The opinions and emotions of local residents are being distorted by political rhetoric and grossly underestimated by the nuclear industry, according to Professor Lynda Warren, writing in the journal Interdisciplinary Science Reviews. By not including local residents at a fundamental planning level and with a lack of committed involvement from politicians, companies such as Nirex will continue to experience a lack of support for their activities, she says.
Warren, from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK, says, "Nowhere in this process [developing nuclear facilities] is account taken of what shapes the public's perception of the whole process." The nuclear industry is too keen to blind people with science in presenting its plans, she thinks, adding to the inherent secrecy of the industry and increasing public scepticism of nuclear issues.
Warren says, "To the average person, radioactive waste is highly dangerous and potentially deadly. It is clear to 'those in the know' that the fear is out of all proportion to the actual harmfulness." Warren calls on the Government to make a commitment to a particular form of nuclear waste treatment in order to help clarify the issues embroiled in the nuclear waste debate and encourages the industry to take account of local residents? fears right from the start of the planning process.
For further information please contact Andrew McLaughlin on Tel: 44-171-451- 7395; Fax: 44-171-839-2289 or Email: Andrew_Mclaughlin@materials.org.uk
Notes For Editors
1. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews is one of a number of journals published by The Institute of Materials. The journal aims to bring together a range of differing views on issues of scientific importance. This special issue concentrates exclusively on the pressing issue of nuclear waste disposal.
2. The editor of the journal is Professor Jack Harris who has been working in the nuclear industry since the mid 1950s. For his work with CEGB on nuclear fuel elements in 1979 he was awarded the Royal Society Esso Gold Medal for Energy Conservation conjointly with Dr V. Eldred. He has been elected Fellow of both the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Since 1990 he has been a freelance writer, columnist for Materials World and is the editor of Interdisciplinary Science Reviews. He is a member of the Council of British Pugwash.
3. The Institute is the professional organisation of materials scientists and engineers working throughout the world in areas involving the use and application of plastics, rubber, steel, metals and ceramics. http://www.materials.org.uk
Journal
Interdisciplinary Science Reviews