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Swedes oppose new nuclear power: poll

Published: 19 Mar 11 09:05 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/32690/20110319/

Opposition to the construction of new nuclear power is broad in Sweden, a new poll by Sifo shows following the catastrophe in Japan.

Some 64 percent of the 750 interviewed replied no to the question of whether Sweden should build new nuclear reactors, reported the Göteborgs-Posten daily. Around 27 percent were positive to the idea.

Women as a group were more inclined to be against the idea, with 74 percent expressing their opposition while 54 percent of the men were against.

The ongoing catastrophe at the Fukushima nuclear plant in northern Japan has dominated headlines in Swedish media since the country was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami n March 11th.

The battle to cool the power station's reactors has served to awaken the Swedish anti-nuclear movement and demonstrations have been seen at several locations.

Sweden generates 50 percent of its electricity supply from 10 reactors at the three power stations - Forsmark, Ringhals and Oskarshamn - currently in commercial operation.

Sweden's first nuclear power station designed exclusively for power generation was opened in Oskarshamn in southern Sweden in 1972, After the accident in Harrisburg, USA opposition to nuclear power began to grow in Sweden and led to a referendum in 1980.

All three alternatives in the referendum concerned the closure of Sweden's nuclear power stations, but presented varying timeframes.

Political opposition to nuclear power declined steadily after 1980 and the recent decision of the Centre Party to give up its demand for a rapid closure of the reactors was seen as something of a milestone in the acceptance of nuclear power.

TT/The Local/pvs (news@thelocal.se)

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11:09 March 19, 2011 by Already in use
Right, much better to let the old ones run...
17:11 March 19, 2011 by Rey Stockholm
50% demestic generation ¨ this figure ignores imported electricitity generated from nuclear in europe.

Need an awful lot of wind turbines to replace that !!
19:52 March 19, 2011 by Attestupa
We live and accept many risks in our everyday lives. Nothing is without risk, but some things we just live with - travelling by car for example. We are an energy greedy society and we depend upon electricity to support our lifestyles, even if we are the most ardent environmentalist. And yet many of us appear to want electricity to be delivered abundantly, instantly, cheaply, with no waste, with no risk to those constructing and operating the power sources, and most certainly without risk to us as individuals or to the environment. And ideally it should be generated far away from where we can see the source of the power, whether it be windmills or nuclear power alike. This is a difficult equation to balance, but many seem to think that it can be done.

I believe that we as a society do not realise just how much we depend upon nuclear power. So I propose an experiment. All nuclear power stations in Europe should be powered down for one hour, let's say on a Monday evening from 7pm to 8pm. Let us all observe what the effect to our lives would be. That way maybe we can begin to realise how much all the countries of Europe, and all the people of Europe depend upon nuclear power.
20:28 March 19, 2011 by Baldeagle 11
Sweden has a reputation as a forward thinking and progressive social and environmental nation, can this be true? Just consider the following possibilities, Swedens vast hydrocarbon resources locked into it arboreal inheirtance, Swedens geo-physical position and it's proximity to very predictable wind and sea energy conversion technology, and in particular its natural possibility to further develop thermal capture gains through sub earth bore holes, and very many other conversion techniques, all best exploited by small level entreprenurial activity, and thus freeing the nation from large cartels loved by all politicians? Because the cartels best operate when controlling the political process, just look at the puppetry of contemporary USA politicial government, from the presidental office to the local District dog-catcher bureau(s). It can't be done over-night but it will eventually free the Scandinavians from the phyical horror and injustice of the global oil regime, as well as liberating the rest of the globe. The option exists for the highly competent Japanese to resolve their own situation, as also Swedens impending problems of secure disposal and closure of it now very fragile nuclear enegy situation, indeed every smart school-child is well aware of the long-term fatigue results of long term superheated materials? Think the central core of all the worlds nuclear insallations!
12:36 March 20, 2011 by Just_Kidding
I oppose operation of 30+ years old nuclear reactors, no modern airline flies a Boeing 707 and all old reactors should be taken off the grid. But they should be replaced with safe and modern nuclear reactors. In response to the green movement, governments have stopped building new reactors but using old reactors has been a convenient dirty thing that they have been doing.

New nuclear reactor designs are scientifically safe, some have cores built completely underground with several backup safety systems, and they provide cheaper and safer energy compared to alternatives.

I am ready to travel 100Km to attend a any rally in support of new nuclear reactors.

Atheist from Iran
13:02 March 20, 2011 by Debaraja
Are the supporters of nuclear power aware of this Stanford University study? Or is it too long to read it?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50896700/Review-of-Solutions-to-Global-Warming-Air-Pollution-and-Energy-Security
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