Poll Finds Just 4 Percent of Democrats Support Increasing Military Aid to Israel

By Sharon Zhang, April 25, 2026 , https://scheerpost.com/2026/04/25/poll-finds-just-4-percent-of-democrats-support-increasing-military-aid-to-israel/

Separate polling found this week that Congress’s disapproval ratings have tied their all-time high of 86 percent.

New polling has found that just 4 percent of Democratic voters support increasing military aid to Israel, marking a massive rift with congressional Democrats at a time when other polling has found that disapproval of Congress has tied its all-time high.

The Economist/YouGov polling released this week found that only 11 percent of American adults say that the U.S. should increase military aid to Israel, including only 4 percent of people identifying themselves as Democrats — and only 23 percent of Republicans.

Meanwhile, the polling found that 56 percent of Democrats say the U.S. should decrease military aid to Israel, including 35 percent who say the practice should stop altogether. Just 19 percent said the U.S. should maintain current levels, while 20 percent said they were not sure.

This is a huge departure from the stance of Democratic leaders in Congress, who support military funding for Israel or even want to increase it.

Last week, for instance, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) was one of only seven Democrats to vote against the advancement of a measure to block the sale of bulldozers to Israel introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). He was joined by figures like Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), one of Israel’s staunchest advocates in Congress.

Even though Sanders’s resolutions didn’t pass, the vote was seen as a major shift among Democrats, with more Democrats voting to block the sales of certain weapons to Israel than ever before — even if the caucus leader disagreed.

Schumer, a longtime supporter of Israel, said in February that supporting aid to Israel is, in fact, a top priority of his.

“I have many jobs as leader … and one is to fight for aid to Israel, all the aid that Israel needs,” he said at a gathering in New York City. He bragged that, under his leadership, U.S. aid to Israel has grown more “than ever, ever before,” and said: “As long as I’m in the Senate, this program will continue to grow.”

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has also stuck to its positions of backing Israel and its political apparatus in the U.S. Last year, one of its committees rejected a measure for an arms embargo on Israel, while the party also voted down a resolution to limit the influence of dark money on Democratic races, including the spending from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Meanwhile, approval of Congress — which has done virtually nothing to stop or stem the flow of weapons to Israel, despite public opinion — has hit record lows.

Gallup polling released this week found that the proportion of Americans who disapprove of Congress’s job performance has hit a record high of 86 percent — tying the record set in 2015. Meanwhile, Congress’s approval sits at a lowly 10 percent, just one point above its record low of 9 percent.

April 29, 2026 Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion, USA | Leave a comment

How do Britons feel about nuclear energy?

40 years on from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Britons are divided on
whether nuclear energy is safe: Key takeaways:

Britons support the use of
nuclear power by 51% to 29%, with opposition declining in recent years:
Green voters are divided 46% to 39% on whether or not they support the use
of nuclear power: 37% of Britons want more of the UK’s electricity to come
from nuclear energy, compared to 23% who want less: Britons are divided 45%
to 39% on whether or not nuclear energy is generally safe: Men are
consistently far more supportive of nuclear power than women.

You Gov 24th April 2026, https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/54612-how-do-britons-feel-about-nuclear-energy

April 27, 2026 Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion, UK | Leave a comment

Nuclear Power No Thanks

Mike Small, 20th April 2026, https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/04/20/nuclear-power-no-thanks/

A new Survation poll has shown a “miserable” level of support for nuclear power in Scotland while more than half believe the main focus should be on renewables. The polling makes grim reading for Scottish Labour and the LibDems who are both promoting new nuclear. The study carried out by Survation showed just 14% thought Scotland should rely on uranium used in nuclear reactors for its long-term energy security needs.

Only Reform UK and Conservative voters appear to prefer a focus on nuclear power. People who voted SNP and Green in 2024 appear overwhelmingly (over two thirds) in support of renewables.

In regions where nuclear facilities exist around Hunterston, Torness and Dounreay, a preference for renewables was in the clear majority over nuclear. When asked which energy sector could be trusted most to ‘tell the truth’ about their costs, pollutants and safety record, nuclear scored last at 12%, just behind the oil and gas industry at 13%.

