From: richardm@runx.oz.au (Richard Murnane)
Subject: ZL radiation checkups: the real story
Organization: RUNX Un*x Timeshare.  Sydney, Australia.
Distribution: aus
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 92 12:23:25 GMT

This is my response to various comments on VKNET about the "ZL Radiation
Checkup" story carried on the broadcast of 19th July. Following my reply
are copies of the three packet messages to which I was replying:


=-=-=-=- MY REPLY =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Hello all,

The "ZL Radiation Check-ups" story on last Sunday's VK2WI news broadcast
has evoked a lot of reaction; the concerns raised on the packet network
by Jim ZL2BHF, Brian ZL3PH, Bob ZL2CA deserve to be answered.  As the
new broadcast officer for the New South Wales division of the WIA,
I guess that it falls to me to do the answering.

There will be a follow-up article in the Sunday broadcast on 26th July,
which I prepared yesterday, before I read your comments on packet.  I
may incorporate some of my comments here in the Sunday broadcast and/or
the packet and AARNet versions later in the week.

First off, THERE IS NO "RADIATION CHECKUPS" BILL BEFORE THE NZ
PARLIAMENT, NOR IS ONE BEING CONSIDERED.

Secondly, THERE *WAS* A PROPOSAL BEING CONSIDERED BY *AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL*,
WHICH HAS NOW BEEN SHELVED.  HAD IT BEEN PASSED, IT WOULD HAVE DIRECTLY
AFFECTED ONLY AUCKLAND CITY ITSELF, BUT OTHER COUNCILS MIGHT HAVE
GOT THE IDEA TO TRY IT ON THEMSELVES.

So, what is all the fuss about?  Well, first let me reproduce here, verbatim,
the fax which was waiting for me in my "broadcast notes" box at the
VK2 divisional office in Parramatta.  It came from the Victorian division
of the Wireless Institute of Australia, signed by Jim Linton VK3PC.
I should note here that Jim regularly contributes many interesting, news-
worthy items, which I include in the weekly broadcast.  I have had no reason
to question the reliability of the VK3 division as a source of news in the
past, nor do I now.  Nor am I pointing a finger at Jim for introducing any
distortion into the story: I simply wish to illustrate that *I* have
introduced no significant distortions of my own.

The fax, then, as received from VK3 (15th July 92):

     "   AMATEUR RADIO COULD FACE RADIATION CHECK-UPS:

     "  A proposal in New Zealand is being considered to put a Bill
     before the parliament to require amateur radio stations to
     have their level of radiation checked.

     "  It appears the suggested legislation calls for each radio
     amateur -- at their cost -- to have radiation experts
     inspect, and measure, the radiation levels of their stations.

     "  The step is totally unnecessary and not supported by
     scientific, or technical evidence, that a problem exists with
     radiation from amateur stations.
 
     "  The New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters -- NZART -- has
     urgently faxed its sister society -- the WIA -- to see if
     such a proposal has ever been made in Australia.

     "  The WIA is certain no such proposal has been made here.

     "  But it will [be] on guard should some-one [sic] decide the New Zealand
     proposal is a good idea and try to promote it in Australia."

Please compare this with last Sunday's VK2WI news item, and judge for
yourself (I *will* admit to the comments about the reservoirs, energy
shortages, and sheep, as they all made the mainstream news here recently.)


[ ITEM INCLUDED HERE FOR COMPARISON (I DID NOT REPOST THIS BIT TO VKNET) ]

>                     ZL AMATEURS FACING RADIATION CHECK-UPS
>
>          A proposal in New Zealand is being considered, to put a Bill
>          before parliament, which would require amateur radio
>          stations to have their level of radiation checked.
>
>          It appears that the suggested legislation calls for each
>          radio amateur to have "radiation experts" inspect and
>          measure the radiation levels of their stations - at the
>          amateur's cost, of course.
>
>          This is totally unnecessary; there is no scientific or
>          technical evidence to suggest that a problem might exist
>          with radiation from amateur stations.
>
>          The New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters (NZART) has
>          urgently faxed its sister society, the WIA, asking if such a
>          proposal has ever been made in Australia.
>
>          The WIA is certain that no such proposal has been made here,
>          but we will be on our guard, should someone decide that the
>          New Zealand proposal has merit, and try to promote it in
>          Australia.
>
>          (With REAL problems, like depleted reservoirs, energy
>          shortages and freezing sheep facing the nation, one would
>          think the New Zealand government might leave amateurs
>          alone!)

[ END OF INCLUDED ITEM ]
                              =-=-=-=-=-=

Yesterday, my "broadcast notes" box contained a fax from the WIA Feds:
a copy of a fax from Gerry Kilpatrick of Auckland, who sent the original
story to the WIA federal executive office (also in Victoria, but a distinct
entity from the VK3 divisional office). This fax was in response to last
Sunday's [19Jul92] story, and it forms the basis of next Sunday's [26Jul92]
VK2WI news item.

Gerry's fax ends by saying (to the federal office), "You might like to ask
your New South Wales division to place the matter in perspective".  This
suggests that Gerry thinks (as I guess the rest of you did) that I was
"beating up" the story.  Hopefully, I have demonstrated that that is not
the case.

I haven't seen Gerry's original fax on the matter, so I can't judge for
myself how much distortion occurred between Gerry's fax machine and the
one at the VK2 divisional office.  I'd like to make it clear, however,
that I do not and will not resort to "shock! horror!" journalism to boost
our audience - there's no money in it, is there? (HI)

One thing I would suggest is that if you wish to submit items for inclusion
in the New South Wales divisional broadcast, you might like to do so direct,
by one of the following means:

     packet radio: VK2WI @ VK2RWI.NSW.AUS.OC
     fax:          (02) 633-1525    (+61-2-633-1525 outside Australia)
     mail:         PO Box 1066, Parramatta 2124, New South Wales, Australia.

Usenet/AARNet/Internet users can also e-mail me as "richardm @ runx.oz.au".

For keen sleuths, who would like to trace the source of the distortion,
the WIA Federal Executive office can be reached by fax on (03) 523-8191,
the Victorian divisional office on (03) 885-9298.

I wonder how the other divisional broadcast officers covered this story?

I hope that answers all the points raised: if not, please let me know. Also,
thanks for listening/reading! It's good to know my efforts (and those of
the others who put the broadcast to air each week) don't go unnoticed.

73 de Richard Murnane VK2SKY
WIA (NSW) Divisional Broadcast Coordinator

-----

"Making it up? Why should I make anything up? Life's bad enough without
 inventing more of it" -- Marvin the Paranoid Android
 (from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams)




=-= THE ZL AMATEURS QUESTIONING (QUITE RIGHTLY, IMHO) THE 19 JULY ARTICLE =-=

Date: 22 Jul 92 19:53
From: ZL2BHF@ZL2WA
To: VK2SKY@VK2RWI
Subject: re ZL Amateur Radiation Check up