BR24 16:00 Uhr | Video | AKW Isar 2 wird heute abgeschaltet +++ BR-Reporterin Sarah Beham vom AKW Isar 2 +++ Kernkraftgegner feiern Atomausstieg +++ Debatte um Atomenergie geht weiter +++ AfD-Kundgebung und Gegendemo +++ Protest gegen Rentenreform reißt nicht ab +++ Baerbock in Südkorea +++ Aktionstag für Fahrradsicherheit +++ Eishockey: München gegen Ingolstadt +++ Die Aussichten: Viele Wolken, ab und zu Regen
If you’re inclined so to torment yourself, you can see the “Atomausstiegsfest” in Munich, and the antinuclear demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, complete with a grotesque statue of a Sun Warrier vanquishing the nuclear dinosaur, and the usual rusted, dented yellow barrels with radiation trefoils ; and (assuming you have some understanding of spoken German) you can listen to leaders of antinuclear groups reciting their tired lies* one more time about how atomic power is hideously dangerous to man and the natural world, and every country would be far better without it, and will happily follow the German example.
You can also see the counterprotests in Berlin and Munich, and hear some folks speak on the pro-nuclear side. I am not in the video anywhere that I could see, but one of my “Atomic Power to the People!” badges can be seen on a demonstrator in Munich at 5:25, on the right-hand side of the picture.
I will admit to having a personal beef with Carsten Müller, plant manager at Isar 2, who is interviewed here. A year ago, I wrote to him to suggest two things. First, that I would like to acquire material from the visitor center, which has been closed since 2011 (the kind of act of cowardice which bears significant responsibility for the downfall of atomic power in Germany), to use for my exhibits and displays. Second, that he ought to consider holding one last “open day”, of the type held repeatedly in the past ― on at least one occasion, preserved steam locomotives were used to bring excursion trains to the plant ― in order to show the German people just what they were throwing away, what they had been deceived into being ashamed of. I got an e-mail by way of response, from the public affairs manager, telling me that “we do not participate in political debate regarding nuclear energy, the matter is settled”. Having been spat on for carrying a pro-nuclear sign in a climate rally in Munich (doing his job for him), I hardly needed to be told that!
* It takes three things to make a lie : a statement which is materially false, awareness of the falsehood on the part of the person making the statement, and intent to deceive. There can be no doubt that all three elements are present on the part of the leaders of the antinuclear movement. The average follower uncritically repeats what they say, with a kind of wilful blindness to ignore the inconsistencies and avoid seeking out authoritative information, which itself is culpable.