Tale taming radioactive fears: Linking nuclear waste disposal to the “continuum of the good”

Abstract

We examine how the constructor of the world's first repository for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel in Eurajoki, Finland, aims to shape lay understanding of the facility's risks and to tame the nuclear fears of the local community by producing positive associations, imagery and tales. Our empirical material consists of the constructor's newsletters targeted mainly at the local residents. In the narrative analysis, we identified a storyline where the construction of the repository is linked into the "continuum of the good" in the municipality of the construction site and the surrounding areas. The storyline consists of five different themes all emphasizing the "continuum of the good" in the area: cultural heritage, well-being, developing expertise, natural environment, and local families. Our study contributes to the literature on pro-nuclear storytelling by showing how the inclination is towards narratives that are constructed around local symbols, cultural landmarks, and institutions.

Reorienting science communication towards communities

“…Sannazzaro, 2016] or by external scientific or technical authorities [e.g. Yli-Kauhaluoma and Hänninen, 2014], though some programs initiated by external authorities become community-driven once long-term, two-way relationships are built with existing community networks [e.g. Boyer, Roth and Wright, 2009].…”

Trust, mistrust and distrust as blind spots of Social Licence to Operate: illustration via three forerunner countries in nuclear waste management

“…Crucially, trust in NGOs appears as particularly low among citizens in the Finnish and Swedish local host communities (Demoskop 2017;Vilhunen et al 2019), possibly reflecting asymmetries of power, economic dependence, and long-standing local PR efforts by the nuclear industry (e.g. Elam and Sundqvist 2010;Yli-Kauhaluoma and Hänninen 2014).…”

Is there a Nordic model of final disposal of spent nuclear fuel? Governance insights from Finland and Sweden

“…Public meetings regarding the expansion of the repository in 2008-2009 attracted few participants (Nurmi et al 2009). Local residents are given the role of objects of pro-nuclear storytelling (Yli-Kauhaluoma & Hänninen 2014). The EIA for the DiP was an instrument, which opened possibilities for CSO actors, but very limited ones.…”