This despite the fact that, as we exposed here the nuclear lobby group Britain Remade are run by PR/lobbying firm Stonehaven who donated £7,200 to the Scottish Labour Party.

Read our previous investigation here: Who are Britain Remade? – Bella Caledonia
Read The Ferret investigation here: This pro-nuclear group claims to be ‘grassroots’. So why are its directors industry lobbyists?

George Baxter, from Green Power said:

“New nuclear power is a costly distraction for Scotland. Between eye-watering costs, huge public subsidies, decades-long delivery timelines and leaving a toxic legacy for future generations, it cannot compete with the immediate, affordable potential of our renewable resources. With the technology already available, a 100% renewables-led system is the only logical path to a secure and sustainable economy.”

“A renewables-based energy system needs flexible power, a modern upgraded grid and energy storage, these should be the priority. That is what will provide lower cost energy, power industry and keep the lights on. Moreover, because nuclear is so inflexible it blocks renewables off the grid, forcing green energy generators to be turned off. Nuclear is no friend of sustainable energy

Nuclear Free Scotland

This is a major blow to the dark money, the front-groups, and the media campaigns that have been desperately promoting new nuclear for the past year.

Commonweal has covered this with a handy briefing note on the nuclear lobby [How to debunk the nuclear lies — Common Weal]. They ask you to Google search:

“How many former Labour politicians have been lobbyists for the nuclear industry, and who is the current CEO of the Nuclear Industry Association, which is behind all of this lobbying?”

The answer is:

Tom Greatrex, a former Labour MP and energy spokesperson, is the current CEO of the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA), representing the industry. While the specific number of former Labour politicians acting as nuclear lobbyists varies over time, key figures like Brian Wilson and Tom Greatrex have bridged the Labour Party and the nuclear industry.

Brian Wilson is of course is a devout nuclear enthusiast. In 2013 he decried Scotland’s energy policy as “Salmond’s nuclear fatwa”. In October 2005, he was appointed non-executive director of AMEC Nuclear Holdings Ltd, the nuclear services arm of AMEC plc. The announcement boasted that the firm is the UK’s largest private nuclear services business. In 2021 it was announced that he would lead a commission into new nuclear power [see Labour Go Nuclear – Bella Caledonia].

The extent to which new nuclear is a major focus for Scottish Labour is demonstrated in their manifesto, in which their ‘top priorities’ are listed as ‘Improve the NHS’, Top up tax-free childcare’ and ‘Back nuclear energy.’ In their Economy section the first two actions listed are ‘Create a Scottish Treasury’ and second ‘Remove the Scottish government’s block on nuclear energy.’ See:
Scottish Labour’s 2026 election manifesto at-a-glance – BBC News

This is a major blow to the Labour Party and the nuclear lobby, showing once again that the Scottish people are resolutely opposed to nuclear power.

April 25, 2026 Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion, UK | Leave a comment

Poll finds ‘miserable’ support for nuclear power in Scotland.

20th April, By Steph Brawn

A POLL has found a “miserable” level of support for nuclear power in
Scotland while more than half believe the main focus should be on
renewables.

In what will make “grim reading” for Scottish Labour and the
LibDems as the election draws near, the study carried out by Survation
showed just 14% thought Scotland should rely on uranium used in nuclear
reactors for its long-term energy security needs. Just 20% said it was the
energy source Scotland should focus on to “make the most effective
contribution to tackling climate change”, while almost 60% supported
renewables like wind and solar.

Only 12% said they trusted the nuclear
industry “to tell the truth about their products” including costs, the
pollutants they might produce and their safety record, which put it behind
the oil and gas industry. Just 18% said it was the energy source most
likely to reduce bills.

