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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 Ivan.Fetwadjieff@dmp.wa.gov.au
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Overview of my presentation
1. What is FUD? 5. Thorium &
Uranium
2. Examples of FUD
6. Claims &
Counter claims
3. Who's Who in the
Uranium debate 7. Countering FUD
4. The Media's role 8. Conclusions
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Definition
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Fear of radiation
Hiroshima - Nagasaki - Chernobyl - Cold War
Nuclear technology and radiation are perceived to be
extraordinarily dangerous and incomprehensible
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
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.
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Doubts about the science
Low doses are safe No dose is safe
Dr Doug Boreham Dr Helen Caldicott
Prof Wade Allison Dr Peter Karamoskos
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Who's Who in the uranium safety debate
Federal PRO-URANIUM MINING WA Chamber
Labor Party of Minerals &
Federal Federal Energy
Liberal Party Government
Uranium Australian
Mining WA State Uranium
Mining WA State
Unions Government Association
Companies Liberal
Party
Media Traditional
Owners Public
Public Greens FANG BUMP
Health ANAWA
Association Unions
WA
WA State Conservation Medical
Labor Party Council Association
Doctors for the
Environment Prevention of
War
Australia
ANTI-URANIUM MINING
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Baffled
The Media and radiation OUR politicians have shelved public
debates, which as we know are highly
Community emotional, in favour of the rational
scientific advice of professionals, who
per demands inquiry
Ho t Pep eed to be THIS morning a
unfortunately see the world through the
n’t n to narrow field of their blinkered, rational
U do scientist
YO ear delegation of unions, minds.
cl cted Concer
Uran ium a nu een affe Indigenous groups,
n over
b
have nuclear health professionals,
U-plant
madness e
by th ry or kno by
w environmental site
indu st d THE sit
GERADTON Port ffecte organisations and local e
peo ple a ry. uranium of the old Inqui
Authority must be dust
community groups researc ry int
sta rt raving mad if the in ver assembled at the near Ka
lgoorlie
h plant MP’s o
you e worker Boulder - claim
it believes Have n to a Australian Uranium high
radia of
ha
e under th s come
residents will ever spok anger or Conference in e spotlig GREE tion
R ht
be comfortable from ic Dam Fremantle to voice their after it was re NS M
p and vea Chap P Rob
with shipping Olym m mines y of opposition to uranium the secure fen led visite
ple re
c in
uranium through
iu
uran how ma ates
n
mining in WA. been kn
oc
cing ha
d d two ently
d
aske ld work m alive possibly ked down, Lake s
Way, ites at
the city. o exposin uraniu a
their sses are ith casual m
otor cro
g m exp former
bo w site a
and now sick riders to
radioac
ss bout 2 loration
e south 0km
lic rally on or ar r? materia
l.
tive -e
where ast of Wil
Pub canc
e una,
recor he claims
uranium Moore twists the facts on of rad
ded h
ig
he
protest rally iation h levels
A PUBLIC mining will Geige on a
again st uranium ide Lake Way radioactive sites r
sayin counter,
ow to coinc g
be held tomorr TODAY’s press release from Norman Moore was 1 one readin
d of the 0
than n 0 times hi
g
with the en regarding radioactive sites at Lake Way indicated
Mining orma gher
Sustainable - a comprehensive lack of radiation knowledge and levels l radia
in Kalgoorlie . tion
Conference of the Lake Way area, Greens MLC Robin
Boulder. Chapple said.
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Public perception of thorium / uranium
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Claims and counter claims
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
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
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Countering FUD – 2. Inform the public
• Report on investigations
• Media releases with facts
• Talk to Mining Industry,
RSOs and workers
• DMP web page
• Respond to phone calls
from public
A recent visit by Department of Mines and
Petroleum (DMP) officers to a former • Answer Parliamentary
uranium exploration site at Lake Way found
background radiation levels to be within questions
safe limits.
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
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
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
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
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Conclusions
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
Government of Western Australia Department of Mines and Petroleum
