Atoms For Peace Speech

After the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings in the Second World War, nuclear energy was linked to military purpose. The Atoms for Peace speech from Eisenhower in 1953 helped to change this point of view. In his speech he persuaded the world increase the researches within the nuclear power field with the focus on the energy possibilities, and start to decrease the potential destructive nuclear weapons. He shifted the focus from nuclear energy from war and fear to an open and peaceful way of generating energy (Atoms for Peace). The Dutch government already saw nuclear energy as a way to rebuild the Netherlands and to restore the international lead in physics, but the Eisenhower speech got the ball rolling and nuclear research centers were set up. Besides that an exhibition was held to show the Dutch people the civil applications of nuclear energy.

In the 1960’s the first Dutch nuclear reactor was built in Dodewaard. Leading towards this, there was minor resistance from the Dutch
Local protestors started anti-nuclear movements, concerned about the safety of the nuclear power plant, the possible threat of nuclear weapons, the international transport of uranium and its effect on the environment. These anti-nuclear movements grew into non-governmental organizations and emerging within several countries (Kalmbach). The discussions on nuclear energy were no longer within the field of the experts and the government became intimidated. The government tried to regulate the opposition by arranging the Broad Societal Discussion in the period 1980-1984, this was an open discussion with scientists about energy policy and especially nuclear energy. The outcome revealed that the majority of the population was against building more nuclear plants. However, the government avoided the public voice and planned to build two more nuclear