Benjamin Rouben, FCNS
Manager, Reactor Core
Physics
AECL Sheridan
Park
Tel: 905-823-9060 x
4550
Fax:
905-822-0567
e-mail:
roubenb@aecl.ca <mailto:roubenb@aecl.ca>
Cell: 905-302-2054
Sounds like the Korean's have a handle on the public relations scene... this is definitely something that should be looked into closer to home. Apart from a few OPG and AECL ads in trade magazines, it would be very useful in promoting nuclear power to see (hear) ads on the radio, TV and even bus shelters.
A few questions though... "The plants located in four
regions across the country boasts a
generating capacity
totaling 137.6 billion kW (kilowatts)." If that's true, the capacity
factor for producing 112.1 billion kWh would be horrible. Would they
likely mean 13.76 million rather than 137.6 billion? At 16 plants, that
would be an average of 860MW per plant, which seems likely.
Also, what is "consumption factor"? And if it's really consumption, why would it be less than 100% (i.e., why produce energy that's not going to be consumed? You're just charging the distribution system then). Would that likely mean capacity factor?
Can anyone shed some light on this?
Thanks
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Adam
McLean [mailto:adam.mclean@utoronto.ca]
Sent: Monday August 26, 2002 10:45 AM
To: Canadian Nuclear Discussion List
Subject:
[cdn-nucl-l] KNEF boosting positive impact of nuclear power in
society
Posted in the Korea Herald on August 26, 2002 and at:
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2002/08/26/200208260003.
asp
Lots of good communications work in
Korea,
Adam
------------------
KNEF boosting positive impact of nuclear power in
society
Nuclear energy may hold connotations of
catastrophe and chaos as it is
linked to such events as
the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear
power plant
in the Ukraine. It may even stir apprehension in some people
for fear of possible nuclear war and mishandling of radioactive
materials.
But the Korea Nuclear Energy
Foundation (KNEF) is out to change that. It
aims to
promote a "proper understanding" of nuclear energy and
contribute to the public good by sharing objective and scientific
knowledge about its peaceful use.
"The general misconception that nuclear energy is dangerous can
be
looked upon as a socio-psychological issue, for
instance due to the
Chernobyl incident, rather than a
scientific and technological issue," a
spokesman for
KNEF said. "Many of the great discoveries made in the 20th
century by physicists and chemists that have contributed to the
advancement of science are inextricably linked to the
successive
development of nuclear power," he added.
In fact, nuclear energy affects people's daily lives as it not
only
generates electricity, but also is used in diverse
areas such as the
medical, agricultural and industrial
sectors.
Currently, the operation of a total of 16 nuclear power plants
makes up
more than 40 percent of the electricity
produced in Korea. Last year,
the facilities supplied
112.1 billion kWh (kilowatts an hour).
The plants located in four regions across the country boasts
a
generating capacity totaling 137.6 billion kW
(kilowatts).
Furthermore, consumption rate of nuclear energy last year
reached a
record high of 93.2 percent, breaking the
previous high of 90.4 percent.
The newest rate is 17
percent above the world's average consumption
rate.
Since its establishment in 1991, the KNEF has been educating the
public
on the positive role of nuclear energy in daily
life and expanding
awareness of its non-threatening
aspects through various activities.
They include producing and disseminating promotion materials
through
various media and advertising, lectures and
briefings, as well as
providing tours of nuclear energy
facilities. Mass media-based
promotions cover television
and newspapers.
Officials said KNEF offers objective and scientific knowledge
and
information on nuclear energy through reliable mass
media channels. The
KNEF plans special reports in
cooperation with newspapers, which at
times feature
columns by nuclear energy specialists.
Energy and the environment
In a joint effort with broadcasting companies, it provides
in-depth
coverage of issues on energy and the
environment. The KNEF is also
characterized to cater to
public needs through accurate coverage of
latest
innovations in nuclear energy at home and abroad, as well as
emerging issues surrounding the industry.
The KNEF is making efforts to publish a diverse range of
publications to
inform the public on nuclear energy. It
publishes the Nuclear Energy
Report, which analyzes and
comments on nuclear energy-related articles
in various
media, with a view to providing objective and realistic
views.
It also publishes the monthly magazine, "Nuclear Culture,"
reflecting
the synergy between nuclear energy and
cultural life.
Moreover, the KNEF produces for all age groups a diversity
of
promotional materials ranging from cartoons,
children's books,
pamphlets, nuclear energy awareness
diaries to videos and handbooks.
