Fear, uncertainty, doubt. public perception versus radiation protection science fetwadjieff

Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and PetroleumGovernment of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum

Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt Public Perception versus Radiation Protection Science

Ivan Fetwadjieff Senior Scientific Officer - Radiation

Resources Safety Division 303 Sevenoaks Street, Cannington WA

phone (08) 9358 8086 email [email protected]


Overview of my presentation

1. What is FUD?

2. Examples of FUD

3. Who's Who in the Uranium debate

4. The Media's role

5. Thorium & Uranium

6. Claims & Counter claims

7. Countering FUD

8. Conclusions


Definition


Fear of radiation

Nuclear technology and radiation are perceived to be extraordinarily dangerous and incomprehensible

Hiroshima - Nagasaki - Chernobyl - Cold War


Uncertainty about the safety

Rusting drums containing low-grade uranium were buried in the area in 2000 by officials from the Department of Minerals and Energy after fears were raised by Wiluna Aborigines that they were being exposed to the deadly ore.


Doubts about the science

Low doses are safe No dose is safe

Dr Doug Boreham

Prof Wade Allison

Dr Helen Caldicott

Dr Peter Karamoskos


FederalLabor Party

MiningUnions

FederalLiberal Party

UraniumMining

CompaniesWA State

Liberal Party

Who's Who in the uranium safety debate

Media

BUMPGreens

UnionsWA

Public Health

Association

WA State Labor Party

Traditional Owners Public

WA State Government

Federal Government

Australian Uranium

Association

WA Chamber of Minerals &

Energy

ANAWAFANG

Medical Association

Prevention of War

Conservation CouncilDoctors for the

Environment Australia ANTI-URANIUM MINING

PRO-URANIUM MINING


Inquiry into MP’s claim of high radiationGREENS MP Robin Chapple recently visited two sites at Lake Way, a former

uranium exploration site about 20km south-east of Wiluna,

where he claims he recorded high levels of radiation on a Geiger counter, saying one reading

was 100 times higher than normal radiation

levels.

Concern over U-plant siteTHE site of the old uranium research plant near Kalgoorlie-Boulder has come under the spotlight after it was revealed the secure fencing had been knocked down, possibly exposing casual motor cross riders to radioactive material.

The Media and radiation

Public rally on

uraniumA PUBLIC protest rally

against uranium mining will

be held tomorrow to coincide

with the end of the

Sustainable Mining

Conference in Kalgoorlie-

Boulder.

Community demands inquiryTHIS morning a delegation of unions, Indigenous groups, health professionals, environmental organisations and local community groups assembled at the Australian Uranium Conference in Fremantle to voice their opposition to uranium mining in WA.

Hot Pepper

YOU don’t need to be

a nuclear scientist to

have been affected

by the nuclear

industry or know

people affected by

the industry.

Have you ever

spoken to a worker

from Ranger or

Olympic Dam

uranium mines and

asked how many of

their old work mates

and bosses are alive

or are now sick with

cancer?

Moore twists the facts on Lake Way radioactive sitesTODAY’s press release from Norman Moore regarding radioactive sites at Lake Way indicated a comprehensive lack of radiation knowledge and of the Lake Way area, Greens MLC Robin Chapple said.

Uranium madnessGERADTON Port Authority must be start raving mad if it believes residents will ever be comfortable with shipping uranium through the city.

BaffledOUR politicians have shelved public debates, which as we know are highly emotional, in favour of the rational scientific advice of professionals, who unfortunately see the world through the narrow field of their blinkered, rational minds.


Public perception of thorium / uranium


Claims and counter claims


Countering FUD – 1. Listen to the public

• Attend public meetings, rallies, workshops and forums

• Review Media releases• Read letters to the Editor• Review local blogs and

web pages• Phone calls from public• Parliamentary questions


Countering FUD – 2. Inform the public

A recent visit by Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) officers to a former uranium exploration site at Lake Way found background radiation levels to be within safe limits.

• Report on investigations• Media releases with facts• Talk to Mining Industry,

RSOs and workers• DMP web page• Respond to phone calls

from public• Answer Parliamentary

questions


Countering FUD – 3. Educate the public

• NORM Guidelines• DMP web site• DMP Media statements,

fliers, brochures• DMP staff training• Exploration inductions

and training• Public talks & seminars• Stakeholder meetings


Countering FUD – 4. Regulate uranium mining

• Reform of RSD• Employ additional staff• Amend Regulations• Inter-Agency communication• Exploration RMPs & RSO• Export Boswell data to ANRDR• Uranium Council & Wk Groups• Independent Expert Panel• Full Environmental Assessment

and Public Review


Conclusions

Health & Medicine

Fear, uncertainty, doubt. public perception versus radiation protection science fetwadjieff