NEW TITLES ON RISK, SOCIETY AND POLICY
Risk, media and stigma: understanding public challenges to modern science and technology
Edited by James Flynn, Paul Slovic and Howard Kunreuther
Earthscan Publications Ltd, 2001
London and Stearling, VA, USA
399 pp. £24.95
ISBN 1 85383 700 8
Risk, uncertainty and rational action
Carlo C. Jaeger, Ortwin Renn, Eugene A. Rosa and Thomas Webler
Earthscan Publications Ltd, 2001
London and Stearling, VA, USA,
320 pp. £19.95
ISBN 1 85383 770 9
The perception of risk
Paul Slovic
Earthscan Publications Ltd, 2000
London and Stearling, VA, USA
472 pp. £19.95
ISBN 1 85383 528 5
Consumer confidence in food systems and perceptions of risk held by laypeople are important concerns of the food industry, governments and the scientific community. Understanding the ways that laypeople view risk has been the topic of investigation by psychologists, consumer behaviour specialists and those concerned with the social impli-cations of technology for several decades.
As part of its series on Risk, society and policy, edited by Ragnar E. Löfstedt, Earthscan has published three books by leading experts in the field of risk perception and risk communication. The books contain case studies and information relevant to current discussions about ways to assess, manage and communicate of risk.
Whether the risk is real or imagined, risk perceptions can have serious consequences for businesses, communities, and scientific and technical development. When an accident occurs, reputations can be damaged, fears and anxiety about health rise, prop-erty can be lost, scepticism about authorities can develop and the social divisions within communities can be exacerbated. A small incident can have a large impact as a result of media attention or lack of understanding or knowledge of the true nature of the risk.
Drawing from incidents relating to nuclear power, industrial pollution, food contamination and sabotage of pharmaceutical products that have occurred during the past 20 years, the authors explain methods for assessing public perceptions and the impact of risk perceptions on society. Although few papers are directly related to food safety, the experiences described are relevant to the food sector.
Unfortunately, these books do not cover the topics of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and biotechnology, both of which have been the subjects of risk communication research in recent years. In addition, the series would be enriched by the inclusion of work from outside the United States of America (for example, Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom).
In spite of these shortcomings, Earthscan has provided an invaluable collection of articles for those who are seeking an in-depth analysis of risk perceptions.
Janice Albert
NUTRITION OFFICER/TECHNICAL EDITOR,
FAO Food and Nutrition Division
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Segundo censo nacional de tallaDE ESCOLARES DE PRIMER GRADO DE PRIMARIA DE LA REPÚBLICA DE GUATEMALA. 16 AL 20 DE JULIO DE 2001 PARA OBTENER ESTA PUBLICACIÓN, DIRIJA SUS PEDIDOS A/ COPIES OF THIS PUBLICATION ARE AVAILABLE FROM: |