Pete Roche, of the Scottish Campaign to Resist the
Atomic Menace (SCRAM), said: “The poll demonstrates that Scots are not as
gullible as the lobbyists and pro-nuclear political parties seem to think.
“A renewable energy future is not only possible, but is the most supported
and most trusted sector by far. Relying on a uranium-fuelled nuclear future
is like jumping out of the oil and gas frying pan and into a nuclear fire.
It makes no sense and Scots seem to get that. “A score of 14% for a
uranium-fuelled future is quite miserable. The crisis in the Middle East,
with its heady mix of oil and gas dependency and uranium stockpiles is a
wake up call.

The National 20th April 2026,
https://www.thenational.scot/news/26035122.poll-finds-miserable-support-nuclear-power-scotland/

April 24, 2026 Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion, UK | Leave a comment

Scotland & Nuclear Power

A fresh opinion poll conducted in the middle of the Scottish election
campaign has found widespread support for renewable energy sources to
reduce energy bills and tackle climate change.

When asked about
Scotland’s energy security needs, support for a uranium-fuelled nuclear
future polled a ‘miserable’ 14%, compared to 55% support for harvesting
home grown wind, water and solar sources. The findings will likely make
grim reading for Scottish Labour and Libdem campaign bosses who are
promoting new nuclear power stations, due to resounding support for
renewables compared to nuclear, from their own voters.

SCRAM 20th April 2026,
https://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/scram/

April 23, 2026 Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion, UK | Leave a comment

War front updates: America opposes war on Iran

Wednesday, April 01, 2026, Organizing Notes, Bruce Gagnon

Americans have little appetite for sending troops to Iran, polls show

Only 14% of Americans favor sending ground troops into Iran, while 62% oppose this. Almost all Democrats and 66% of Independents oppose sending in ground troops, while Republicans are divided, with 30% in favor and 37% opposed.

In the DC mental asylum, they dreamt up the concept of “Greater North America”. In addition to the USA, it includes Canada, Greenland, Mexico, and the Caribbean countries. US Defence Secretary and professional drunkard, Pete Hegseth, displayed a map on which these regions are unified. Hegseth did not explain how these countries are supposed to be united, but emphasized: “Trump has drawn a new strategic map”. ……………………………………………………. https://space4peace.blogspot.com/2026/04/war-front-updates-america-opposes-war.html

April 8, 2026 Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion, USA | Leave a comment

Poll Shows 70 Percent in US Disapprove of Striking Venezuela as Trump Mulls War

The US has built up the largest military presence in Latin America in decades off the coast of Venezuela.

By Sharon Zhang , Truthout, November 24, 2025

he vast majority of Americans say that the Trump administration hasn’t given proper explanation for potential military action in Venezuela and oppose the idea of strikes in the country, new polling finds as the U.S. builds up its military presence in the region.

New CBS/YouGov polling conducted late last week shows that 70 percent of Americans say that they would oppose the U.S. taking military action in Venezuela, with only 30 percent saying they support such an action.

Over three-quarters of Americans, 76 percent, say that the administration has not “clearly explained the U.S. position on military action in Venezuela.” The vast majority also say that President Donald Trump needs to provide an explanation, including 97 percent of Democrats, 86 percent of independents, and 64 percent of Republicans, the poll found……………………………………………………………………………………….https://truthout.org/articles/poll-shows-70-percent-in-us-disapprove-of-striking-venezuela-as-trump-mulls-war/?utm_source=Truthout&utm_campaign=eb51515458-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_11_24_10_25&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bbb541a1db-eb51515458-650192793

November 27, 2025 Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion, USA | Leave a comment

Julian Assange Joins Historic Anti-Genocide March Across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge

By Joe Lauria, Consortium News, 3 August 25, https://consortiumnews.com/2025/08/03/assange-joins-historic-anti-genocide-march-across-sydneys-harbour-bridge/

Julian Assange joined at least 90,000 and as many as 300,000 people who marched across Australia’s most famous bridge on Sunday to protest Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, his wife Stella and brother Gabriel Shipton joined Australian journalist Mary Kostakidis and, according to police estimates, 90,000 other people, but according to organizers as many as 300,000, to march across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge on Sunday to demand an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported:

“At least 90,000 pro-Palestine protesters walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge and into history through the pelting rain, as a larger crowd than expected used the landmark as a symbol, bringing the city to a standstill and leading police to sound the alarm of a potential crowd crush.

