European Reactions

WHATEVER America’s troubles with anti-nuclear groups, Europe’s troubles are worse. In almost every nation in Western Europe there have been serious demonstrations and political discord over the nuclear issue. Nor are these mere sit-ins, like the Seabrook demonstrations in the United States, organized and carried out by fringe elements. The demonstrations are usually violent, and the anti-atomic political forces wield considerable national influence. In Germany, for instance, even the army has not been able to prevent vandalism and personal injury at atomic plants under construction. In Sweden two years ago, the anti-nuclear-power elements combined with non-socialists to topple the social democratic government. The so-called Green Parties—environmentalist and anti-nuclear—have everywhere (except, notably, Britain, which because of North Sea oil has not invested so dramatically as others in nuclear technology) dealt their hands like shrewd poker players.

What could prove to be a European paradigm occurred recently in Austria, which, although a small country, has led the world in all sorts of evolutions and revolutions—classical music, psychoanalysis, national socialism, and theoretical capitalism, for example. Now, in a national plebiscite, Austria has taken the lead in opposing the peaceful use of atomic energy. The vote was terribly close—50.5 to 49.5 percent.

EK

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Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn

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WHATEVER America’s troubles with anti-nuclear groups, Europe’s troubles are worse. In almost every nation in Western Europe there have been serious demonstrations and political discord over the nuclear issue. Nor are these mere sit-ins, like the Seabrook demonstrations in the United States, organized and carried out by fringe elements. The demonstrations are usually violent, and the anti-atomic political forces wield considerable national influence. In Germany, for instance, even the army has not been able to prevent vandalism and personal injury at atomic plants under construction. In Sweden two years ago, the anti-nuclear-power elements combined with non-socialists to topple the social democratic government. The so-called Green Parties—environmentalist and anti-nuclear—have everywhere (except, notably, Britain, which because of North Sea oil has not invested so dramatically as others in nuclear technology) dealt their hands like shrewd poker players.

What could prove to be a European paradigm occurred recently in Austria, which, although a small country, has led the world in all sorts of evolutions and revolutions—classical music, psychoanalysis, national socialism, and theoretical capitalism, for example. Now, in a national plebiscite, Austria has taken the lead in opposing the peaceful use of atomic energy. The vote was terribly close—50.5 to 49.5 percent.