Public perceptions of nuclear energy in the post-Fukushima world

LI, Jinfeng

doi:https://www.dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3625941

OA Location

https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3625941

Author(s)

LI, Jinfeng

Type

Working Paper

Abstract

This article reviews the nuclear issues raised in the Fukushima Disaster Documentary by BBC in 2011, spanning from the climate change, security of supply, nuclear safety, radioactivity, to fuel cycle and nuclear waste, while other issues relating to nuclear economics, decommissioning, weapons proliferation and the jeopardy of terrorist attack were not covered. A critical study is subsequently carried out by evaluating the credibility of the arguments. Albeit substantial evidence was provided by BBC to back up their points, however, to some extent, the use of some evidence may not be sufficient to demonstrate convincingly some of the arguments until further interpretation is made, or a follow-up reassessment is carried out. Finally, the deficiencies of their way of interpreting the nuclear issues and arguments to the general audiences are discussed. Several suggestions are proposed to bridge the gap.