In view of the recent near-disaster at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, the Summit Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends feels a moral and social imperative to state its position on the use and promotion of nuclear plants specifically, and to reassess the utilization of all forms of energy, by all members of industrialized society. It is for the sake of reason and reverence for life that we urge the consideration and adoption of the following three positions:

1. We urge a gradual phase-out of the use of nuclear power plants until all aspects of nuclear technology—mining, transportation, use, storage and disposal—can be proven safe.

We have grave doubts that it is humanly possible to guarantee permanently the safety of the technology and the by-products of nuclear fission. The proliferation of the use of nuclear fuel worldwide, including its diversion for military purposes, multiplies the dangers to all forms of life. The most morally unacceptable of these dangers is the threat of cancer and of genetic damage to future generations who will not have had the option of refusing to take the risks involved.

2. We urge that far greater financial and scientific effort be devoted to the development of safer, non-polluting and inexhaustible energy sources.

Large amounts of money have already been spent in the development of nuclear power, yet grave risks still exist. We are aware of the limits to society’s resources. Since more acceptable sources of energy—and more efficient ways of using energy—are known to be possible, wisdom dictates that their development receive the full backing of our government and the greatest attention of the scientific community.

3. We urge the adoption of ways of life that are less energy-dependent and more supportive of a quality of living that attests to a reverence for life.

We believe that a substantial reduction in our use of energy, if properly planned, will not lower our standard of living, but will raise it. We encourage the re-design of our machines to perform tasks with less waste. We might also ask ourselves how much of our economic production is of ultimate value. To those who help the cause of conservation, whether by their inventions or their sacrifices, we offer our encouragement.

Finally, we object strongly to the fact that those in authority have continued to promote a means of energy so potentially hazardous and that some have willingly confused the citizenry in regard to those hazards.

It is true that we have taken energy for granted. Now it is imperative that we face this fact and react to it in a creative and unselfish way.

Approved Sixth month, 12th Day, 1979