More than Just Concrete Realities [electronic resource]: The Symbolic Dimension of Radioactive Waste Management /
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentContributor
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentContent Provider
Paris : OECD Publishing,
2010.
Key concepts of radioactive waste management, such as safety, risk, reversibility and retrievability, carry different meanings for the technical community and for non-technical stakeholders. Similarly, socio-economic concepts, including community, landscape and benefit packages, are interpreted differently by diverse societal groups. Opinions and attitudes are not simply a faithful reflection of decision making, actual events and communicated messages; perceptions and interpretations of events and objects also play a role. This report presents key issues and examples in order to build awareness of the importance of symbols and symbolism in communicating about perceptions and interpretations. It adds to the recognition that dialogue amongst stakeholders is shaped by dimensions of meaning that reach beyond dictionary definitions and are grounded in tradition and social conventions. A better understanding of these less obvious or conspicuous realities should help find additional ways of creating constructive relationships amongst stakeholders.
Foreword -- 1.Introduction -- 2.Symbols and Symbolism -- 3. The Symbolic Dimension of Radioactive Waste -- -Waste as a representation of the human enterprise -- Waste and its connection to shame and fear of secrecy -- Waste and the breaking of the covenant to our descendants -- Waste management facilities as the source of added, symbolic value -- 4. The Symbolic Dimension of Radioactive Waste Management Concepts and Words -- -Safety and risk and their link to survival -- The multiple meanings of land and landscape -- The connotative meaning and usage of some key words -- 5. Methods for Identifying Symbols and Exploring Interpretations -- -Understanding framing -- Methods for investigating framing attempts -- Methods for investigating interpretations -- 6. Conclusions -- References -- 
Key concepts of radioactive waste management, such as safety, risk, reversibility and retrievability, carry different meanings for the technical community and for non-technical stakeholders. Similarly, socio-economic concepts, including community, landscape and benefit packages, are interpreted differently by diverse societal groups. Opinions and attitudes are not simply a faithful reflection of decision making, actual events and communicated messages; perceptions and interpretations of events and objects also play a role. This report presents key issues and examples in order to build awareness of the importance of symbols and symbolism in communicating about perceptions and interpretations. It adds to the recognition that dialogue amongst stakeholders is shaped by dimensions of meaning that reach beyond dictionary definitions and are grounded in tradition and social conventions. A better understanding of these less obvious or conspicuous realities should help find additional ways of creating constructive relationships amongst stakeholders.
Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
Nuclear Energy
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Engineering & Applied Sciences
Environmental Engineering