Anti-nuclear movement in France: Difference between revisions
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In 2004, an anti-nuclear protester was run over by a train carrying [[radioactive waste]].<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/nov/10/worlddispatch.france Fatality fuels anti-nuclear protest]</ref> In 2005, thousands of anti-nuclear demonstrators marched to commemorate the 1986 [[Chernobyl disaster]] and demand an end to government plans to build a nuclear plant in western France.<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-107789734.html Thousands march in anti-nuclear protest in western France]</ref> |
In 2004, an anti-nuclear protester was run over by a train carrying [[radioactive waste]].<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/nov/10/worlddispatch.france Fatality fuels anti-nuclear protest]</ref> In 2005, thousands of anti-nuclear demonstrators marched to commemorate the 1986 [[Chernobyl disaster]] and demand an end to government plans to build a nuclear plant in western France.<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-107789734.html Thousands march in anti-nuclear protest in western France]</ref> |
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On March 17 2007, simultaneous protests, organised by [[Sortir du nucléaire (France)|Sortir du nucléaire]] (Get Out of Nuclear Power), were staged in 5 French towns to protest construction of [[European Pressurized Reactor|EPR]] plants; [[Rennes]], [[Lyon]], [[Toulouse]], [[Lille]], and [[Strasbourg]]. <ref name=NEI>{{cite news |
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On April 26, 2007 (the 21st anniversary of the [[Chernobyl disaster]]) around 30 protesters blocked entrances and chained themselves to cranes at the EPR site in [[Flamanville, Manche|Flamanville]], some remaining on the site for 24 hours. A truck was also parked in front of the entrance to block its access.<ref name=NEI2>{{cite news |
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| publisher =''Nuclear Engineering International'' |
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In 2008, twenty [[Greenpeace]] activists delayed construction of a new nuclear reactor being built in [[Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant|Flamanville]] for 50 hours.<ref>[http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/greenpeace-activists-block-french-nuclear-reactor260608# Greenpeace activists block restart of French nuclear reactor construction]</ref> In July 2008 there were a series of accidents at the French nuclear site Tricastin-Pierrelatte, and Greenpeace France launched two court cases in an effort to find out more details about these.<ref>[http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/french-nuclear-industry-sued010808 Greenpeace to sue French Nuclear Industry]</ref> In August 2008, ''Sortir du nucléaire'' called [[Areva]]'s radioactive emissions 'very dangerous' and sought an official safety inspection of its factories.<ref>[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article4479848.ece Concern over French nuclear safety]</ref> |
In 2008, twenty [[Greenpeace]] activists delayed construction of a new nuclear reactor being built in [[Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant|Flamanville]] for 50 hours.<ref>[http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/greenpeace-activists-block-french-nuclear-reactor260608# Greenpeace activists block restart of French nuclear reactor construction]</ref> In July 2008 there were a series of accidents at the French nuclear site Tricastin-Pierrelatte, and Greenpeace France launched two court cases in an effort to find out more details about these.<ref>[http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/french-nuclear-industry-sued010808 Greenpeace to sue French Nuclear Industry]</ref> In August 2008, ''Sortir du nucléaire'' called [[Areva]]'s radioactive emissions 'very dangerous' and sought an official safety inspection of its factories.<ref>[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article4479848.ece Concern over French nuclear safety]</ref> |
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Revision as of 19:37, 10 June 2009
In the 1970s, an anti-nuclear movement in France, consisting of citizens' groups and political action committees, emerged. There were many large anti-nuclear protests and demonstrations. More recently, targeted campaigns have been conducted, mainly by Greenpeace, and Sortir du nucléaire (France) has called for an official safety inspection of Areva facilities.
History
France began a nuclear power program in the 1950s and announced a shift to the Westinghouse light water reactor in 1969. Following the 1973 oil crisis, the government announced a dramatic increase in planned nuclear capacity. These major decisions were put forward as a fait accompli, with no opportunity for meaningful parliamentary debate.[1] An intense extra-parliamentary opposition, of citizens' groups and political action committees, emerged. In the 1970s, there were many large and dramatic anti-nuclear protests and demonstrations in France.[1]
In 1971, 15,000 people demonstrated against French plans to locate the first light -water reactor power plant in Bugey. This was the first of a series of mass protests organized at nearly every planned nuclear site until the massive demonstration at the Superphénix breeder reactor in Creys-Malvillein in 1977 culminated in violence.[2]
Recent developments
In 2004, an anti-nuclear protester was run over by a train carrying radioactive waste.[3] In 2005, thousands of anti-nuclear demonstrators marched to commemorate the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and demand an end to government plans to build a nuclear plant in western France.[4]
On March 17 2007, simultaneous protests, organised by Sortir du nucléaire (Get Out of Nuclear Power), were staged in 5 French towns to protest construction of EPR plants; Rennes, Lyon, Toulouse, Lille, and Strasbourg. [5][6]
On April 26, 2007 (the 21st anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster) around 30 protesters blocked entrances and chained themselves to cranes at the EPR site in Flamanville, some remaining on the site for 24 hours. A truck was also parked in front of the entrance to block its access.[7]
In 2008, twenty Greenpeace activists delayed construction of a new nuclear reactor being built in Flamanville for 50 hours.[8] In July 2008 there were a series of accidents at the French nuclear site Tricastin-Pierrelatte, and Greenpeace France launched two court cases in an effort to find out more details about these.[9] In August 2008, Sortir du nucléaire called Areva's radioactive emissions 'very dangerous' and sought an official safety inspection of its factories.[10]
See also
- Dominique Voynet
- France and weapons of mass destruction
- Nuclear power in France
- Stéphane Lhomme
- Mycle Schneider
- André Larivière
- Solange Fernex
- Jean-Luc Bennahmias
- List of anti-nuclear power groups
- List of books about nuclear issues
- List of Chernobyl-related articles
- List of nuclear whistleblowers
- List of Nuclear-Free Future Award recipients
References
- ^ a b Nelkin, Dorothy and Michael Pollak, "Ideology as Strategy: The Discourse of the Anti-Nuclear Movement in France and Germany" Science, Technology, & Human Values, Vol. 5, No. 30 (Winter, 1980), p. 3.
- ^ Nelkin, Dorothy and Michael Pollak (1982). The Atom Beseiged: Antinuclear Movements in France and Germany, ASIN: B0011LXE0A, p. 3.
- ^ Fatality fuels anti-nuclear protest
- ^ Thousands march in anti-nuclear protest in western France
- ^ "French protests over EPR". Nuclear Engineering International. 2007-04-03. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "France hit by anti-nuclear protests". Evening Echo. 2007-04-03. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Greenpeace assault on EPR". Nuclear Engineering International. 2007-05-01. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Greenpeace activists block restart of French nuclear reactor construction
- ^ Greenpeace to sue French Nuclear Industry
- ^ Concern over French nuclear safety
Further reading
- Touraine, Alain, Zsuzska Hegedus, Francois Dubet, and Michael Wieviorka (1982). Anti-nuclear protest: The Opposition to Nuclear Energy in France, Cambridge University Press.