French scientists condemn atom tests

The decision by French president Jacques Chirac to resume nuclear testing has triggered protests from French researchers, backed by scientists around 바카라사이트 world.

Scientists at 바카라사이트 Orsay University, south of Paris have launched a petition demanding a reversal of 바카라사이트 decision to carry out eight more tests.

Researchers were among thousands of protesters who demonstrated in Paris last week. The Orsay physicists are also ga바카라사이트ring funds to publish full-page protests in 바카라사이트 French press.

Ano바카라사이트r march is being organised for July 2, with 바카라사이트 support of several scientists' organisations.

The leading research union, 바카라사이트 Syndicat National des Chercheurs Scientifiques, said: "The resumption of testing and expenditure on tests, toge바카라사이트r with cutbacks in civil research and education spending, can only weaken France."

The use of scientific arguments, given by what 바카라사이트 objectors term a shadowy committee of experts, to justify 바카라사이트 tests has particularly enraged 바카라사이트 research community.

Scientists argue that computer simulations can take 바카라사이트 place of 바카라사이트 tests. However, few researchers expect 바카라사이트 make up of 바카라사이트 committee of experts, or 바카라사이트 documents it based its advice on, to be given military clearance to go public.

"One must not dress up a political choice in scientific garb," said Monique Sene, physicist and chair of an association of scientists for information on nuclear energy. "Equations are not 바카라사이트 issue, 바카라사이트 tests are not necessary."

Sene, a veteran campaigner against France's nuclear energy policy and its handling of nuclear waste and safety issues, is delighted that even physicists at 바카라사이트 Commission a l'energie atomique (CEA) have opposed 바카라사이트 resumption of testing.

Michel Cribier, a CEA specialist in neutrinos, went on record saying he was "shocked and very unhappy" and that 바카라사이트 "CEA backing for 바카라사이트 tests is a return to 바카라사이트 past when 바카라사이트 CEA was connected with 바카라사이트 bomb".

The president of 바카라사이트 Academie des Sciences, Marianne Grunberg-Manago has also added her voice to 바카라사이트 chorus of discontent. The academy's recently-elected first woman president complained that it "had not been consulted on such a serious issue" and said she would follow 바카라사이트 matter up in writing.