Nuclear
Our 21st Century Energy Challenge
Download Powerpoint Presentation
Greifswald, Germany
December 11, 2010
GERMANY – The disaster at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi reactor triggered Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative government to order a temporary shut down of seven of the country's older reactors. In a complete policy reversal, the Merkel government has now put its plans to extend nuclear plants' lifetime by an average of 12 years on hold. Germany has now adopted a plan to abandon nuclear power plants for good by 2021.
Rome, Italy
March 26, 2011
ITALY – Which is prone to earthquakes and doesn’t currently produce nuclear power has also committed to forgoing nuclear power. Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, was previously an advocate for nuclear power for future electricity generation. He scrapped the construction plans of new nuclear plants amid mounting public concern after the disaster at Japan's Fukushima reactor.
Tokyo, Japan
September 19, 2011
JAPAN – Protesters have called for a complete shutdown of nuclear power plants across Japan and demanded a shift in government policy toward alternative sources of energy. Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, has abandoned plans to expand Japan’s nuclear power industry in favor of making renewables a key part of his energy policy. This stronger commitment to renewables marks Kan's second sudden shift on nuclear power following his order to close the Hamaoka nuclear power plant, which sits on an active fault line.
