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| Unique venue: The Nuclear Power Plant Zwentendorf in Austria, was
mothballed before it was ever put into operation |
Zwentendorf in Austria is the only nuclear power plant in the
world actually completed but mothballed before it was ever put into operation. In 1978 the Austrian
people, in a nationwide referendum, decided against employing nuclear power in their country.
Today, Zwentendorf serves as a unique memorial and as a strong symbol for the will and concerns
of the people in a democratic society, which should have precedence over political interests.
RESTRUCTURED AS SOLAR POWER PLANT. For this unique international
event the location will be opened to the public for the first time in three decades. It is currently
being adapted in order to be used as a solar power station in the future. With the support of
the Government of Lower Austria we will organize the SAVE THE WORLD AWARDS as open-air event
for around 2,500 guests.
THE ZWENTENDORF STORY. The atomic reactor in Zwentendorf was
originally planned in the 70ies of the last century to serve as a water-cooled plant providing
723 megawatts of total net power and cost an over 380 million Euro – an unbelievable amount
of money for the time. However, shortly before it was to be put into operations the Austrian
people in close and highly contentious referendum voted 50.47 percent against putting the plant
into operation. The result of this truly unique national vote in 1978 resulted in a parliamentary
non-proliferation law, which defined that no atomic reactor could be put into operation without
the consent of the Austrian people via a national referendum. The law was elevated to constitutional
status in 1999. The nuclear power plant has become a memorial for future generations. Nothing
has been altered. For the SAVE THE WORLD AWARDS this truly unique memorial will be opened to
the public for the first time. |
