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Adding to the nuclear debate - à la française
by Johnny Summerton | June 21, 2008 at 09:23 am
189 views | 24 Recommendations | 8 comments
There have been quite a few postings recently on NP over the pros and cons of nuclear power.
Without wanting to add to the polemic, I thought I would just highlight a story on how France is going about selling its expertise in building nuclear power stations to the rest of the world - only for civilian purposes of course.
France and Algeria have signed an agreement on civil nuclear co-operation during a visit to Algiers by the French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon.
Mr Fillon described the agreement as a sign of a "transformation" in the countries' ties.
You might also remember that during his - shall we say - controversial visit to France last December the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, also signed a deal to buy a French built and designed nuclear reactor - for purely civilian purposes of course.
Clearly there's big money to be made (for the French at least) in this Green energy business.
June 21, 2008 at 09:23 am by Johnny Summerton, 189 views, 8 comments
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 11:29 on June 21st, 2008
Indeed, the profit potential is huge, as are the PR hurdles. Thanks for posting this.
at 16:25 on June 21st, 2008
Johnny Summerton, thanks for sharing.
I'd rather see a return to the stone age vs an increase in nuclear power.
Can you imagine if McCain's proposed 45 new nuclear power plants were built along the Mississippi?
Or, how about in a high earthquake zone?
Where can anyone guarantee safety, given the 200,000 year half life of radiation?
What are we, stupid?? (ok dont answer that)
at 18:10 on June 21st, 2008
Right on, Felton Barch!
at 18:09 on June 21st, 2008
Johnny Summerton, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I agree entirely with the comment by Felton Barch.
I might just add that, yes, I think 'we' have been stupid about a lot of things impacting our health and habitat –so far!
I'm wondering how long it will take our species to evolve the higher intelligence necessary to enable us to 'manage' the predators, privateers, profiteers and pushers who are doing all they can to 'have their way with us' in order to meet their 'profit' targets.
at 18:18 on June 21st, 2008
Johnny Summerton, definitely an 'exceptional partnership'! Peaceful use of nuclear energy, a military pact, and banking agreements? Any idea what the latter 2 consist of?
at 22:16 on June 21st, 2008
Johnny Summerton, I like this story. It's good stuff.
what i do not understand when we have so much untapped alternate energy like solar wind etc.is their a need for nuclear plant.Or Maybe nuclear plants are new means of corruption for buerocrats and politicians as days of big hydel dams ae over.
at 23:23 on June 21st, 2008
Rhonda - to answer your questions (and after having scrolled through the French sites) - Fillon was accompanied on the trip by head honchos from ship builders DCNS and the Airbus parent company EADS. The aim is to get Algeria interested in buying French frigates and helicopters - for non-civilian purposes (one assumes).
Nothing too fishy in the "banking agreement" really. It's just a protocol to make it easier for French companies to set up shop in Algeria by giving tax and insurance breaks.
Thanks for the flag.
at 05:59 on June 22nd, 2008
Johnny Summerton, thanks! You are also very welcome!