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Show The National Enterprise , December , Page eleven 1976 EPA Ban Could Boost Radiation Sterilization THE ROCKAWAY, NJ. processors are expected d to benefit from a move by the Environ-- NATIONAL Radiation recently-announce- mental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban within four months the use of ethylene oxide gas as a sterilant, according to Dr. Martin A. Welt, president of Radiation Technology, Inc. (OTC .625, 1 .00). Radiation Technology, Inc. operates a large service irradiation complex at its Rocka-waNew Jersey headquar- y. ters. Welt noted that the EPA ban, if upheld, would eliminate what is presently the most widely-use- d method of sterilmedical and surgical izing products, cosmetics, drugs, and some foodstuffs, leaving radiation sterilization the only presently available means of filling the void left by a ban on ethylene oxide." The EPA ban on ethylene oxide is based on findings, now under EPA review', that the gas is mutanogenic. Additionally, the agency expressed concern that fluorocarbons, which normally com prise 88 percent of the ethylene oxide sterilizing mixture, may be harmful to the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. Should the findings be upheld upon review, the EPA said it would have no alternative but to ban ethylene oxide in accordance with existing laws. Noting that spending on ethylene oxide sterilization approaches an estimated $150 million annually. Welt said that radiation processing would be in a very strong position to pick up much of this volume should the ban go Because of into effect. inherent advantages such as its ability to penetrate packaging. speed and drastically reduced testing costs, radiation processing has been gaining ground rapidly even before the proposed EPA ban, especially among medical de- vice manufacturers, he noted, adding, the growing volume of business from this source could easily turn into a flood if ethylene oxide is outlawed. Houston Airport Contract Goes to Hardwicke Unit MIAMI, Fla A division of Hardwicke Co. Inc. (OTC 3.25, 4.00) has been awarded in competitive bidding a contract to run the duty free operations Houstons Intercontinental Airport. The contract was granted to Hardwickes Ammex Ltd. "Religion" someone once observed, wasn't reasoned into man. . .it cant be reasoned out. To some extent politics gets into our heads the same both subjects way. So we have always been advised to avoid in polite circles. Well, it just so happens that I threw common sense to the wind two weeks ago and took dead aim on certain aspects of the LDS Church. You should have seen the reaction. Ive received letters and phone calls from one extreme to the other. I must say that the most immediate reaction came from Langheinrich and Greer. They havent asked me to stop saying such things. They have asked me to point out that they might not necessarly agree with what I say. Fair enough. Having said that, lets get on with it. As I said. Ive received all sorts of phone calls and letters. All of them were loaded with hate. Most of the hate directed toward me. Some of it toward the LDS Church. so worked up My question is simple: Why do people get do the staunch over religion? And more specifically, why believers get so excited whenever someone suggests that there is at least a possibility that they are wrong? as I Surely its not a question of equal time. Its Sunday write this and look at some of the great programs weve already had this day: 7:00 a.m. - Bible Answers or Hour of Power 7:30 a.m. - Sacred Heart 7:45 a.m. - From The Cathedral 8:00 a.m. - Old Time Gospel Hour 9:00 a.m. - Rex Humbard or Day of Discovery 9:30 a.m. - Tabernacle Choir 10:00 a.m. - Oral Roberts And thank God (if youll pardon the expression) Dallas my two Mormon partners vs. Washington at 10:30 a.m. Now don't get me wrong. Im perfectly happy to have all these religious shows on T.V. Im not offended by them continually telling me that Im going to go to hell. I dont mind In God We Trust on the coins nor slipping His name into the Pledge of Allegiance. Nor. if I were Jewish, would I have been offended two Mondays ago when the NFL game from Miami started with a prayer that ended "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I may have said this before but just for the record let me try it again. Not infrequently I hear people say that this is a Christian country. Well it aint! What it is, is a country with a lot of Christians in it. And there is a big difference. is a free or what it should be Mostly what it is the the Jew the athicst country. The agnostic the Baptist should all feel at the Mormon Christian home in this land. We dont want to silence any of them. So stop telling me that I shouldnt be allowed to say such I things as I did two weeks ago. Of course should. If vou do take issue, try to deal with it in a logical way. Dont tell me that the Church has the right to function w ithout heed to the mouthings of the like of you." Of course it does. I wouldnt have it any other way. The winning comment came from someone who said that there was one thing worse for a Mormon than getting married to a black. It was. the person wrote, marrying an infidel such as yourself. To end on a note of optimism I was also told that a righteous black has no cause to worry. His reward will be no Since I believe that different than a righteous Mormon. death will be the same for all of us. I guess I cant argue the conclusion. In most things of life proof comes before conviction. Why do we reverse the process w hen dealing with religion? unit by the city of Houston for seven years beginning Jan. 1 . Hardwicke said the new operations arc expected to add considerably to the subsi-a- t diarys revenues and make a substantial contribution to the parent companys earnings, The Prince Column by John Prince Partner, Prince, Ianglieinricli & Greer. |