How to rescue a successful technology?

The author, a prominent expert in French nuclear power development, has repeatedly urged the industrialized countries in recent years to put the necessary emphasis on the need to use nuclear power plants. In France, the nuclear power program was continued undiminished, although discussions about nuclear power were experienced also in that country, but lost much of their impact as a result of the firm attitude adopted by the government. After years of nuclear controversy, much of it rather onesided, the earlier reasons for using nuclear power for peaceful purposes are now being supplemented by aspects of environmental protection and provisions for securing future energy supplies. Those objections raised by the critics of nuclear power which could be examined, have been found to be untenable. The author's admonition not to lose confidence is meeting with increasing response also in those countries where the utilization of nuclear power had been temporarily impeded by political or ideological opposition. (orig.)