Nuclear power plants, citizens' action groups, power of state

If you follow the scientific discussion on the pros and cons of the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy (obviously only suicides agree on its non-peaceful utilization) you can state the following two tendencies at first sight: Scientists do only deal with this problem to strengthen hypotheses they have already made. In most cases they deal with a system which is characterized by a lack of calculations, an even greater lack of tests and by a lot of speculation. Advocates of nuclear power plants like to join in this argumentation. Only few scientists question the abstract model of calculation on the burden caused by nuclear power plants, showing that a larger radioactive burden may trigger an uncontrolable, complex reaction within the body (as e.g. Contergan did). In the following we discuss in outline form a few aspects to be considered by operators of nuclear power plants. (orig./GL)