Policy and Law Relating to Radioactive Waste: International Direction and Human Rights

Author(s):  
P. Riley

The anticipated doubling of world demand for electricity over the next fifty years requires that the gift of nuclear energy that has served developed nations over the past half century must not be abandoned. However, the absence of a clear and unequivocal policy regarding the storage and disposal of radioactive waste is seen by a significant section of the public as a threat to their rights and the non-existence of dedicated regulation of radioactive waste based on law has become an obstacle to the development of nuclear energy in Europe and the USA. A European survey of public opinion carried out at the request of the European Commission revealed that three-quarters of the respondents to sixteen thousand interviews believed that ‘all radioactive waste is very dangerous’. The public perception of threat has been fostered by the general lack of appreciation of the cautious system of radiation protection that has evolved from scientific observation and prediction of the risk of cancer from exposure to low level radiation. The concept of collective dose based on the system of radiation protection and applied to accident scenarios with remote possibilities, but in the absence of scientific assessment of the balance afforded by the pragmatism that man applies to everyday risks including the risk of cancer from the ever-present background of natural radiation, has added a measure of dread to the public sense of threat. That dread has been exacerbated by the emergence since September 2001 of the possibility of the use of radioactive waste as a terrorist weapon and for radioactive waste storage facilities to be seen as terrorist targets. International policy has moved from the comprehensive coverage of nuclear regulation with radioactive waste as an integral, but minor player, in the nuclear energy process to particular consideration with radioactive waste requiring specific regulation. This paper identifies the vectors that determine the direction of the policy governing radioactive waste, the moves toward consolidation of international policy separate from the body of existing nuclear law and future direction that will clear the way for a sustained, appropriate use of nuclear energy.

2019 ◽  
pp. 659-672
Author(s):  
Eugene de Silva ◽  
Eugenie de Silva

This chapter provides a discussion of the United States (U.S.) electrical grid. In particular, the chapter explicates the vulnerabilities of the electrical grid by placing a focus on public perception, cyber-attacks, and the inclement weather. The authors elaborate on the necessity of contingency plans, heightened security through the utilization of smart grids and microgrids, and improved cooperation between the Intelligence Community (IC) and the public. This chapter further expands on the importance of government agencies establishing community outreach programs to raise public awareness and build a strong relationship between U.S. security agencies and the public. Overall, this chapter highlights the key issues pertaining to the electrical grid, and provides solutions and strategies to resolve them.


2014 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian A. Macdonald

Carbohydrate-rich foods are an essential component of the diet, providing the glucose that is continuously required by the nervous system and some other cells and tissues in the body for normal function. There is some concern that too much carbohydrate or certain types of carbohydrate such as fructose or the high glycaemic index carbohydrate foods that produce large, rapid increases in blood glucose may be detrimental to health. This review considers these issues and also summarises the public health advice currently available in Europe and the USA concerning dietary carbohydrates. The UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition is currently reviewing carbohydrates and health, and the subsequent report should help clarify some of the concerns regarding carbohydrates and health.


Author(s):  
Mourad Chalbi ◽  
Lotfi Ghedira ◽  
Samir Allal

Abstract It is a striking and happy reality today at the same time, marked universally: What it is agreed to call the nuclear controversy is remained circumscribed with nuclear energy and rather confined with the industrialized countries. The other economic and social applications of the nuclear techniques experience a very important development all over the world and which has to continue. The countries of intermediate socio-economic level do not escape this report. And even if these countries have, generally, slightly resorted to nuclear energy, the World Energy Conference (the USA, 1999) provides that nuclear energy will know in the court - medium term a rise in the emerging countries which will come to compensate for its relative retreat in the industrialized countries. There is consequently a number unceasingly crescent of “small producers” of radioactive waste particularly in the emerging countries but, unfortunately, this waste is not dealt with in a rigorous and exhaustive way, generating a potential serious threat engraves for the people and the environment. The analysis of this situation, from the case of Tunisia, reveals the following cause: miss of infrastructures, qualified personnel, financial means and impossibility of coping with these difficulties without international co-operation there. In this communication we propose a strategy, on a 20 years horizon of management of the radioactive waste for Tunisia taking account of the means of the country and the essential contribution of the co-operation. We make share in this respect already committed experiment of the three-way co-operation Tunisia - IAEA - Belgium. The strategy that we propose articulates on the following points: 1. Definition of the long-term objectives and the principles; 2. The institutional and regular project; 3. The inventory of the radioactive waste; 4. The planning of the formation; 5. The project of a pilot unit for waste processing and storage; 6. The question of the evacuation; The above actions are evoked in interference with the role of the international co-operation.


