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| 1956, April |
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| First protest march against atomic weapons research, at Aldermaston. | 1 |
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| July 26 |
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| President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt announced that the Suez Canal would be “nationalized.” This threat to British communications with the East produced a critical situation in which the cabinet considered military intervention. | 2 |
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| Aug. 20 |
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| The first turbine using nuclear fuel to produce electricity went into operation at Calder Hall. In addition to generating some 90,000 kilowatts of power, the facility was also designed to manufacture plutonium for military purposes. | 3 |
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| Oct. 30 |
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| Following the Israeli attack on Egypt (Oct. 29), Britain and France invaded the Suez (See 1956, Oct. 29). | 4 |
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| Dec. 17 |
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| Petrol (gasoline) rationing went into effect as a result of the Suez crisis. | 5 |
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