In the face of the sheer size of the protest against the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza, which organisers say drew between 200,000 and 300,000 people, police were forced to ditch plans for the march to end at North Sydney and redirected the crowd. … The last major march across the bridge was 25 years ago, when 250,000 people marched in support of reconciliation [with Indigenous Australians.]”

Kostakidis is in court accused of racial hatred by the Zionist Federation of Australia for her social media reporting and commentary critical of the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.

[Consortium News was on the bridge and will be providing a full video report.].

The New South Wales premiere and police both tried to stop the march from happening by making protestors liable to arrest for blocking traffic. It took a Supreme Court ruling on Saturday to let it go ahead. About four times as many people turned up than organizers had expected — even in a driving winter rain — because of the concerted effort to stop it, an organizer told The Sydney Morning Herald.

The paper quoted Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees as saying said the march was “’even bigger than we dreamt of’ after people travelled from across the country to attend. He called the event a ‘monumental and historic’ success. ‘Today was just a huge display of democracy,’ he said.”

The massive turnout shows the revulsion a good number of Australians feel for Israel’s ongoing slaughter and for their government’s complicity. “Netanyahu/Albanese you can’t hide. Stop supporting genocide,” the protestors chanted.

Police were not prepared for the outpouring of outrage. The Herald said:

“NSW Police acting deputy commissioner Peter McKenna said the march came ‘very close’ to a ‘catastrophic situation’ and that officers had been forced to make a snap decision to turn tens of thousands around to avoid a crowd crush as people exited for North Sydney. McKenna said part of the problem was the organisers’ application to march stated that 10,000 people were likely to attend, not the 90,000 people the police estimated turned up.”

August 7, 2025 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, public opinion | Leave a comment

Atomic bomb survivors in Japan fear nuclear weapons could be used again: poll

Newly released survey shows close to 70 percent of survivors fear a resurgence in nuclear risks as Japan readies for the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

14 July 25 https://trt.global/world/article/0c8b4e3aec45

Nearly 70 percent of atomic bomb survivors in Japan believe nuclear weapons could be used again, citing growing global tensions, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and North Korea’s weapons development, a survey by Kyodo News Agency revealed on Sunday, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the US atomic bombings.

Around 1,500 survivors took part in the survey, with 68.6 percent saying the risk of nuclear weapons being used again is increasing.

Some 45.7 percent of respondents said they “cannot forgive” the US for the bombings, while 24.3 percent said they have “no special feelings” and 16.9 percent said they “did not know.”

This year marks 80 years since the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in western Japan near the end of World War II.

On August 6, 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing an estimated 140,000 people.

A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki three days later, resulting in about 70,000 additional deaths.

Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, officially marking the end of World War II.

July 14, 2025 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, public opinion | Leave a comment

Survey Results Show Tremendous Dissatisfaction with Nuclear Waste Project and Proponent.

We the Nuclear Free North 12 June 25

Dryden – A not-for-profit organization that tracks a nuclear waste burial project proposed for northwestern Ontario has released the results of a recent survey gauging public attitudes towards the Nuclear Waste Management Organization and its project. We the Nuclear Free North‘s survey results show an overwhelmingly negative response to the NWMO’s project and communications.

An invitation to complete the survey was distributed by email and through social media on a wide variety of sites. Over 300 responses were received in the ten-day survey period. Just under 60% of respondents were from northern Ontario (northwestern and northeastern), 36% were from the rest of Canada, and the remainder international or unknown. Respondents include nuclear industry employees, Indigenous people, residents of Ignace and members of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, and residents from across northern Ontario and across Canada.

