nuclear-news

French authorities try to silence anti-nuclear protest

Beyond Nuclear, Linda Gunter 25 Sept 09 With 10,000 people or more already expected to gather in the French border town of Colmar for an anti-nuclear rally on October 3, local authorities are attempting to renege on their agreement to allow the demonstration.

The rally, which will call for the phase-out of the nearby 30-year old Fessenheim reactor, the oldest in France, coincides with an expected decision to extend the reactor license for another 10 years. But now the prefect of Upper Rhine and the mayor of Colmar, both nuclear power advocates, are trying to move the rally out of the town center and away from the media spotlight.

Raising the specter of “German rioters”, news reports claim the authorities are preparing tear gas-armed police to disperse the rally. Beyond Nuclear joined many others in writing to the two officials, pointing out that their decision further confirms that the French nuclear system and democracy are incompatible.

September 25, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, radioactive, uranium