Nuclear power

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5166142.stm

The different attitude to nuclear power is amazing. In France about 80% of electricity comes from nuclear power stations and they are built pretty near to where people live - our nearest is in Blaye, about 30 miles downstream (and upwind...).

I was talking to someone about the British distrust of nuclear power and he laughed. "They're not going to build a Chernobyl in France!" he said. Of course, for the British mind, that's exactly what we suspect they will build in Britain.

I don't think the safety record is dramatically different. It's just that in France nuclear power is seen as safe, modern, clean and practical. In Britain it is seen as dangerous, new-fangled, dirty and expensive.

The government and EDF work very hard to encourage this positive attitude to nuclear power.

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