Overwhelmingly, respondents expressed a negative view of NWMO operations:

94% were not confident that the NWMO’s safety culture would keep Canadians safe.
A very large majority found that NWMO communications were not transparent or honest.
93% were not confident in the NWMO’s ability to implement the safe, long-term management of nuclear fuel waste.
94% were not confident that NWMO’s work aligned with Reconciliation or Indigenous Knowledge.
96% were not comfortable with the nuclear industry being in charge of the NWMO
92% did not believe that the siting process was fair or gained the necessary consent

Every year the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) releases their annual report and a five year “implementation plan” which – according to the NWMO – sets out what the nuclear waste corporation will be doing over the coming years. The NWMO also invites feedback through a survey. WTNFN has heard from many that they are reluctant to provide the NWMO with their personal information, and they are uncertain how the NWMO will use their responses. Providing an alternative means for Canadians to express their views motivated the deployment of an alternate survey.

“We think it’s important to hear the views and responses of Canadians to the NWMO’s plans and proposal to transport, process, bury and then abandon the high-level nuclear fuel waste from all Canadian reactors at the NWMO’s selected site in the heart of Treaty #3 territory in northwestern Ontario”, explained Brennain Lloyd, project coordinator with Northwatch and a volunteer with We the Nuclear Free North.

Lloyd explained that potential respondents were invited to take five minutes and complete the simple survey, with the assurance that their personal information would be used only to verify responses and would not be shared with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization or government, or any other parties.

The results of the survey have been reported by We the Nuclear Free North to the federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, along with a letter summarizing key messages from the survey results and providing backgrounders on the NWMO project, site selection and public and Indigenous opposition. A copy of the survey report has also been provided to the NWMO.

In writing to the federal Ministers, the group also conveyed that throughout the NWMO’s lengthy siting processes there have been many expressions of opposition to and rejection of the NWMO’s siting process and their project.

“These expressions have come in many forms, including resolutions passed by Grand Council Treaty #3 just weeks before the NWMO announced the selection of the Revell site – in the heart of Treaty #3 territory – in November 2024. More recently, Eagle Lake First Nation has initiated legal action against the NWMO’s site selection. Earlier resolutions have been passed by Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Anishnabek Nation, and many First Nations and municipalities” commented Wendy O’Connor, a volunteer with Nuclear Free Thunder Bay and We the Nuclear Free North.

The group has requested to meet with the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and will be seeking meetings with Members of Parliament who represent northeastern and northwestern Ontario ridings throughout the summer break.

June 15, 2025 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, public opinion, wastes | Leave a comment

Revulsion for Israel surges worldwide, new survey finds

Ali Abunimah Rights and Accountability 4 June 2025, https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/revulsion-israel-surges-worldwide-new-survey-finds

Twenty months into its livestreamed and accelerating genocide in Gaza, it would hardly be controversial to conclude that Israel is one of the world’s most hated countries.

But a new global survey from the US-based Pew Research Center indicates just how unpopular it has become, especially in the North American and European states where Tel Aviv has always drawn its main sources of financial, military and political support.

“In 20 of the 24 countries surveyed, around half of adults or more have an unfavorable view of Israel,” Pew reported on 3 June. “Around three-quarters or more hold this view in Australia, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.”

Pew says it last asked the question in 10 of the countries included in its new survey in 2013. “In seven of these countries, the share of adults with a negative view of Israel has increased significantly.”

Israel was most unpopular in Turkey, with 93 percent of respondents viewing it unfavorably. Turkey was the only country in the immediate region of Palestine to be surveyed by Pew.

Among European publics surveyed, Israel was viewed most negatively in the Netherlands (78 percent), a remarkable fact in a country whose governments have traditionally been staunchly pro-Israel.

Even in Hungary – whose leader Viktor Orban welcomed Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest earlier this year in spite of the international arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister – 53 percent of the public views Israel negatively.

Historic shift in US

In the United States – Israel’s biggest financier and arms supplier – 53 percent of those surveyed now have a negative view of Israel – an 11-point surge since 2022, according to Pew.

In recent years, surveys have consistently found that Israel is overwhelmingly unpopular with majorities of Democrats, younger Americans and people of color.

But it is an entirely new phenomenon for a majority of the US population overall to view Israel negatively.

