Nuclear Power? No Thanks
International symbol of the anti-nuclear movement since 1975.
The Smiling Sun—officially the "Nuclear Power? No Thanks" logo—is a globally recognized emblem of the anti-nuclear movement. Created in 1975 by Anne Lund, a 21-year-old Danish activist with no design background, it was trademarked two years later. The logo posed a polite question—“Nuclear Power?”—and gave a clear answer: “No Thanks,” aiming to spark dialogue rather than confrontation. By the late 1970s and 1980s, it had spread worldwide. In 2005, BBC News noted that few symbols had become “as instantly recognizable across the world,” and even the nuclear industry acknowledged its “power and success.” Over 20 million badges have been produced in more than 60 languages, including Danish, Korean, Swedish, English, Arabic, Hebrew, Norwegian, and Russian.
The design originated at a house in Klostergade 6-8, Aarhus, Denmark, which still stands. In 1983, a mural of the Smiling Sun was painted near that location, at the crossing of Vestergade and Emil Vetts Passage. It was nearly demolished in 2008 due to real estate development but saved by public protests and later restored. After the 2011 Fukushima disaster, a new version appeared for renewable energy, reading “Renewable Energy Yes Please!” on a green background with a yellow sun.
The logo is an internationally registered trademark, protected against alteration and commercial or partisan political use. Anti-nuclear groups can apply for user rights through the OOA Fund in Denmark. Several political parties have licensed it, including Italy’s Federation of Green Lists, Federation of the Greens, and Green Europe; Taiwan’s Green Party; Malta’s Democratic Alternative; and groups like Alternative Ecologists, United Left/The Greens–Assembly for Andalusia, and Initiative for Catalonia Greens. A variation is used by Ökologische Linke.
In recent years, the logo has regained prominence to raise awareness and funds for anti-nuclear groups, especially in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where opposition grows against extending old reactors and building new ones.
A pro-nuclear response, “Nuclear Power? Yes Please,” emerged around 2008, inspired by the original but arguing that nuclear power can be a sustainable, environmentally-friendly option if safely regulated. Commentators like George Monbiot have supported this view, stating in 2016 that preventing climate breakdown should be the priority, and that nuclear power, wh
- designed_by
- Anne Lund
- year_designed
- 1975
- field
- Anti-nuclear activism, graphic design
- nationality
- Danish
- known_for
- Smiling Sun logo (Nuclear Power? No Thanks)
- trademarked
- 1977
Lore & Background
The Smiling Sun logo was designed in 1975 by 21-year-old Danish activist and designer Anne Lund, who was part of the Danish Organisationen til Oplysning om Atomkraft (OOA). At the time of creating the logo she had no prior design experience. The logo was trademarked in 1977. By posing the question "Nuclear Power?" and providing a concise answer, "No Thanks", the logo was intended to express polite dissent and to stimulate dialogue. The house where Lund designed the original symbol can still be seen in Klostergade 6-8, Aarhus, Denmark.
In 1983, a mural of the Smiling Sun was painted near the crossing of Vestergade and Emil Vetts Passage in Aarhus, near the location where it was originally designed by Lund. In 2008, it was almost destroyed because of real estate developments, but protests by its admirers succeeded in keeping it intact. More recently, it was restored.
Reader's Guide
The Smiling Sun logo has become one of the most recognizable symbols worldwide, with BBC News reporting in 2005 that few symbols had become "as instantly recognizable across the world," and even the nuclear power industry had recognized the logo's "power and success." Over 20 million Smiling Sun badges have been produced in over 60 languages. In recent years the logo has been playing a prominent role once again to raise awareness and funding for anti-nuclear groups, especially in Germany, Austria and Switzerland where opposition is growing to plans for extending the operation of old nuclear reactors and constructing new ones. The logo is an internationally registered trademark, protected against alteration and commercial or partisan political use. Anti-nuclear groups may apply for user rights to the OOA Fund in Denmark. After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, a new version was released for renewable energy, with the statement "Renewable Energy Yes Please!" on a green background with a yellow sun.
Did You Know?
- The logo was designed by 21-year-old Anne Lund, who had no prior design experience.
- Over 20 million Smiling Sun badges have been produced in over 60 languages.
- The house where Lund designed the original symbol can still be seen in Klostergade 6-8, Aarhus, Denmark.
- After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, a version with 'Renewable Energy Yes Please!' was released.
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