Sustainability, Social Movements & Democracy: The Case of the Anti-Nuclear Power Movement

1. Sustainability, Social Movements & Democracy:The Case of the Anti-Nuclear Power Movement

2. Table of Contents • The anti-nuclear power movement in Germany • Jusos and the nuclear power question • The SPD and the nuclear power question • Conclusions

3. The anti-nuclear power movement in Germany • Anti-nuclear power movement = ecological social movement whose originis date back to the early 1970s • Network of local, regional and national initiatives and organisations united in their rejection of the use of nuclear power and its consequences • relatively diverse • strongly organized in local contexts in particulary affected regions (e.g. nuclear waste depots) • Support by national NGOs, e.g. Greenpeace, BUND, IPPNW • Tradionally close ties to the Green Party

4. The anti-nuclear power movement in Germany The Case against Nuclear Power • Nuclear Power is highly risky and threatens the population's safety • There is not one single nuclear waste disposal site in the whole world • The use of Nuclear Power leads to a concentration of wealth and power in the energy sector • Nuclear Power slows down the expansion of renewable energy sources • Nuclear Powers resource base uranium is not renewable and its exploitation is hazardous • Nuclear Power creates no jobs in opposite to renewables

5. The anti-nuclear power movement in Germany 2009/10 Mass Demonstration against nuclear comeback 1979/80 Mass Demonstrations 1986 Tshernobyl 2000 „Nuclear Consensus“ 1994 1st Nuclear Waste Transport

6. Jusos and the nuclear power question: history • „Double Strategy“ ensured involvement in social movement debates • Closer ties to anti-nuclear power movement • Mid 1970s: Jusos claim to stop expanding the use of nuclear power (moratorium) • Later (1980s) Anti-Nuclear Power Resolution: • Exit strategy: absolish nuclear power • Shut down nuclear power plants • Stop exporting nuclear technology

7. Jusos and the nuclear power question: today Policies • Renewables and highly efficient fossil fuels instead of nuclear power • Nuclear Power is not a renewable energy source, it does not contribute to the prevention of climate change • Early industrialized countries are to carry the main burden of emission reduction • network campaigns against nuclear power • Large-scale and local manifestations • Leaflets, Videos, Information

8. Jusos and the nuclear power question: campaigns

9. The SPD and the nuclear power question The SPD and the nuclear power question The SPD and the nuclear power question: history Original nuclear power policy • Traditional labour movement faith in technical progress as a way of emancipation • Mid 1970s: SPD-led Schmidt government sticks to Nuclear Power despite growing dicontent • 1977 Compromise: no extension, no exit (moratorium) until question of nuclear waste disposal is solved

10. The SPD and the nuclear power question: history Change in Position in the mid 1980s • Growing influence of social movements and the green movement • influence of parts of the party, e.g. Jusos, grew in opposition after 1982 • Historical situation revealing hazards (Tshernobyl accident 1986) • By the end of the 1980s SPD deciced that the use of nuclear power should cease

11. Conclusion • Social Movements can play an important role in bringing forward issues in the political agenda • Youth movements are potentially important to bridge the gap between social movement activists and party politics • Parties ignoring important issues coming up via social movements might face a rupture of the party

12. Thank you for your attention Obrigado Gracias