Difference between revisions of "Anti-nuclear movement in France"

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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.  
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In the 1970s, an '''anti-nuclear movement in France''', consisting of citizens' groups and political action committees, emerged. There were many large [[w:anti-nuclear]] protests and demonstrations.  More recently, targeted campaigns have been conducted, mainly by [[w:Greenpeace]], and [[w:Sortir du nucléaire (France)]] has called for an official safety inspection of [[w:Areva]] facilities.  
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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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.<ref name=dor>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.</ref>  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.<ref name=dor/>  
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France began a [[w: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.<ref name=dor>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.</ref>  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.<ref name=dor/>  
  
 
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
 
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
 
a series of mass protests organized at nearly every planned nuclear site
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until the massive demonstration at the [[Superphénix]] breeder reactor in
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until the massive demonstration at the [[w:Superphénix]] breeder reactor in
 
Creys-Malvillein in 1977 culminated in violence.<ref>Nelkin, Dorothy and Michael Pollak (1982). ''[http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/chapters/026264021Xchap1.pdf The Atom Beseiged: Antinuclear Movements in France and Germany]'', ASIN: B0011LXE0A, p. 3.</ref>
 
Creys-Malvillein in 1977 culminated in violence.<ref>Nelkin, Dorothy and Michael Pollak (1982). ''[http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/chapters/026264021Xchap1.pdf The Atom Beseiged: Antinuclear Movements in France and Germany]'', ASIN: B0011LXE0A, p. 3.</ref>
  
 
==Recent developments==
 
==Recent developments==
  
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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>  
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In 2004, an anti-nuclear protester was run over by a train carrying [[w: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 [[w: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]].
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On [[w:March 17]] [[w:2007]] simultaneous protests, organised by [[w:Sortir du nucléaire (France)|Sortir du nucléaire]] (Get Out of Nuclear Power), were staged in 5 French towns to protest construction of [[w:European Pressurized Reactor|EPR]] plants; [[w:Rennes]], [[w:Lyon]], [[w:Toulouse]], [[w:Lille]], and [[w:Strasbourg]].
  
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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>
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In 2008, twenty [[w:Greenpeace]] activists delayed construction of a new nuclear reactor being built in [[w: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 [[w: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>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 09:50, 20 September 2008

In the 1970s, an anti-nuclear movement in France, consisting of citizens' groups and political action committees, emerged. There were many large w:anti-nuclear protests and demonstrations. More recently, targeted campaigns have been conducted, mainly by w:Greenpeace, and w:Sortir du nucléaire (France) has called for an official safety inspection of w:Areva facilities.

History

France began a w: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 w: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 w:radioactive waste.[3] In 2005, thousands of anti-nuclear demonstrators marched to commemorate the 1986 w:Chernobyl disaster and demand an end to government plans to build a nuclear plant in western France.[4]

On w:March 17 w: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; w:Rennes, w:Lyon, w:Toulouse, w:Lille, and w:Strasbourg.

In 2008, twenty w:Greenpeace activists delayed construction of a new nuclear reactor being built in Flamanville for 50 hours.[5] 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.[6] In August 2008, Sortir du nucléaire called w:Areva's radioactive emissions 'very dangerous' and sought an official safety inspection of its factories.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 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.
  2. ↑ Nelkin, Dorothy and Michael Pollak (1982). The Atom Beseiged: Antinuclear Movements in France and Germany, ASIN: B0011LXE0A, p. 3.
  3. ↑ Fatality fuels anti-nuclear protest
  4. ↑ Thousands march in anti-nuclear protest in western France
  5. ↑ Greenpeace activists block restart of French nuclear reactor construction
  6. ↑ Greenpeace to sue French Nuclear Industry
  7. ↑ 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.

External links

Retrieved from "http://nuclear-heritage.net/index.php?title=Anti-nuclear_movement_in_France&oldid=3662"