Author(s):  
Shirley S. Ho

In comparison to fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases, nuclear power plants are a cleaner energy source that could help to mitigate the problems of climate change. Despite this, the general public often associates nuclear energy with risks that include nuclear accidents, nuclear waste contamination, nuclear weapons proliferation, and many others. People’s experience with the 1979 Three Mile Island incident in Pennsylvania and the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine have caused a sharp decline in public support for nuclear energy over the past few decades. In addition, media images of the 2011 Fukushima-Daichii nuclear accident are still fresh in the minds of the public. These now iconic media images and portrayals have perpetuated a perception of nuclear energy as a risky technology. Against these backdrops, scientists, communication practitioners and other key stakeholders increasingly face an uphill struggle to communicate about nuclear energy as a possible strategy for addressing climate change. Though the general public may reluctantly accept nuclear energy for climate change mitigation, research suggests that messages emphasizing the benefits of nuclear power for energy security and economic growth appear to have greater impact on public acceptance of the technology. Furthermore, public perception of nuclear energy is shaped by a host of other factors such as trust in nuclear governing institutions, knowledge, political inclinations, geographical proximity, and socio-demographic variables. At the same time, nuclear experts and the general public differ in their perceptions of risk, in nature and strength, relative to nuclear energy. Understanding these key differences between the experts and the public, and how beliefs, values, and perceptions influence public acceptance of nuclear energy is necessary to formulate effective public communication and engagement strategies.


2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-60
Author(s):  
Andre Viljoen ◽  
Katrin Bohn

This paper defines Continuous Productive Urban Landscape (CPUL) as a strategy for the coherent integration of urban agriculture into urban space planning. The case is made for considering urban agriculture as an essential element of sustainable infrastructure. Recent and historic arguments are used to support the qualitative and quantifiable advantages of introducing urban agriculture into contemporary open urban space design. The body of the paper focuses on design issues related to the placing and perception of CPUL and urban agriculture. It draws on primary research undertaken in Cuba, considering Cuba as a laboratory for design research into urban agriculture. Design studies by the authors are used to demonstrate the viability and physical manifestation of urban agriculture within a Continuous Productive Urban Landscape. The paper proposes that, while an environmental and design case can be made for the integration of urban agriculture, planners and designers need to explore the public perception of productive landscape if its full potential is to be realized. The idea that urban agriculture can be read as “ornament” is discussed with reference to the writing of British artist Tom Phillips. Contemporary cultural/artistic practice is referred to as a means for exploring and communicating ideas related to productive urban landscapes. The paper concludes with new research findings related to the public perception of open urban space based on the Havana CPUL design research project “Finding Parque Lenin”.


e-GIGI ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen M. Mamesah ◽  
Vonny N. S Wowor ◽  
Krista V. Siagian

Abstract: Teeth become one of the important parts of the body,and thereforeone can not be said to be healthy as a whole if the teeth and mouth are in problems. Tooth loss should be handled with the use of dentures because of loss of teeth are not replaced soon will interfere with the mastication, speesh function and aesthetic. However, not all people who have lost their original teeth using the dentures. The decision on a person’s actions are influenced by perception, such as when someone decided to use or not the denture. Perceptions about the use of denture is the stimulus in interpreated by individuals regarding the use of denture and the level of knowledge about the importance of the denture.This research is a descriptive study with cross sectional approach and using questionnaire. This study population is people in the age group 30-50 years in Tompaso and then totaling 2,031 people. Method of sampling in this research is purposivesampling method and sample size in this study was 64 people.The results of this study indicate the public perception of district Tompaso to the purposes and functions of the use of denture quite enough. With a percentage 54,15%.Keywords: Perception, Society, DentureAbstrak: Gigi menjadi salah satu bagian tubuh dengan fungsi yang penting, oleh sebab itu seseorang tidak dapat dikatakakan sehat secara utuh bila gigi dan mulutnya bermasalah. Kehilangan gigi seharusnya ditangani dengan pemakaian gigi tiruan karena hilangannya gigi yang tidak segera diganti akan menimbulkan gangguan terhadap fungsi pengunyahan, fungsi bicara maupun estetik. Akan tetapi saat ini tidak semua orang yang telah kehilangan gigi aslinya menggunakan gigi tiruan.Pengambilan keputusan terhadap tindakan seseorang dipengaruhi oleh persepsi, demikian halnya ketika seseorang memutuskan untuk menggunakan atau tidak gigi tiruan. Persepsi tentang pemakaian gigi tiruan adalah proses stimulus yang diinderakan oleh individu mengenai pemakaian gigi tiruan serta tingkat pengetahuan masyarakat mengenai pentingnya pemakaian gigi tiruan.Penelitian ini merupakan suatu penelitian deskriptif dengan metode pendekatan cross-sectional study dan menggunakan kuesioner. Populasi penelitian ini adalah masyarakat pada kelompok usia 30-50 tahun di Tompaso yang berjumlah 2.031 orang. Metode pengambilan sampel dalam penelitian ini yaitu Purposive Sampling Method, dan jumlah sampel pada penelitian ini adalah 64 orang.Hasil penelitian menunjukan persepsi masyarakat kecamatan Tompaso terhadap tujuan dan fungsi pemakaian gigi tiruan tergolong cukup, dengan persentase 54,15%.Kata kunci : Persepsi, Masyarakat, Gigi tiruan.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
David DeMatteo ◽  
Suraji Wagage ◽  
Jaymes Fairfax-Columbo

