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Science for the People Magazine Vol. 18, No. 2

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. ~ ~ Ruth Hubbard/Facts & Feminism • Anthony E. Ladd/ Epcot Center . I WITH TH IS NEW fUOD IRRADfATOR OUR MEATS AND V£GETABL£5 WILL LAST FOR£V£R I • Who says scientists are detached, suspending their reactions in :PEOPLE glass beakers? In February, Science for the People's steering committee evaluated the magazine, frequently interrupting Editor parliamentary procedure to critique the issues we published in Leslie Fraser 1985. We haven't held a meeting with as much animation in a Business Manager Gary Keenan long while. Designer No votes were taken, but we kept a tally of strong opinions David Gerratt that were met with a chorus of agreement. Most people favored Cover shorter articles and more departments in the magazine. All agreed Craig Comeau that SftP needs more spark-livelier debates and opinions, Art stronger political analysis, diversity in the topics we report on. Craig Comeau, Andrew Joslin, Mara Loft Many thought that Sdence for the People should offer readers a Proofing better vision of the future, with more examples of positive uses of Roger Felix, Joe Regna sdence and technology. Some thought that we should focus Book Review Editor more on science policy and the social impact of new Joseph Alper technologies. Material Requests We'd like to know what our readers think. What articles would Jim Barton you like to see in the magazine? What topics should we cover7 Outreach Coordinator Jon Beckwith What do you like and what can't you stand about SftP7 We're Fundralslng Coordinator working on a readers' survey to help us plan promotional efforts Gerry Waneck and changes in the magazine. But you don't have to wait; send Editorial Intern us your feedback now. Luigi Palmeri In this issue, we've slightly expanded our departments. With Editorial Committee more forums, interviews, letters. opinions, grassroots news and Bob Chatelle, Leslie Fraser. Dan Grossman, international reports, we hope that readers will feel more like Joe Regna, Seth Shulman, Cathy Wenthe partidpants. We want to produce a magazine that involves it Editorial Advisory Board Joseph Alper, Rita Arditti, Jon Beckwith, readers. As an almost all-volunteer publication, our members and Philip L. Bereano, Edith Brickman, Stephen Chorover, Fran Conrad, Eric Entemann, Roslyn readers are the magazine. So your involvement really counts. Feldberg, Ross Feldberg, Marilyn Frankenstein, Our September/October issue will focus on alternatives in Douglas Futyama, Ted Goldfarb, Rae Goodell, Stephen Jay Gould, William Haseltine, David science. We'll report on alternatives in medicine, research, Himmelstein, Eric Holtzman, Ruth Hubbard, occupational health, public interest work, and education-in and David Kahn. Charles Koplik, Richard Levins. Richard Lewontin, Karen Messing, Frank Mirer, out of the mainstream. It's going to be a very partidpatory issue. David Noble, Richard Novick, Connie Phillips, Alvin F. Poussaint. Stephen Risch, Richard Rosen, If you'd like to contribute by sharing your own experiences, or Virginia Schaefer, Scott Schneider. Miriam Struck. sending us ideas or names of people to contact, you can still Sue Tafler. Michael Tanzer. Scott Thacher. John Vandermeer, Gerry Waneck, Joseph squeak in under the May I deadline. Weizenbaum, Sandy Wiper, Steffie Woolhandler With this issue, we'd also like to extend a warm sendoff to the Printing three profesores who are participating in SftP's program of Rowley Printing. 395 Main Street Rowley, MA 01969 cooperation in science teaching with Nicaragua. Beginning in SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S. one year/srx tssues: SIS. Foretgn rate: March, they will teach engineering and statistics at two S21. U5. IJbranes/insmunons: S24. Foreign libranes: S30. universities in Managua. MernJer subsolpoons {tncludes the magazine. our ~ ald other communu:atJonsj: S30. Foreign While they're working in Nicaragua, we will be fighting against subscribers rn.Jst rerrvt tn U.S currency. wtth erther an International Money Order or a check drawn on a U.S. President Reagan's proposal for SIOO million in U.S. aid to the bank. contras, with S70 million earmarked for military use. We will keep SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPI.£ IS available to bookstores on consignment from the publisher or through Carrier Pigeon sending ambassadors of peace to Nicaragua, while working to Distributors. Box 2783, Boston. MA 02208. The magazine is available 1n m1croform from University Microfilms, 300 N. stop the CIA's war on Nicaragua. