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The Fast Breeder Reactor pp 191–198Cite as

Nuclear Power and Civil Liberties

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Abstract

Of the various objections to the use, or extended use, of nuclear power as a source of energy supply (safety, disposal of wastes, radiological hazards, etc.), the one I am concerned with in this chapter, namely the impact of the nuclear programme on civil liberties and the democratic way of life, may well be the most important. The Royal Commission described it as ‘a central issue’ in the debate over the future of nuclear power (para. 186).

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References

  1. Evening Standard, 27 September 1978

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  2. In the UK, see: Daily Express, 17 May 1977 (Dr Kit Pedlar and others); Dr Pedlar gave evidence at the Windscale Inquiry about how to make one. Also Guardian, 13 June 1977 (group of science undergraduates). Sir Brian Flowers has said that they could make one at Imperial College.

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  3. For example, Rolling Stone, 19 May 1977

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  4. Evening Standard, 17 September 1978

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  5. Replies by Secretary of State for Energy to Questions by Friends of the Earth, 2 June 1977

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  6. Sunday Times, 20 March 1977 Vole, March 1977, p. 10

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  7. Atomic Energy Authority (Special Constables) Act 1976. The guarding of materials verges on farce. It is reported that in the USA nuclear waste is transported in vehicles disguised as holiday caravans with guards each of whom carries a .357 magnum pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, two Ml6 rifles and a grenade launcher. Evening Standard 3 August 1978

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  8. Hansard, 23 February 1976, col. 18

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  9. Nuclear Prospects, pp. 22–3

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  10. Replies by Secretary of State for Energy to Questions by Friends of the Earth, 2 June 1977

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  11. Comey, D. D., ‘The Perfect Trojan Horse’, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, June 1976

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Authors
  1. David Widdicombe QC
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Polytechnic of the South Bank, London, UK

    Colin Sweet (Senior Lecturer in Economics) (Senior Lecturer in Economics)

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© 1980 The contributors

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Widdicombe, D. (1980). Nuclear Power and Civil Liberties. In: Sweet, C. (eds) The Fast Breeder Reactor. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-81391-9_15

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