Following is a calendar of Cassini activities by the opposition and NSS responses. As much as possible, the NSS would like to lend grassroots support by attending opposition events and by responding to negative media stories. This information is to help you plan activities in your area, or to at least share with your regional organizers and chapter members. The same memo and subsequent talking points are also being e-mailed to all chapter presidents -- we apologize for any duplication that may occur.

CASSINI CALENDAR

Current Calendar of Activities by Cassini Opposition,
Anticipated Major Media Activity and Planned NSS Responses

Monday, September 8: Opposition Press Conf. at National Press Club, Lisagor Room, 12 noon; 1 pm vigil at White House to deliver Cancel Cassini petitions to Clinton; Conference features Dr. Michio Kaku, Karl Grossman, Bruce Gagnon (director, Florida Coalition)

NSS HQ response: wire release and supporting statements from Rep. Weldon and AIAA to media on Friday, September 5; attend press conference and visit vigil in order to present supporting view and statements

Wednesday, September 10, 11am - 1pm ET: Opposition holds debate with NASA/USAF at Daytona Beach Community College (DBCC), et. al. Not sure of media potential, but would like some "pro" faces if possible.

NSS response: Activate Florida members if possible

Sunday, September 14: Florida Today newspaper publishes spread on Cassini story

NSS response: HQ and Florida activists review story, determine slant, respond as appropriate with letters to the editor

Tuesday, September 16, 7:00 p.m. ET: Florida Today newspaper holds "Community Conversation" on Cassini
Location: Florida Today's building on U.S. Route 1 just south of Rockledge and north of Melbourne; Bruce Gagnon (opposition) will be there to debate representatives from NASA and Air Force

NSS response: call out Florida activists to attend forum and show support for Cassini

Saturday, September 20: Opposition holds rally at United Nations in New York calling for cancellation of Cassini, 12 noon - 8:00 p.m. ET

NSS response: activate NY chapter members to attend rally and be available to media to present supporting view; this will be coordinated by Greg Zsidisin in NYC

Sunday, September 21, 7:00pm ET: 60 Minutes airs story on Cassini. According to NASA, story will primarily focus on Cape launch area and "precautions" being taken -- medical training, field teams and other activities -- i.e., "why is NASA going to all this trouble if there is not going to be any trouble?" NASA does have answers.

NSS response: NSS members and activists submit responses to 60 Minutes, c/o CBS, 555 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019

Sunday, September 28: Opposition Rally at White House, 12n - 8:00pm ET

NSS response: Activists from Baltimore, NYC, Philadelphia, Virginia, DC chapters are present to provide balance to media; Greg Zsidisin will also be coordinating these activities; if you're interested and/or going to be in town, . A Saturday evening debrief will be held at NSS Headquarters in downtown DC.

Saturday, October 4: Pre-launch protests begin at 2:00 p.m. ET at Cape Canaveral, even if launch is pushed back. Opposition will make non-violent attempts to sit on launch pad; will have speakers, music.

NSS response: Activate Florida chapter to attend and present supporting information at Cape Visitor Center, near Main Gate (but not in opposition's protest zone).

RECOMMENDED ACTIVIST TACTICS

FIRST, A WORD ON OUR APPROACH FOR CASSINI: The National Space Society will have the most impact on Cassini opposition by lending its grassroots support. This is an area where NASA, JPL and other organizations cannot do what we can do! We can do a great deal of good for everyone by utilizing grassroots strategies for the Cassini mission.

This means: 1) whenever possible, being present at scheduled opposition events in order to demonstrate that there is a body of support for Cassini; 2) whenever possible and as quickly as possible, responding to negative Cassini stories in regional and local media. NSS Headquarters is coordinating, through NASA and other supporting organizations, dissemination of information and corrections to major media in the form of op-eds and interviews.

Due to the nature of the issue involved with Cassini, our goal is NOT to become involved in one-on-one confrontations with the opposition. The goal is to stay OUT OF the opposition's protest zone, but within the media's line of vision so that media will know they have someplace to go to get the "other side of the story."

Study the points that are included in the Talking and Briefing Points These points have been vetted through three experts on the controversial issues of Cassini, and through NASA. Call or e-mail HQ if you have questions.

WHAT ACTIVISTS CAN DO:

Be Personally Present, Positive and Professional

• If there is counter-Cassini activity planned for your area, consider attending in order to present the pro-Cassini point of view. This would be a pseudo "rally" for the reasons stated below.

• Do not mount a "counter-demonstration"; the objective is to be present and to be a visible resource for media to come to as an alternative viewpoint. Hold an NSS banner or sign; hold signs or computer-generated banners with slogans such as "Cassini is Safe," "Cassini is GO," "The Truth is Out There Right Here! [cross out Out There and put "Right Here!" underneath].

• Position yourselves so as to be visible to media, but not to be in direct confrontation to the opposition; for example, choose a location that is just down the street or in an adjacent public space. For example, the Florida chapter will clear their presence at the Cape's Visitor Center, instead of being at the Main Gate which is the opposition's protest zone.

• Avoid positioning yourselves so that it would be easy for the opposition to splinter off and come over to harass you.

• Stay rational and calm. The opposition has already proven a tendency to do themselves great harm by becoming agitated, flustered or by making contradictory or colorful statements. Let them spin themselves out of control. They are fighting amongst themselves and have conflicting messages of environmentalism, nuclear militarization of space, destruction of life on Earth as we know it, etc. Assuring the public of Cassini's safety calls for a calm and rational approach. We have plenty of facts to respond to their falsehoods.

• Designate a particular spokesperson who has agreed to become the most familiar with the talking points. Don't let the media "divide and conquer" you. When in doubt, stick to "That's not true," "Cassini is safe," "Even in the case of exposure, the risks over time are less than those we experience from daily background radiation or regular radioactive activities such as dental x-rays," "Cassini will answer some fascinating questions -- don't YOU want to know exactly what Saturn's rings look like? How did they get there? Are there craters on Saturn? What will Titan tell us about evolution of life on our own planet?"

• Have copies of the NSS talking points, contact phone #'s and experts with you.

• Have someone report back to HQ via e-mail or phone to report on coverage, success, etc. (krug4space@aol.com; 202-543-1900); this will help us respond to other media inquiries.

• Designate an individual to take photographs.

• Respond promptly to any anti-Cassini coverage in your area either by writing a letter to the editor in response to a newspaper/magazine article or editorial. Remember that you can write a letter in response to anything that appears anywhere in the paper, it doesn't HAVE to be an editorial. Keep your letter to 3 - 5 short paragraphs and be sure to ask the paper or public to do something at the end; i.e., "Don't just react, get the facts on Cassini"; "help others learn the truth about Cassini."

• Particularly in California (San Francisco area), Florida and New York, keep an ear out for Cassini on major television or radio talk shows. Be poised to call in with a statement or correction to a point being made.

Send an e-mail to NSS-Discuss@NSS.org
Send an e-mail to key Cassini activists: krug4space@aol.com,
71055.2110@compuserve.com (Greg Zsidisin, NY), 72237.3611@compuserve.com
(Michael Gilbrook, FL), westernspaceport@juno.com (Jim Spellman, CA)

What NSS HQ Will Do:
• Review draft letters to the editor
• Provide confirmation of mission facts and schedule
• Provide electronic updates on new angles, arguments
• Post materials, letters, etc. to website for review