Second Russian National Dialogue On Energy, Society And Security

Second Russian National Dialogue on ENERGY, SOCIETY AND SECURITYI am partial to the method of participation of French citizens which consists ofthe public at large before the debate or public inquiry to maintain a questioning andmore importantly a non-aggressive attitude through the debates. We should rememberthat industrials are citizens. So they need a safe environment for themselves and theirfamilies as well, they are also part of our world.So in conclusion, I’d like to offer the audience a question: Let’s think about theconditions which are allowed to perpetuate a democratic functioning. Which guaranteedo we have that these conditions will be respected?And now, let me introduce Mrs. Anne-Marie Duchemin, member of Council ofDevelopment of Pays du Cotentin, belonging to an environment protection association,who will express her point of view.Aarhus Convention has existed since June 25, 1998 and it was signed by our twocountries. Its aims are to give the citizens the right to a healthy environment, informationconcerning the evolution of their environment and the access to justice, if the abovementioned regulations are not respected.The field of this convention is immense and critical for all of us, but its applicationsin the French laws are too far slow and absolutely unknown by the population. Thankyou so much for giving us such an opportunity to speak to you about these issues. Thisis quite unusual and I wish we could see this convention more accessible in the future.I’d like to share some examples of the application in France, some positive results andwhat other fields of thought that they can lead to. Although we are allowed to express ouropposition, to criticize, to suggest, as expected in the text, there hasn’t been any tangiblereal result so far.I’ll tell you some recent examples on our territory. First of all, there is the verysensitive topic of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The access by publicto objective information is reduced by the industry. Through new technologies,organizations driven by private citizens try to share information they have, try to proceedin trial actions and to bring with them the necessary local documents. Another point:the building of EPR, the new reactor in Flamanville, France, illustrates a disregard ofthe Aarhus Convention. It was voted by our Parliament on May 20, 2004 in spite of theAdvisory Commission created the year before by the government, and before a publicdebate could take place. Now, our associations work with volunteers and scientists whoshare similar opinions to confirm the noxiousness of Very High Tension Lines.They will be built to transport electricity from the reactor through existing lines.We are confident in the professionalism of nuclear workers from different industries,because we live in the same territory; they share the same risks as us. Our questioningunfurl from the concern of a long term vision about the evolution of chemical andradioactive wastes.Access to information is very important for all of us, as well as how we should usethat information in realizing the ability of sustainable development and to respect thehealth of the citizens of our land today and in the future.Some less sensitive topics open some hope:• The improvement of the management of the drinkable water in the UrbanCommunity of Cherbourg, thanks to a local elected official. His managementof water, which is now under the responsibility of municipal authorities, hasimproved the quality and the price of the service for the citizens.38