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.