The politics of power

The use of nuclear energy has become a political issue in Austria, Sweden, France, Switzerland, the United States, and Canada. The Austrian people chose not to fuel their nation's first nuclear power plant, while the Swiss have decided to continue nuclear development with tighter regulations. In Sweden, governments have been elected or fallen due to their stand on the question. France has not yet held a referendum on nuclear power, but there have been demonstrations and terrorist attacks. In the United States, public opinion is sharply divided, and there have been no new nuclear plants ordered in 1979. Several public inquiries into uranium mining and nuclear power have been held in Canada. There is a trend to increasing opposition to nuclear power since the accident at Three Mile Island. (LL)