Conference paper
ECOLOGICAL RISK, NEWS MEDIA, AND PUBLIC OPINION
Branko Kurelec
; Center for Marine Research Zagreb, "Ruđer Bošković"
Abstract
Recent scientific advances in understanding two major elements in the ecological risk assessment - the characterisation of environmental exposure and the characterisation of ecological effects - make possible a new ranking of ecological stressors and priorities in environmental protection. However, the implementation of these improvements is impeded by political opposition fueled by the prevailing public perceptions of risk. The state of public distrust, expressed as chemophobia and radiophobia, resulted in irrational equalizing of risks which are million times different. Such fears cannot be erased quickly and easily. Since in democracy the public opinion dictates the political decisions, a huge expenditure of money and effort in the future will be diverted from real hazards to tiny hypothetical risks. The concept of sustainable development and the recognition of limited carrying capacity of biosphere offer viable exit from such vicious circles: efforts should concentrate on the main limiting factors of sustainable development. News media should reverse their role from production of news whose perception creates phobias, to the role of a competent and responsible communicator of scientific truths. Clever media may in a poor society become an important resourse in the protection of environment.
Keywords
environmental phobias; environmental risk; environmental risk assessment; environmental risk perception; mass media; public opinion
Hrčak ID:
139070
URI
Publication date:
15.7.1993.
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