The erosion of support for Israel in the United States – particularly among younger people – has long worried Israel and its lobby groups as a potential threat to long-term US support for Israel.

That likely explains why the Trump administration has focused its unconstitutional crackdown on free speech critical of Israel on college campuses, in an effort to scare the younger generation into line.

The turn to heavy-handed censorship, not just in the US but across Europe, is also an admission that efforts to equate disapproval of Israel’s crimes with anti-Semitism, or to burnish its brand with expensive PR campaigns, can do nothing against the horrific reality streamed daily from Gaza to peoples phones.

Break on the American right?

In many of the countries where it conducted surveys, Pew observes that “people who place themselves on the left have a more negative view of Israel than those on the right.”

But that ideological gap is most pronounced in the US, according to Pew, where “74 percent of liberals have a negative view of Israel, compared with 30 percent of conservatives.”

Still, in an April survey of Americans, Pew found a sharp rise in the number of Republican voters who view Israel unfavorably – from 27 percent to 37 percent – indicating that Israel is losing support across the political spectrum.

In recent years, there has been a notable new phenomenon of prominent right-wing commentators, like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Judge Andrew Napolitano, voicing skepticism and sometimes harsh criticism of Israel and US support for it that once seemed unthinkable.

The rise of Israel skeptics within the Trump administration and the US right more generally has reportedly led Netanyahu to confide in close aides that “that he misjudged the direction the US was taking on Israel and the broader Middle East,” Israel’s Ynet reported.

With notable standouts like Napolitano, a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights on moral grounds, the break in the pro-Israel consensus on the American right is driven more by disagreements about where Israel fits into an “America First” vision and a perception that Israel pushes for the US to engage in disastrous wars on its behalf.

To be sure, whatever ill feeling there may be in the White House toward Israel and its leader has not resulted in any US pressure on Israel to halt the genocide.

Israel’s reputation tanks in Europe

Public pressure does nevertheless seem to be having an effect in other Western countries, where staunchly pro-Israel governments are stepping up their criticism of Israel.

In May, France, the United Kingdom and Canada threatened Israel with unspecified “concrete actions” if it does not end its starvation siege of Gaza.

And just last week, Ireland became the first Western country and member of the EU to declare at the highest level that Israel is perpetrating genocide in Gaza.

The European Union is also “reviewing” its Association Agreement with Israel, amid growing calls to suspend the lucrative trade deal.

Given that the EU recently bragged about adopting its 17th sanctions “package” against Russia since 2022, these declarations about Israel appear woefully late and inadequate.

With Israel openly exterminating Palestinians, through relentless bombing and starvation, Brussels has yet to impose anything other than token sanctions on Tel Aviv.

And yet, there are signs of movement. Spain this week canceled a $310 million arms purchase from Israeli weapons company Rafael amid reported moves by Madrid “to reduce Spain’s reliance on Israeli defense technology in light of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza.”

In Spain, according to Pew, 75 percent of the public holds a negative view of Israel.

These moves may be little and late, but they would likely not have happened at all without constant, vocal public outrage at Israel’s crimes and the complicity of European and other governments.

They are signs that public pressure and protest matter and are more important than ever to bring a halt to this genocide.

June 8, 2025 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Israel, public opinion | Leave a comment

80% of Ontarians want the province to cancel its contract for GE-Hitachi nuclear reactors.

Ontario Clean Air Alliance, https://www.cleanairalliance.org/poll-report/

Polling conducted in May 2025 by Oraclepoll Research shows that 80% of Ontarians want the province to cancel its contract for GE-Hitachi nuclear reactors, while 70% prefer lower cost solar and wind power.

The poll also finds majority support for Great Lakes offshore wind power; expansion of Canada’s east-west electricity grid to increase Ontario’s ability to import water, wind and solar power from Manitoba, Quebec and the Maritimes; and no-money-down, zero-interest financing for electric heat pumps to reduce our dependency on American gas for home heating.

Read the polling results here (PDF)

Cross tabulation of results (Excel file)

May 19, 2025 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, public opinion | Leave a comment

Ontarians overwhelmingly say no to new nuclear.

