-------- Original Message --------
Subject: GLOBAL NUCLEAR SURVEY:PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR NEW NUCLEAR POWER
PLANTS REMAINS TENTATIVE
Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 07:22:45 -0000
From: Jean McSorley <[log in to unmask]>
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-------- Original Message --------
Press Release 2005/17
GLOBAL NUCLEAR SURVEY:
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS REMAINS TENTATIVE
Vienna 14 December 2005 | A new 18-country opinion survey sponsored by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that "while majorities of
citizens generally support the continued use of existing nuclear reactors, most
people do not favour the building of new nuclear plants."
Indeed, the findings of the survey, conducted by Globescan Inc. show that "six
in ten citizens (62%) overall believe that existing nuclear reactors should
continue to be used, yet six in ten (59%) do not favour new nuclear plants
being built."
At a time when the nuclear power option is being vigorously pursued in the fast
developing countries of Asia and being reconsidered in some European nations
and the USA, the findings raise questions as to whether the nuclear industry
and politicians have sufficiently raised public confidence in the safety and
efficiency of the nuclear power option.
Regionally, support for nuclear power is highest in South Korea, the United
States and India, where clear pluralities support the building of new nuclear
plants. In Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Cameroon, pluralities prefer that
all existing plants be shut down.
The IAEA-sponsored survey was conducted between May and August this year in 18
countries representing all regions. Approximately 18,000 people were polled by
telephone and in-person interviews. The opinion poll fielded six distinct
questions, ranging from awareness of the IAEA and the effectiveness of IAEA
inspections to support for peaceful nuclear applications and views about the
security of nuclear materials and facilities and the threat of nuclear
terrorism.
Among the many revealing findings from the survey:
· Pluralities of citizens in all but three of the 18 countries surveyed
believe that IAEA inspections are not effective in monitoring countries'
nuclear programmes. An average of 46 percent of people across the 18 countries
surveyed say that IAEA inspections are not effective, while three in ten people
(29%) say that they are.
· Majorities in 14 of the 18 countries - and pluralities in the remaining
four countries - believes that the risk of terrorist acts involving radioactive
materials and nuclear facilities is high because of insufficient protection. A
majority of 54 percent across all countries surveyed believe the risk of
nuclear terrorism to be high, while three in ten (28%) say that the risk is
low.
· People appreciate the value of nuclear technology. When asked to consider
the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, people in all but three countries are
most supportive, by far, of medical applications, followed by electricity
generation. Across the 18 countries surveyed, respondents are most likely to
choose the use of nuclear technology to treat human diseases as their preferred
application (39%). This is followed by electricity generation (26%).
· Stressing the climate benefits of nuclear energy positively influences
one in ten people to be more supportive of expanding the role of nuclear power
in the world, but there is still a general reluctance to build more nuclear
plants.
· Awareness of the IAEA among the general population is generally low.
However, one in four citizens across the 18 countries surveyed say that they
have heard or read "a lot" or "some" about the agency, with higher awareness in
Asia and the Middle East.
The full report, "Global Public Opinion on Nuclear Issues and the IAEA: Final
Report from 18 countries," is being released today by the IAEA in Vienna and is
available on http://www.iaea.org//NewsCenter/PressReleases/2005/prn200516.html
The countries surveyed included: Argentina, Australia, Cameroon, Canada,
France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan,
Mexico, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the United States.
Melissa Fleming, Spokesperson, Tel: +43-1-2600-21275, e-mail: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
David Kinley, Tel: +43-1-2600-22446, e-mail: [log in to unmask]
About the IAEA:
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as the world's foremost
intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the
peaceful use of nuclear technology. Established as an autonomous organization
under the United Nations (UN) in 1957, the IAEA carries out programmes to
maximize the useful contribution of nuclear technology to society while
verifying its peaceful use.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit the Press Section of the
IAEA's website (http://www.iaea.org/Resources/Journalists/
<http://www.iaea.org/Resources/Journalists/> </Resources/Journalists/>), or
call the IAEA's Division of Public Information at (431) 2600-21270.
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