Purpose As society becomes more technology oriented, cyberstalking is becoming an increasing concern. The purpose of this paper is to compare US state and federal statutory and case law to a survey of public perception of cyberstalking to examine if cyberstalking laws reflect public opinion. Design/methodology/approach A national sample of 303 participants ranging in age from 18 to 69 years (M=33.35, SD=10.45) completed a novel cyberstalking survey and demographic questionnaire. The survey encompassed participants’ perceptions about the scope of cyberstalking as a crime, views on punishment of cyberstalking, and behaviors they have engaged in online or experienced from others that could constitute cyberstalking. Findings Findings indicated numerous areas of disagreement between public perception and statutory case law, such as a public preference that cyberstalking be treated as a separate offense from stalking, that a threat of violence is not required for behavior to constitute cyberstalking, and that there should be a private civil cause of action for cyberstalking. Findings also indicated that a substantial minority of participants had engaged in or been the victim of cyber actions that could be considered cyberstalking, and that the public preferred sanctions other than incarceration for cyberstalking. Originality/value This is the first study to examine whether cyberstalking policy in the USA reflects public perception of cyberstalking.


Author(s):  
Priscilla Obeng Oforiwaa ◽  
Zhang Chao ◽  
Liang Manchun ◽  
Su Guofeng ◽  
Wang Jiahao

Abstract Nuclear energy has been regarded as a controversial energy option to reduce carbon emissions, alleviate global warming and build a low-carbon society due to the public perception of nuclear energy. Public perception and acceptance are vital to the development of nuclear energy. However, the public has many misunderstandings and misconceptions about nuclear energy. To change the way that the public view nuclear energy, this paper attempts to build an engagement model that shifts from a oneway information transfer with a focus on changing people’s minds in a single interaction, to a two-way dialogue rooted in listening, respect, and building long-term relationships that would shift understanding on a scientific issue over time. Based on a survey conducted on residents in China, we offer a research hypothesis that describes the connection between public engagement, public knowledge, perceived risk, perceived trust and environmental concern. This study indicated that public knowledge is positively related to environmental concern and public engagement but not significantly related to perceived risks. Meanwhile, this study also demonstrated the positive effect of environmental concern, perceived trust on public engagement. Centered on the results, we make corresponding policy to increase public engagement.


2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-123
Author(s):  
John Davies

... in no English city is there a greater need for prudence in ecclesiastical matters than in the great city of Liverpool. That world famous seaport has too often heard the cries of religious factions and has too often seen violence and bloodshed as the result of clashes between professing Christians. There is every reason why the heads and leaders of the various denominations should teach their people both by precept and example, to wipe out the old stain on Liverpool's good name and to gild the city's escutcheon with nobler usages.Richard Downey on becoming Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool in 1928 seems to have anticipated The Tablet’s admonition. Downey indeed seems to have begun his episcopate (1928–1953) with a determination to change the public perception of Catholicism in his diocese and in the city of Liverpool in particular. In late twentieth century terminology he engaged in a ‘re-branding exercise’. He withdrew support for a specifically Catholic political party in Liverpool, which had been favoured by his predecessor Archbishop Keating. He emphasised the civic commitment and the ‘Englishness’ of the Catholic community, moderating the impression that the Catholic community in Liverpool was essentially Irish. Thus although St. Patrick’s Day would continue to be celebrated, so would St. George’s Day. Additionally the blessings conferred on the world by the British Empire would be fulsomely acknowledged. Catholics would be seen to be part of the mainstream community contributing to its fullness and development. They would cease to be perceived as an alien irritant in the body politic.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2464
Author(s):  
Vladimir M. Cvetković ◽  
Adem Öcal ◽  
Yuliya Lyamzina ◽  
Eric K. Noji ◽  
Neda Nikolić ◽  
...  

Nuclear power remains one of the most accessible choices in addressing environmental and social concerns due to the continuously increasing energy needs around the world. While it remains an excellent source of energy due to its low price and low level of emissions, potential accidents remain a serious problem. An example of such is the most recent accident in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (2011), which reminded the world of the potential risks of nuclear energy and the consequences of which continue to have a lasting effect. There is no nuclear power plant in Serbia, but there are about 15 nuclear power stations scattered within its neighboring countries. Therefore, the Serbian Government decided to study how the Serbian public perceives the risks related to the potential construction of nuclear power stations in the country, nuclear energy in general, and its possible benefits and risks. The objective of this paper is to present the results of this assessment along with a literature overview on the (environmental) risk of nuclear power. A pilot study consisted of a series of 270 randomized face-to-face interviews that took place in the public square of Belgrade in March 2019. Logistic regression was used to examine the cumulative effects of the different risk factors. The results showed that the majority of the respondents are skeptical and do not support the construction of nuclear power stations in Serbia. Furthermore, this research identified several additional important correlations that have a significant impact on the public perception of risk.


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