Ontario Clean Air Alliance, 17 May 2025

The people of Ontario overwhelmingly oppose building American-designed reactors at the Darlington Nuclear Station and much prefer lower cost and more secure solar and wind energy according to polling done for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance by Oraclepoll Research.

Eighty percent (80%) of Ontarians think the province should cancel its contract for GE-Hitachi reactors that will require American-produced enriched uranium to operate. That is a stunning number that reflects a consensus that we rarely see on any issue these days.

Similarly, a huge majority of Ontarians think this province should be investing in low-cost, safe renewable power rather than U.S. nuclear reactors, with 70% saying wind and solar are the better choices. Two-thirds of Ontarians think we should be developing wind power projects in the Great Lakes, for example, as long as proper environmental protection measures are taken.

Expanding our electricity connections with our neighbours in Manitoba and Quebec is a complete no-brainer for the people of this province with 88% fully in favour. In addition, 72% think our electric utilities should provide no-money-down, zero-interest financing for the installation of electric heat pumps to make it easier for Ontarians to reduce their use of American gas for home heating.

The priorities of the people of Ontario couldn’t be clearer: we want a strong, independent renewable energy system that makes the most of our advantages, like harnessing the steady and strong winds of the Great Lakes, and cooperating with our provincial neighbours. Support for increasing dependence on an erratic U.S. government couldn’t be lower. In fact, spending tens of billions of dollars on American nuclear technology strikes eight out of ten Ontarians as a bad choice.

So why does our Premier not understand this? Why is his government gung-ho on an outdated, expensive and risky way of meeting our growing electricity demands? Why does he want to line the pockets of American companies and put Ontarians at the mercy of American decision makers?…….

Angela Bischoff, Director

P.S. About the poll: This was a telephone survey of 1,200 Ontario residents 18 years and older in the second week of May 2025. The margin of error for a sample this size is 2.8% 19 times out of 20.

May 19, 2025 Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion | Leave a comment

Six in 10 Americans Support US Participation in a Nuclear Agreement with Iran.

Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 30 Apr 25

Majorities of Democrats and Independents support a potential deal similar to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but only a minority of Republicans agree.

For the first time since the United States withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), American and Iranian officials held direct talks to negotiate a new nuclear deal. These talks come amid reports of Iran’s rapid production of enriched uranium and acceleration of its nuclear weapons program.

A recent Chicago Council on Global Affairs-Ipsos survey, fielded April 18–20, 2025, finds a majority of Americans consider a nuclearized Iran unacceptable and believe the United States should negotiate a deal with Tehran to limit its development. While Democrats and Independents support a deal that would trade sanctions relief for limitations on Iranian nuclear enrichment, Republicans oppose such a tradeoff. However, they may end up following US President Donald Trump’s lead if current negotiations bear fruit.

Key Findings

Eight in 10 Americans oppose Iran obtaining nuclear weapons (79%) and favor taking diplomatic steps (83%) or tightening economic sanctions (80%) to limit further nuclear enrichment.
A smaller majority of Americans believe the United States should participate in an agreement that lifts some international economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for strict limits on its nuclear program (61%).
Partisan differences on a nuclear agreement are striking: 78 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of Independents support US participation in a deal with Iran compared to just 40 percent of Republicans.
If diplomacy or economic sanctions fail, many Americans are willing to take more forceful approaches: Six in 10 support the United States conducting cyberattacks against Iranian computer systems (59%), and half support conducting airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities (48%).
A majority oppose sending US troops to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities (60%).

Americans Favor Diplomatic Approach to Iranian Nuclear Development

The 2015 JCPOA, or the Iran Deal, was a landmark agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany) that limited Iranian nuclear enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief and other provisions. While it was initially successful in limiting Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, the United States withdrew from the deal in 2018, as the first Trump administration considered it insufficient in curbing Iran’s ballistic missile program and protecting American regional interests. Upon the US withdrawal from the agreement, Iran promptly lifted the cap on its stockpile of uranium and increased its enrichment activities; it has since reached weapons-grade levels of enriched uranium.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Conclusion

Although US President Donald Trump has not ruled out using military action to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, he said he favors a diplomatic agreement to address this issue. Recently, Trump administration officials have given contradictory remarks about current talks, and they have yet to specify how renewed negotiations will produce an agreement more stringent and impactful than its predecessor.

