Word: antinuclearism
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President Carter, having once helped disassemble a damaged nuclear reactor core, apparently has no doubts about the effectiveness and necessity of nuclear power. But last Sunday's demonstration reminded him of the antinuclear movement's possible political strength. Although he had declined an invitation to speak at the rally, he afterward invited the organizers to a quickly called meeting at the White House. "It is out of the question to pre-emptively shut all nuclear plants in the country," he told them, but he did say he would like to "minimize the requirement for nuclear power...
Like many protest movements, the antinuclear battle began on the local level. Loosely knit coalitions of environmentalists, '60s rebels, disaffected youths, and newly politicized Middle Americans began organizing to fight power plants sprouting in their backyards. Three years ago, there was the Clamshell Alliance harassing the unfinished nuclear plant in Seabrook, N.H. More than a dozen other local alliances followed, named Oyster Shell and Conchshell, Catfish and Abalone. They formed loose ties with scientists unhappy with the handling of the country's nuclear-power program, such as the Cambridge-based Union of Concerned Scientists. The movement affected...
Three Mile Island brought cohesion to the antinuclear movement. A few days after the incident, plans for a march were made at a hastily called meeting in Washington, sponsored by Nader's group. "This represented a real turning point for the movement," says Tim Massad, one of the organizers. "Before this we had a network of groups on the local level. But now we see people directing mass action at the President and Congress, the people ultimately responsible for Harrisburg, instead of individual utilities." The "May 6 Coalition" initially raised $20,000 from foundations such as the Stern Fund...
...demonstrators-and among such familiar protest figures as Jane Fonda,Tom Hayden,Dick Gregory and Bella Abzug-was California's Governor Jerry Brown, who called for a moratorium on new plants but not a shutdown of existing ones. Says he: "I'm at the forefront of the antinuclear movement...
...poorer segments of our society would be the first to suffer if we closed factories, raised the price of gasoline, or otherwise added to the cost of maintaining our energy-related existence." The first couple of weeks in June, when many antinuclear protests are scheduled on the local level around the country, will show the true strength of the movement...