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, Ml 48106. Science for the People is indexed in Alternative Press Index, Box 7229, Baltimore, MD 21218. Science for the People March/April 1986 Volume 18. No.2 6 RADIATION WORKERS by Robert Alvarez The dark side of romancing the atom 12 FOOD IRRADIATION by Leslie Fraser Zapping what you eat 16 FACTS AND FEMINISM by Ruth Hubbard Thoughts on the masculinity of natural science 21 CORPORATE ENERGY FUTURES by Anthony E. Ladd A Dumbo ride through Epcot Center DEPARTMENTS Preview 2 Letters 3 News notes 27 Opinion: 11:39:12 a.m. EST 28 Review: The Dialectical Biologist 30 In Brief 32 Grassroots Report 33 Network SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE (ISSN 0048-9662) is published bimonthly by the Science Resource Center. Inc.. a nonprofit corporation at 897 Main St., Cambridge, MA 02139, telephone 617/547-0370. Edited and produced by the national organization of Science for the People. We offer a progressive view of science and technology. Articles, letters, reviews, newsnotes, photos, and artwork are welcome. Please send double-spaced, typed manuscripts. on Wordstar IBM-compatible disks if possible. Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 1986 by Science for the People. March/April I 986 5cap8goating tt. Contra War? were essentially the fruits of one monthly arribada, or arrival. something was quite wrong. First priority use of vehicles and Looking up to the author's name Dear SftP: gasoline goes to the war effort, [Roger Felix] confirmed my I just read Julie Ogletree's which now consumes about 50% hunch. I was really amazed. I article about the Nicaraguan sea of Nicaragua's gross national wondered if there was some turtles in the Nov./Dec. 1985 product. IRENA's conservation strange dearth of women in the issue, and it left me with more projects are not next in line for Boston area, or whether they are questions than answers. such equipment and money. all so advanced that they would My greatest puzzlement was the It represents a step forward in be above writing a book review statement that 4,000-6,000 turtles conservation of marine turtles, for SftP. Surely there are women lay their eggs on the coast of but not the completion of that whose development you wish to Nicaragua, followed by the task. Many fewer eggs are recognize or to foster? statement that 40,000 dozen eggs collected and marketed than ever Certainly men father children, were allowed to spoil. Does this before, even taking the spoilage but they just do not have the mean that up to 10 dozen eggs are into consideration. This is the experiences which provide the taken from each turtle, and they program's first year, and project grounding for the issues of this all spoiled, and this is called managers are taking steps to book. Rather than thoroughly conservation? Or was there an eliminate transportation snags. present the book, all he did was to error in the numbers given? The reference to the "dry rain make his inadequacies as a Another thing I wondered about forest" is based on an exact reviewer of it very clear. was the description of translation of the Spanish­ Women (and men) need Nicaragua's coast as a "dry rain bosque seco. I claim no expertise powerful analyses in the health forest". What is a dry rain forest? in forestry, but my understanding reproduction area, and all book To get back to the 40,000 dozen is that the forest is deciduous but reviews should contribute to some (or however many) rotten eggs, also includes tropical plants. kind of theoretical framework. the article says that the culprit -Julie Ogletree Science has the potential to be a was transportation difficulties Cambridge, Massachusetts tool of liberation, and women are caused by the contra war and the your largest constituency. Let's U.S. embargo. While I don't doubt Stronger feminist Analysis see SftP living up to its ideals. that the war has caused great -Joan Scott disruptions of all activities in Dear SftP: St. Johns, Newfoundland Nicaragua, it seems that in some I am writing because two book cases it might be too easy a reviews in your 100th issue Call for Papers scapegoat-unless information is (July I August 1985) of The New given to support the claim that Our Bodies Ourselves and Test Dear SftP: the U.S. is at fault. (Ed. Note: See Tube Women really disappoint A special issue of Hypatia: A article in Jan./Feb. 1986 issue of me. Journal of Feminist Philosophy SftP, "Moving Towards Because of history, science is will be devoted to feminist Independent Agriculture: not yet a strong thread in the perspectives on science. We Nicaragua Struggles in a World women's movement, and the welcome submissions on topics in Economy," for an economic concerns of women have a barely the history, philosophy, and history and analysis.) embryonic status among sociology of the natural and All in all, I felt that the article scientists, but in the past SftP has behavioral sciences, approached failed to explain just how the really made progress for from feminist perspectives. We Nicaraguan turtle protection and everyone on the latter aspect at are also interested in discussions egg marketing method works, or least. However, these book and critiques of current feminist if it works. I'd appreciate reviews are not good enough.
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