The pressure is on American diplomats to secure a deal that would limit Tehran’s nuclear enrichment without providing the sanctions relief that could potentially fund Iran’s efforts to further destabilize the Middle East or threaten the United States’ regional allies, including Israel. While the outcome of these negotiations remains to be seen, the public continues to express a preference for using diplomatic or economic coercion than direct military action. https://globalaffairs.org/research/public-opinion-survey/six-10-americans-support-us-participation-nuclear-agreement-iran?fbclid=IwY2xjawKA64xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFISGV5ZEdSZW16a2ZnQzh3AR7iwwVkEnczI_DJHzOGHWvNWeSlg2xdd9YJCsBz0_OiQmJcM48Ujd0ZNX8ZNQ_aem_5kroZ8t3KQ5RgYf4EfYdDA

May 3, 2025 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, public opinion, USA | Leave a comment

93% say NO: latest polls in Lincolnshire condemn nuke dump plan

In yet another demonstration that the people of East Lincolnshire are a far from ‘willing community’, recent polling at public events hosted by Nuclear Waste Services and amongst the parishioners of Gayton-le-Marsh have delivered a resounding NO vote to any plans to bring a nuclear waste dump to the area.

Nuclear Waste Service have recently resolved to move its Area of Focus in the Theddlethorpe GDF Search Area from the former Conoco gas terminal inland to 1,000 acres of prime farmland between the villages of Great Carlton and Gayton-le-Marsh.

NWS has held a series of information meetings to explain their decision. Theddlethorpe and Withern Councillor Travis Hesketh and activists from the Guardians of the East Coast established a polling booth outside events held in Gayton-le-Marsh, Strubby, Beesby, Maltby-le-Marsh, Great Carlton, Little Carlton, Withern, Theddlethorpe, Legbourne, Grimoldby, Manby and Saltfleetby, and invited members of the public to cast their secret ballot on the latest iteration of NWS’s plans to bring a Geological Disposal Facility to the area.

Of the 535 residents attending the events, 93% voted in the secret ballot; of these 93% voted for the process to be ended or for a Test of Public Support to be held now.

24th February 2025

93% say NO: latest polls in Lincolnshire condemn nuke dump plan

Of the 535 residents attending the events, 93% voted in the secret ballot; of these 93% voted for the process to be ended or for a Test of Public Support to be held now.

Carlton Parish Council has previously passed a resolution calling for an immediate Test of Public Support, and the villagers of Gayton-le-Marsh made a similar resolution in a parish poll. 80% of parishioners participated, with 106 residents or 91% calling for the proposal to be withdrawn and 108 or 93% seeking a Test of Public Support.

These are the two latest blows in a whole series showered on Nuclear Waste Services, who must by now be punch-drunk, with most local Parish and Town Councils also passing resolutions calling for an immediate withdrawal or Test of Public Support.

In the last local elections held in 2023, a slate of anti-dump candidates was elected in wards within the Theddlethorpe GDF Search Area to East Lindsey District Council, Mablethorpe and Sutton Town Council, and local parish councils.

Surveys carried out by Guardians of the East Coast have previously indicated at least 85% are opposed to the nuclear waste dump plan.

The local Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle Victoria Atkins has expressed her opposition to the plan and even the Leader of East Lindsey District Council Councillor Craig Leyland has had a change of heart indicating that he shall now be recommending to his Executive that the Council withdraw from the process.

To the NFLAs, Nuclear Waste Services continued efforts to pursue a GDF in East Lincolnshire represents the ultimate exercise in futility, for there are NO conceivable circumstances in which this will ever be a ‘willing community’.

February 27, 2025 Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion, UK, wastes | 1 Comment

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