Utility planted 'citizens' to support restart of reactors

[Fledermaus]

I wonder how many nuclear errand boys come here on an average day?

Kyodo
FUKUOKA — About 50 Kyushu Electric Power Co. employees and affiliates were involved in attempting to orchestrate an email campaign, posing as ordinary citizens, in support of the restart of its nuclear reactors on a government-sponsored TV program, according to an internal investigation by the utility.

The staged emails account for about a fifth of all supportive opinions received in the program aired in late June, according to sources informed about the investigation. The number of those involved may increase as the investigation is still ongoing.

At a special committee on nuclear safety of the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly Monday, Akira Nakamura, at the time head of the utility's nuclear power control department, said he was told by a supervisor to enliven discussions on the program, aimed at winning support for restarting two reactors at the Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110712a3.html

[Hydra]

1. That's like when the cable providers paid people

To take up seats at local hearings to keep the dissent down.

[kristopher]

2. Here we have the Nuclear Energy Institute and the American Nuclear Society doing it

In Europe there is the World Nuclear Association.

A key example of WNA-fostered cooperation is the new World Nuclear Communicators Network. This limited-access online forum connects public communication specialists working for operators, vendors, and nuclear associations in dozens of countries.
WNCN links these experts so they can efficiently share: • Best practice in communicating on specific nuclear issues and events • Timely information on unfolding nuclear events of international interest or concern.
WNCN was intensely active in conveying updated information to industry communicators as events unfolded at Fukushima. On a daily basis and during specific incidents, WNCN will strengthen the nuclear industry's capability to speak to the public with clarity, timely accuracy and credibility.

-World Nuclear Association: Four Pillars of Support for a Fast-Globalizing Nuclear Industry

They are nuclear industry trade and lobbying organizations that have over the past 10 years created organized programs training industry employees and using hired social media PR experts to represent their product in every possible venue of communication.

Nuclear energy has a strong level of support among only about 12-20% of the population, yet their message dominates every newspaper and online article about nuclear or renewable energy. Their message is coordinated and planned to promote nuclear and disparage renewables.

The Grassroots initiative was inspired by Former Governor John Sununu's participation in the ANS Winter meeting in 2002. Sununu emphasized the opportunities present when nuclear professionals enter the public debate. In March 2003, Sununu to meet with ANS leadership to discuss outreach strategies. With the introduction of next nuclear generation, ANS members must seek out receptive audiences and deliver positive messages about nuclear science and technology of the 21st century.
Read more about the Sununu meeting at: http://www.ans.org/members/ansnews/docs/2003-03-04.pdf

http://www.ans.org/pi/pros/member/comkit/planting.html

The goal of grassroots initiatives is to make certain that ANS is publicly recognized as a credible source of nuclear science and technology information. The Outreach program cultivates the current base of ANS membership in order to produce meaningful relationships with policy makers, opinion shapers and the general public.

When ANS members interact with their local leaders, neighbors, or children's teachers, they can make a lasting impact and help the public understand how nuclear keeps the lights on, offers better healthcare and improves our daily lives.

As a professional in the field, you can take advantage of your technical expertise to educate policy makers, opinion shapers, and the general public when issues that relate to your industry arise.

YOU can take advantage of current events to inform and teach - to serve as a facilitator for information...

http://www.ans.org/pi/pros/member/comkit/growing.html

As part of the ANS Grassroots initiative, you will help increase the society's visibility and reputation as the source for information on nuclear science and technology.

Familiarize yourself with the materials in this Communication Kit.
Share this information with your section.
Talk with friends and neighbors about nuclear science and technology issues.
Discuss the kinds of questions you might expect from policy makers and community members.
Brainstorm what those questions might be.
Utilize ANS resources and staff to find materials to support your answers to anticipated questions.
Check into the nuclear information relative to your state.
Learn about your elected officials. You can find vital information about their past votes and opinions of nuclear by contacting Doug Wasitis in the ANS Washington office.
Follow local newspaper coverage.
The Grassroots Initiative encourages you to reach out to three audiences in order to build positive public perception about nuclear science and technology.

http://www.ans.org/pi/pros/member/comkit/audiences.html

The ANS Public Information Committee is the official host of the meeting and exclusive sponsorship is provided by the Idaho National Laboratory.

This is the second time such a meeting has been held. At the 2009 ANS Winter Meeting held in Washington, D.C., last November, we had a informal and successful meet-up of 45 people interested in discussing social media.

The plan this year is to have an informal discussion about how social media, including blogs, instant messages, and web services are shaping public perceptions of the nuclear energy industry. Also, this is an opportunity to meet others who work with these tools in the nuclear industry.

"The social media initiatives undertaken by the American Nuclear Society over the past year have broadened ANS nuclear outreach efforts and engaged new audiences," said Candace Davison,

Buried in the bowels of this blog: http://djysrv.blogspot.com/2010_10_31_archive.html

That is a small sampling to provide a glimpse of the scope of the effort this industry is engaged in.

The Japanese are amateurs. They still operate under the assumption that this type of industry misinformation campaign is a despicable breach of ethics.