High Perception of Industrial Risk: risk communication and debate as a public participation tool.

José Manuel Palma-Oliveira* and Sofia Correia dos Santos **

*CITIDEP, Professor, Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon. e-mail: palma@mail.telepac.pt
** CITIDEP, Lecturer, Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon


In the last decade the authors have undergone a vast inquiry on industrial and waste risk perception in Portugal. The picture that emerges from those studies was a consistent one pointing out that the actual zeitgeist is characterized by a high perception of risk that is equivalent amongst all social economical and grouping categories. The story of the construction and localization of all waste treatment systems (incineration, co-incineration and landfills) in Portugal is a continuum of dead ends and stressful events which conclusion menace both the psychological and physical well being of the population as well the environment. In this paper we will present some data that we have being collecting in the last few years and propose a methodology of integrating the populations in the decision process, based in the risk communication, and perception of control processes that are very much in line with the participatory democracy main goals. Furthermore one can conclude that participatory democracy is scientifically based in this area of study. This relation between science and ideological commitment will also discussed.