Stand Up for Nuclear Portugal: Sparking the Nuclear Energy Discussion
Nuclear activists gathered at Praça Dom Pedro IV plaza in central Lisbon to promote nuclear energy in Portugal, a country with no nuclear reactors but that imports nuclear electricity from its neighbor, Spain.
On Saturday, September 14, the student-led organization Nuclear Vision Portugal hosted the first large-scale pro-nuclear energy demonstration in Portuguese history, organized in partnership with Stand Up for Nuclear.
NV Portugal Co-founders and Global Organizer of Stand Up for Nuclear
NV Portugal Team for the event
For political reasons, a large anti-nuclear movement emerged in the 1970s, leading to the cancellation of the proposed Ferrel Nuclear Plant, in 1978, leaving Portugal without commercial nuclear power to date.
Nuclear Vision Portugal, founded by nuclear engineering students at Instituto Superior Técnico, seeks to integrate nuclear energy into national discussions while dispelling common fears and misinformation, according to co-founder Diana Lamy.
“There’s a lot of misinformation and lack of information and that’s what we’re trying to avoid. Their whole life they have been told nuclear is bad and nuclear isn’t safe and nuclear is bad for the environment, which is not true.” ”
At the demonstration, held at the Praça Dom Pedro IV plaza in downtown Lisbon, advocates gave out balloons, stickers, and lollipops that represent the amount of uranium fuel needed for 25 years of an average person’s power needs, in addition to informational pamphlets.
International nuclear advocates from Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Poland, and Sweden traveled to attend the event and delivered speeches drawing on their unique experiences. Some may ask why international folks attended this event in Portugal, but like many of our speakers mention, emissions have no borders and with this network of advocates helps spur the nuclear conversation everywhere!
Guillem Sanchis, the co-founder of Econucleares, a group fighting the nuclear phaseout in Spain, drew attention to the special energy connection between Spain and Portugal.
“It’s a fight we are in together. After all, Spain and Portugal are sharing the electrical grid,” Sanchis said. “We export electricity to them, including nuclear power. Our fight is their fight for clean energy.”
Ia Aanstoot, a Swedish youth nuclear activist, said the demonstration in Lisbon should “ignite a spark”.
Ia Aanstoot, the Swedish youth climate activist with WePlanet driving forward the “Dear Greenpeace” Campaign delivered a speech noting that the demonstration was a critical first step towards nuclear deployment in Portugal. Aanstoot said “This is the first large-scale pro-nuclear demonstration Portugal has ever seen. And with it, we intend to ignite the spark.”
Biologist and youth activist Julia Galosh with Polish Environmental organization, Fota4Climate, spoke about nuclear’s capacity to preserve biodiversity due to small land use and called for international cooperation since “emissions ignore borders.” Poland only recently decided to invest in nuclear with large public support.
Andreas Fichtner, from Nuklearia, warned Portugal that Germany is suffering what he called the “stupidest energy policy in the world”, shutting down 20 working, safe reactors. He said that CO2 emissions are 10 times higher than nuclear-dense France, despite spending 400 billion euros on solar and wind.
Heather Hoff, a nuclear advocate from California, delivered a speech about how nuclear energy gives her hope for the future.
Nuclear Vision Portugal co-founder André Feliciano acknowledged Portugal’s progress on renewables – wind and solar produced 34.4% of Portugal’s electricity in 2022 - while recognizing the need for nuclear to fully decarbonize and maintain industry.
“We want to be the cleanest. Everyone wants to be the cleanest, but we can’t do it just with solar,” Feliciano said. “While we’re blessed to have solar, it’s not enough.”
Heather Hoff, an operator at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant and the co-founder of Mothers for Nuclear echoed Feliciano’s sentiment.
““We can not effectively replace fossil fuels and maintain our quality of life without nuclear energy. Especially in the face of more electricity needs due to droughts, heatwaves, and climate change. It’s not just one of our largest sources of clean energy, it’s our hope for the future.””
Nuclear Vision co-founder Rodrigo Casimiro and Scientific Team Leader Jose Mariano left the event hopeful for nuclear’s future in Portugal. Rodrigo said the atmosphere was amazing, particularly during the speeches, and that he is optimistic politicians will “listen to the people and understand that we want nuclear.”
Rodrigo Casimiro, one of the co-founders of Nuclear Vision Portugal holding a hand-made sign at the Stand Up for Nuclear Portugal event.
““I think that Portugal will soon realize that this will be the energy of the future, And if we keep doing this, keep doing events, keep promoting this message, people will listen to us.” ”