An informed look at the myths and fears surrounding nuclear energy, and a practical, politically realistic solution to global warming and our energy needs. Faced by the world's oil shortages and curious about alternative energy sources, Gwyneth Cravens skeptically sets out to find the truth about nuclear energy. Her conclusion: it is a totally viable and practical solution to global warming. In the end, we see that if we are to care for subsequent generations, embracing nuclear energy is an ethical imperative.
This book is a collection of essays focused on the Gordian knot of our time, the closely coupled problems of energy poverty for billions of humans, and global warming for all humans. The central thesis of the book in that nuclear power is not only the only solution, it is a highly desirable solution, cheaper, safer, less intrusive on nature than all the alternatives.
Gloria Lenhoff's story - of living with a rare congenital disorder and enormous musical talent - is extraordinary, like Williams syndrome itself. The Strangest Song is a marvelous achievement, beautifully and compellingly written by Teri Sforza, who interweaves Gloria's poignant and dramatic personal story with a fascinating history of the scientific investigation of a puzzling brain condition.-OLIVER SACKS, MD, Author of Awakenings, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and many other worksThis is the first book to tell the story of Williams syndrome and the extraordinary musicality of many of the people who have it. Interweaving science and the personal in a compelling narrative, author Teri Sforza follows the quest of biochemistry professor Howard Lenhoff to help his mentally handicapped daughter, Gloria. From his discovery of Gloria's outstanding vocal talent and innate musical gifts, Lenhoff becomes convinced that people with her disorder have an unusual capacity for learning music, despite their profound mental disabilities. Lenhoff is at first rebuffed, called crazy, and finally vindicated when scientists - and his own formal research - confirm his hunch.Williams syndrome is a rare genetic aberration that occurs once in every 7,500 births. It springs from a peculiar mishap on the molecular level, a tiny chemical error, but one that exacts an enormous toll on body, brain, and personality. The result is an atypical body and a profoundly asymmetrical mind.Thanks to Howard Lenhoff's single-minded determination and love for his daughter, he succeeds in helping his daughter beyond his wildest dreams. Gloria's talents take her to a concert at Washington's Kennedy Center and a number of classical recordings. Besides his daughter's personal success, Lenhoff helps establish the first residential college for mentally disabled musicians in Massachusetts, where today talented Williams people are finally getting professional training and performing at professional levels.An inspiring blend of human interest and breakthrough science, The Strangest Song offers startling insights into the mysteries of the brain and hope that science can find new ways to help the handicapped.MORE PRAISE FOR THE STRANGEST SONGAn inspirational diary of a daughter with a marvelous musical gift. And a hopeful roadmap for other parents that reveals what dedication, determination, belief, inquiry, cheer-leading, love and advocacy can do when the focus is on ability rather than dis-ability in children with handicaps. 'Train the talent - in whatever form and in whatever measure it exists - and do so with joy,' sings out loudly from the pages here in convincing and extraordinary song. Gloria wants to make the world more ready for William's people. She does. Bravo Gloria!-DAROLD A. TREFFERT, MD, Author of Extraordinary People: Understanding Savant Syndrome; Clinical Professor, University of Wisconsin Medical SchoolTeri Sforza has done a masterful job in telling a story that not only touches us, but gives us a deeper understanding of Williams Syndrome. Like a complex puzzle, the story unfolds as more and more pieces come together to make a rich, colorful and unexpected picture. Bravo Teri.-ARLENE ALDA, Award-winning children's book author/photographer; Director of the documentary film Bravo Gloria!Teri Sforza (Laguna Beach, CA) is a senior writer at the Orange County Register, where she contributed to its Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of fertility fraud at the University of California, Irvine, and covered the largest municipal bankruptcy in America's history. She is the winner of an Associated Press News Executives Council award for public service reporting and a Lowell Thomas prize for travel writing.
In the late 1980s, the National Cancer Institute initiated an investigation of cancer risks in populations near 52 commercial nuclear power plants and 10 Department of Energy nuclear facilities (including research and nuclear weapons production facilities and one reprocessing plant) in the United States. The results of the NCI investigation were used a primary resource for communicating with the public about the cancer risks near the nuclear facilities. However, this study is now over 20 years old. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission requested that the National Academy of Sciences provide an updated assessment of cancer risks in populations near USNRC-licensed nuclear facilities that utilize or process uranium for the production of electricity. Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations near Nuclear Facilities: Phase 1 focuses on identifying scientifically sound approaches for carrying out an assessment of cancer risks associated with living near a nuclear facility, judgments about the strengths and weaknesses of various statistical power, ability to assess potential confounding factors, possible biases, and required effort. The results from this Phase 1 study will be used to inform the design of cancer risk assessment, which will be carried out in Phase 2. This report is beneficial for the general public, communities near nuclear facilities, stakeholders, healthcare providers, policy makers, state and local officials, community leaders, and the media.
