Nuclear Energy Awareness Organization

The Nuclear Energy Awareness Organization (Danish: Organisationen til Oplysning om Atomkraft, OOA) was a Danish environmental organization founded in 1974 to oppose the introduction of civilian nuclear power in Denmark. It emerged during the energy crises of the 1970s, when the construction of nuclear power plants was being debated in Denmark. The OOA's goal was to prevent that development, and it became internationally known for its smiling-sun motif with the slogan 'Atomkraft – Nein Danke' ('Nuclear power – no thanks'), which spread widely in the German anti-nuclear movement as well. The organization achieved its central objective on 29 March 1985, when the Danish parliament, the Folketing, adopted a resolution against nuclear power. After that, OOA actions focused on the Barsebäck nuclear power plant in Sweden, about 20 km from Copenhagen. The first of its two units was shut down in 1999 and the second in 2005. The OOA dissolved itself on 31 May 2000 after 26 years. Since February 2021 an OOA Online Museum has existed.

The Organisationen til Oplysning om Atomkraft (OOA), in English the Nuclear Energy Awareness Organization, was founded in 1974. It arose as the energy crises of the 1970s prompted debate in Denmark about building nuclear power plants. The OOA was formed to oppose the introduction of civilian nuclear energy in Denmark and to prevent such construction. The organization became internationally successful with a motif it developed: a smiling sun accompanied by the slogan 'Atomkraft – Nein Danke' ('Nuclear power – no thanks'). This motif achieved very wide circulation, including in the German anti-nuclear movement. The OOA reached its goals on 29 March 1985, when the Danish parliament, the Folketing, passed a corresponding resolution. After this success, the organization's actions concentrated on the Barsebäck nuclear power plant in Sweden, located about 20 km from the Danish capital Copenhagen. The first of the plant's two units was shut down in 1999, and the second followed in 2005. After 26 years of activity, the OOA dissolved itself on 31 May 2000. Since February 2021, an OOA Online Museum has existed.

• 2021

  OOA Online Museum established in February.

• 2005

  Second unit of the Barsebäck nuclear power plant shut down.

• 2000

  OOA dissolved itself on 31 May after 26 years.

• 1999

  First unit of the Barsebäck nuclear power plant in Sweden shut down.

• 1985

  On 29 March, the Danish Folketing adopted a resolution against nuclear power, achieving OOA's goal.

• 1974

  OOA founded to oppose the introduction of civilian nuclear power in Denmark.

Anti-nuclear environmental advocacy and public information campaign in Denmark.

1. 1Wikidata: Nuclear Energy Awareness Organizationwikidata.org
2. 2Wikipedia (German): Organisationen til Oplysning om Atomkraftde.wikipedia.org