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WHO ARE WE?

Around the world, our international coalition of passionate advocates engages with their local communities, stakeholders, and policymakers to build political and social support for nuclear.

With the largest international pro-nuclear network, Stand Up for Nuclear is the catalyst that motivates allies and provides them with the support, resources, and skills needed to become effective leaders. When you participate in Stand Up for Nuclear, you are connected with others around the world.

Wherever help is needed, whether it is to save a nuclear plant, advocate for the construction of a new nuclear plant, or celebrate a new build; we are the boots on the ground.

But why do we support nuclear?

 

With a heavy anti-nuclear movement that began during the early 1970s, the public shifted their attention to renewables, believing that they alone would help us meet our decarbonization goal, deeming nuclear to be a dead technology. 

But for the past 65 years, humanity has harnessed the power of the atom. Since the grid connection of the world’s first commercial nuclear plant in 1957, nuclear has been an unsung hero in providing reliable, clean energy for generations. With 422 operating reactors, nuclear is the world’s fourth-largest source of energy and the second-largest low-carbon source of energy.

But with the energy crisis beginning in September of 2021, nations have scrambled to secure enough energy, let alone meet their climate goals, and there was a shift in nuclear’s perceived value: Japan agreed to restart as many existing reactors as possible and extend the life of aging ones, South Korea reversed its nuclear phaseout, Germany postponed the closure of its last three reactors, California extended the life of its last nuclear plant, and The Philippines, Kenya, and Indonesia - countries dependent on imports and vulnerable to volatile energy prices - announced their new commitments to nuclear.

The energy crisis exposed vulnerabilities and revealed just how quickly things change when energy is scarce. Nations and their leaders looking to ensure energy security and autonomy will continue to look to nuclear and expand its role. Even public opinion polls reflect a growing consensus that nuclear is needed. 

“No longer is nuclear seen as a costly liability but rather as a multi-generational asset essential to achieving a resilient energy system”
— Paris Ortiz-Wines, Global Director

Join us in showing the world what a future looks like with nuclear at the forefront. We must encourage others to stand together and come forth, proclaiming our love for nuclear. For when we include nuclear our future is bright.

The independent grassroots civil society organizations participating in Stand Up for Nuclear include:

 

 Our Team

Global Organizer - Paris Ortiz-Wines

With over five years of experience in advocacy, communications, and community engagement, Paris has expanded Stand Up for Nuclear from a single event into a global movement, leading demonstrations and campaigns across 32 countries. Her efforts have united the international pro-nuclear community, resulting in the creation of nine new pro-nuclear organizations and providing essential resources and strategic support for advocates worldwide.

Paris’s work has played a pivotal role in campaigns to save critical nuclear plants, including California’s Diablo Canyon and Illinois’s Byron and Dresden plants. Her success in mobilizing allies has drawn coverage in prominent media such as World Nuclear News, De Standaard, National Geographic, and Reuters.

A skilled coalition builder, Paris has developed impactful partnerships with advocates, government officials, and environmental organizations to broaden Stand Up for Nuclear’s network, influence, and reach. 

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is based in Berkeley, California.

Researcher & Writer - Jack Austin

As a dedicated environmental activist for the last 5 years., Jack has championed nuclear energy as a sustainable environmental solution at international events and conferences.

In 2018, Jack served as a research fellow at the environmental NGO Environmental Progress in Berkeley, California. During this time, he conducted in-depth studies on the history of nuclear energy in the United States, the origins and impact of the U.S. anti-nuclear movement, and the ecological effects of wind farms on migratory bird pathways.

Jack brings six years of experience as a student journalist, writing for prestigious publications such as The Daily Californian and The Daily Northwestern, where he amassed hundreds of bylines. In the summer of 2019, he interned at The Allegheny Front, an environmental news outlet aired on Pittsburgh’s NPR station, WESA. There, he produced compelling stories on environmental issues in both text and audio formats, while also capturing striking photographs to accompany his work.

Currently, Jack co-authors the Stand Up for Nuclear newsletter and produces feature profiles of international advocates honored as the organization’s "Ally of the Month." He also documents Stand Up for Nuclear events as a videographer and conducts research on countries undergoing nuclear phaseouts, such as Taiwan, Germany, and Belgium.

Jack holds a bachelor’s degree in English, Creative Writing, and Journalism from Northwestern University and previously studied at the University of California, Berkeley. He is based in Chicago.