The KNEF uses an advertising motif to inform people about why
nuclear
energy is an essential part of people's everyday
lives.
They may encounter advertisements on TV, radio, newspapers,
magazines,
electric signboards and outdoor billboards at
airports, bus terminals,
railway stations and subway
stations.
The public may take notice of campaigns promoting the safety of
nuclear
energy and its positive effects on the
environment.
In this digital age, the foundation has not forgotten the medium
of the
Internet. The KNEF said it aims to provide swift,
accurate and
comprehensive information on its home page
(www.knef.or.kr). Visitors
can exchange opinions and
information through the bulletin.
The cyber program includes a monthly "Webzine" featuring
animated images
and thought-provoking and practical
stories catering to young readers.
It also supports the
establishment of a cyber community designed to
increase
understanding of nuclear energy.
The foundation's educational field also includes nuclear
energy
exhibition centers, cultural promotion projects
in areas near nuclear
power plants and conducting public
polls on nuclear energy. It offers
various scholarship
opportunities as well.
"Energy is necessary in the development of the economy and
society, as
well as in improving the quality of life in
this modern world. And as
the industrial society
develops further, energy consumption naturally
increases," the spokesman said. "Therefore, Korea, which imports
more
than 97 percent of its energy source, will benefit
greatly from
developing technology that generates
energy," the spokesman said.
He also noted that nuclear energy is a practical alternative in
this era
of global warming, as it does not emit such
greenhouse gases as carbon
dioxide.
The KNEF exhibitions offer to help people learn how nuclear
energy
affects their daily life without visiting
nuclear-related facilities.
Major exhibition facilities include the Nuclear Center at the
National
Seoul Science Museum and the Electric Energy
Pavilion at the Expo
Science Park in Daejeon.
Visitors can observe models related to nuclear energy,
experimental
devices and graphic panels. The exhibition
centers also run youth
science classes.
The KNEF supports various cultural activities in areas in the
vicinity
of nuclear power plants. Programs include music
concerts, musicals for
children and plays.
Moreover, the KNEF supports the Nuclear Culture
Development
Associations, various groups of residents
living near nuclear power
plant areas, to promote the
development of prosperous and safe
communities.
In addition to educational programs, the foundation focuses on
boosting
cooperation in the nuclear energy industry.
Officials said the KNEF takes the lead in helping the nuclear
energy
industry enjoy a synergy effect through intimate
people-to-people
relations and intellectual networks.
The organization functions as a consultative body comprised
of
government agencies and all sectors of the nuclear
energy industry where
participants assist each other in
their activities to promote better
understanding of
nuclear energy among the public.
Public relations
It regularly holds training and lecture sessions for public
relations
personnel as a means of establishing a
specialized nuclear energy
promotion staff.
The KNEF regularly conducts opinion polls that are useful in
monitoring
public sentiment on nuclear energy and
analyzing trends.
To help the public gain understanding of nuclear energy, the
foundation
conducts research into effective promotion
techniques, while operating a
monitoring system to
receive objective feedback.
To respond to the increasing demand for information on nuclear
energy,
it researches nuclear energy policy trends at
home and abroad,
development of nuclear energy
technology and opinion polls in various
countries. The
KNEF promptly provides the information to the public.
The KNEF aims to gain public trust by distributing objective
and
scientific knowledge on nuclear energy and offering
information based on
transparency.
As of 1999, Korea had 162 companies connected with the nuclear
energy
industry, with the annual sales totaling 8.267
trillion won, which
translates close to 1.7 percent of
the nation's total GDP.
KNEF officials said Korea is one of a few countries in the world
to
succeed in producing high volumes of quality nuclear
energy. In its
early years, KNEF relied on foreign
technology to operate facilities.
But now it is 95
percent self-sufficient.
Moreover, the standard model of Korea's light-water reactors
(LWR),
which takes after the North Korean LWR model,
have been built with
domestic technology with the
support of the Korean Peninsula Energy
Development
Organization. The level of technology and safety of these
facilities have won international recognition, such as by the
International Atomic Energy Agency, officials said.
The international standards apply to the design,
manufacturing,
construction, operation of the plants and
other related areas.
"We will make an all-out effort to promote nuclear energy as an
energy
source that preserves the environment and
promises a better world for
future generations," the
spokesman said.
(sohjung@koreaherald.co.kr)
By Yoo Soh-jung Staff reporter
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