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Anti-nuclear groups in the United States facts for kids

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More than 80 groups in the United States work to stop or limit nuclear power and nuclear weapons. These groups include well-known names like Greenpeace USA, the Sierra Club, and Public Citizen. They are made up of people who take direct action, environmentalists, health experts, and public interest advocates. Their main goal is to oppose either nuclear weapons, which are very powerful bombs, or nuclear power, which is electricity made from splitting atoms.

In 1992, the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is a government agency that makes sure nuclear power plants are safe, said that these "watchdog groups" helped push his agency to improve safety rules. This shows how important these groups are in making sure things are done safely.

Some of the most important people in the anti-nuclear movement have even won Nobel Prizes, like Linus Pauling and Hermann Joseph Muller. These smart scientists were part of groups such as the Federation of American Scientists and the Committee for Nuclear Responsibility. Their involvement helped bring scientific knowledge and respect to the movement.

What are Anti-Nuclear Groups?

Anti-nuclear groups are organizations that work to prevent the use of nuclear energy or nuclear weapons. They believe that nuclear technology, while powerful, can also be very dangerous. Their main concerns often include the risk of accidents at nuclear power plants, the problem of storing nuclear waste safely for thousands of years, and the danger of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands.

Why Do People Join These Groups?

People join these groups for many reasons. Some are worried about the environment and how nuclear waste might harm it. Others are concerned about public health, fearing that radiation from nuclear accidents could make people sick. Many are also deeply concerned about world peace and the terrible destruction that nuclear weapons could cause. These groups often organize protests, share information, and work to change laws to make the world safer.

Important Voices in the Movement

Throughout history, many influential people have supported the anti-nuclear movement. Scientists, in particular, have played a big role. They understand the complex science behind nuclear technology and can explain its risks to the public and to lawmakers. When Nobel Prize winners like Linus Pauling speak out, people listen. Their knowledge helps to educate others and push for safer policies regarding nuclear power and weapons.

Specific Groups

Here are some of the many groups that have worked to make a difference in the anti-nuclear movement:

  • Abalone Alliance
  • Alliance for Nuclear Accountability
  • Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility
  • Arms Control Association.
  • Beyond Nuclear
  • Cactus Alliance (Utah)
  • Catfish Alliance (Alabama)
  • Citizen's Committee for Protection of the Environment
  • Citizens Energy Council
  • Clamshell Alliance
  • Coalition Against Nukes
  • Coalition for Nuclear Power Postponement
  • Committee for a Nuclear Free Island
  • Committee for a Nuclear Overkill Moratorium
  • Committee for Nuclear Responsibility
  • Concerned Citizens Against the Bailly Nuclear Site
  • Corporate Accountability International
  • Council for a Livable World
  • Crabshell Alliance (Seattle)
  • Critical Mass
  • Don't Make a Wave Committee
  • Economists for Peace and Security
  • Environmental Coalition on Nuclear Power
  • Federation of American Scientists
  • Friends of the Earth
  • Greenpeace
  • Heart of America Northwest
  • Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
  • Maryland Public Interest Research Group
  • Mothers for Peace
  • Musicians United for Safe Energy
  • Nevada Desert Experience
  • New England Coalition
  • North Anna Environmental Coalition
  • Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
  • Nuclear Control Institute
  • Nuclear Disarmament Partnership
  • Nuclear Energy Information Service
  • Nuclear Information and Resource Service
  • Nuclear Policy Research Institute
  • Nuclear Threat Initiative
  • Nuclear Watch of New Mexico
  • Nuclear Watch South
  • Oystershell Alliance (New Orleans)
  • Palmetto Alliance (South Carolina)
  • Peace Action
  • Physicians for Social Responsibility
  • Pilgrim Watch
  • Plowshares Movement
  • Proposition One Campaign for a Nuclear-Free Future
  • Public Citizen
  • Red Clover Alliance (Vermont)
  • Riverkeeper
  • Rocky Flats Truth Force
  • Seneca Women's Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice
  • Shad Alliance
  • Shundahai Network
  • Sierra Club
  • Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
  • Trojan Decommissioning Alliance
  • Tri-Valley CARE
  • Two Futures Project
  • Western States Legal Foundation
  • White House Peace Vigil
  • Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control
  • Women Strike for Peace
  • Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, US Section

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Anti-nuclear groups in the United States Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.