Abstract

Throughout the world nuclear power stations are surrounded by Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs) which are designed to protect people from the hardful effects of radiation in the event of serious accidents. Via the medium of photography, my work explores the scientific and techopolitical deceit of these zones. Because of the nature of 'risk society', the inevitability of accidents and the particular ontology of radiation, EPZs play an illusionary, rhetorical role which attempts to mask the inherent dangers of nuclear power to all life by imposing a flawed 'health and safety' narrative on dangers which cannot be controlled or contained.