his. As to my own incompetence, I do the BEST I CAN. If it isn't good enough for you, then certainly you should feel free to just unsubscribe and go your merry way. If you don't trust me to tell the truth, you won't learn anything from my newsletters anyway. I mean you no harm, but I've been harmed and the movement (and I) continue to be harmed by Bruce K. Gagnon --and you, and certain others, sit by and accuse me of infighting, simply for speaking the truth about how much damage one person can do to a movement. If Gagnon is on the up and up, he should start making the effort to appear honest and forthright in everything he does. He should not get phone numbers of other organizations wrong in $20,000 NYT ads. He should not fail to mention local groups (as in NYC) when appearing on NYC radio shows. He should not fail to introduce guests who travel all the way from California to attend meetings in Europe. He should not fail to keep commitments.

He has done all these things, and more. What have you done to confront HIM about his crap? Nothing, I'll bet -- you just come to me and say I have wronged the movement for having unmasked his madness. Is he a plant? An agent provocateur? Or just a guy with an ego so big he can't let others into the movement? Does it really matter what drives him?

Frankly, I really don't care what his problem is, but we all should recognize that he has some pretty severe handicaps in his ability to lead the movement.

Sincerely,

Russell D. Hoffman

END OF RESPONSE

**********************************************
*** From the mailbag: Jim Spellman responds
**********************************************

INCOMING EMAIL

From: WSpaceport@aol.com
Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 16:30:17 EST
To: rhoffman@animatedsoftware.com
Subject: Re: 16th Happy Symposium on the wonderful uses of space n

In a message dated 2/1/99 9:39:28 AM Pacific Standard Time,

rhoffman@animatedsoftware.com writes:

The symposium starts today -- thanks for the lead time, fellas. Did Global Network just learn about it too, were they simply asleep at the wheel, or was the delay in notifying the public actually (horrors!) deliberate? Or is Global Network simply run by incompetents?

Russ --

Since it is the 16th annual symposium, and since (as far as I presume) it has traditionally been held in Albuquerque all this time (close to Sandia National Laboratory, no doubt) -- at roughly the same time period, one wonders if GNAWNPS has just given up on that particular symposium, or didn't think to include you on their roster.

If I were to have attended (if I had known -- since I just received a similar posting right after you from a contact on the "Friends & Partners in Space" discussion list), I'm sure I would have been placed on a mailing list of some sort.

Then again, if I were specifically looking for said topic, I may have found it in the "meetings/symposium/conferences" listing of Aviation Week or Space News.

~JS~

END OF INCOMING EMAIL

MY RESPONSE

Jim is of course correct. GNAWNPS doesn't email me anything directly.

END OF RESPONSE

**************************************
AND IN CONCLUSION...
**************************************

Please feel free to post these newsletters anywhere you feel it's appropriate! THANKS!!!

Welcome new subscribers!

Thanks for reading,
Sincerely,
Russell D. Hoffman
STOP CASSINI webmaster.

CANCEL CASSINI

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