In a number of remote towns in France,Some of the residents' neighbors turned out to be huge nuclear power plantsDoesn't that sound a little scary?
But if I tell you,So they only have to pay half of the taxes in their lifetimeIsn't that interesting?
A French town builds a nuclear power plant, and local residents cut taxes by half?
They turned a blind eye to that power station. ”A British-French photographer named Ed AlcockHe spent six months (June to December 2022) visiting residents in Belleville, Trikastein, Fessenheim and Penny, among othersTake a deep dive into their state, share their daily lives together, and capture their individuals in the shadow of a giant concrete reactor**.
The nuclear power plant stands there, but it doesn't say a word, it's a central player in the region, but it keeps a low profile, it doesn't speak, it just heats up. People also deliberately don't talk about it, but enjoy its electricity.
This is the daily life of the reticent, in contrast to the chatter of both pro-nuclear and anti-nuclear activists.
In this regard, Ed Alcock described this collective phenomenon of the local population in one sentence:"They choose to ignore it, but they can feel it."
The inhabitants of here,For example, the D**id Dehez family enjoys a privileged life in the EDF community. Imagine having no nuclear power plant open and enjoying the convenience of luxurious sports facilities and state-of-the-art medical centers that no other town would never have, they all know itThis is an exceptional benefit that comes with nuclear power plants.
Sounds like talking about the plot of the movie "Fallout City"? No, this is the life of a real French "nuclear power town".
Some people may be afraid to live near a nuclear power plant. I won't. First of all, I can't see it ...... when I open the curtains in the morningAnd there are many benefits: our community is rich, there are sports facilities, medical centers, and we pay half the taxes of other French people
D**id is a word-breaker.
Yes, the residents of the nuclear power plant community enjoy better welfare, which is probably the reason why most of the residents who live here are willing to accept this behemoth and insecurity.
Those who live near nuclear power plants have as many colorful lives and experiences as everyone else, full of twists and turns.
For example, 49-year-old Yannick Méal, a former safety officer at the Fessenheim nuclear power plant, lives a life of joy and worry about "nuclear".
Now, with the withdrawal of nuclear fuel, his post will disappear with itTax incentives and community benefits on the one hand, and concerns about job instability on the other, are the double-edged swords that come with nuclear power plants.
Let's take a look at Jean Gellier's familyTheir farm is located just 300 meters from the nuclear power plant。The 1999 storm made them deeply appreciate the power of nuclear power plants.
Huge clouds of steam seem to mock humanity's vulnerability, but even so,Jean also did not lose faith in nuclear power, after all, ** and scientists have learned from the disaster.
Despite the risks posed by nuclear power plants, they are also an important economic pillar for these small towns.
Rachid Hamos, 30, is an electrician at the Tricastin nuclear power plantHe proudly said that the nuclear power plant provides a lot of job opportunities for local young people. It's not just about safety and the environment, it's about the economy and jobs.
Of course, not everyone will be satisfied with the presence of nuclear power plants.
For example, 18-year-old Jessica Fernandez, who grew up in Bollène-Écluse, has only a vague understanding of nuclear power plantsShe didn't care too much about the good living conditions, said: "Growing up here is boring......I don't even know what a nuclear power plant is for. ”
The mayor of Petit Cox, Normandy, knows the account all too well:"We have about 10,000 inhabitants, but we receive about 26 million euros in income from the nuclear power plant. ”
Obviously, even living in its shadow, nuclear power plants are not a part of everyone's life.
The attitude of the inhabitants towards the nuclear power plant is full of ambivalence, on the one hand, residents like Christiane and Tahar SellalAcknowledging and thanking for the wealth brought by nuclear power plants has allowed them to live a life of increasing prosperity in France, where the economy is generally in declineSo, at the same time, they also believe that nuclear energy cannot be openly criticized.
On the other hand, there will be doubts: is nuclear power really safe and transparent?
Alexis Quentin, trade union representative of CFE Unsa Énergies,Convinced that nuclear power is transparent, the nuclear energy industry in France is subject to strict regulation and public scrutiny.
The Transparency and Nuclear Safety Act, passed in '06, stipulates that "everyone has the right to know the risks of nuclear activities and their impact on people's health and safety, the environment and the discharge of effluents". Accordingly, the High-Level Commission on Nuclear Safety Transparency and Information (HCTISN) was established.
In addition, the fully independent Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) publishes reports on a regular basis. All inspections will have a public report, as well as follow-up letters on all inspections carried out at the nuclear facility.
Any minor event, such as the failure of a sensor that monitors safety-important parameters, is declared and known to everyone.
Local information committees, especially those in the surrounding municipalities, will be notifiedIf you're talking about transparency, what other industry can do that?
In contrast to the opaque image spread by some, the availability of information in the field of nuclear energy should serve as an example for some others, rather than be denigrated.
However, regardless of the economic benefits of the plant or the improvement of its safety measures, residents' feelings about living next to the plant remain mixed.
Like all industries, the nuclear industry is not perfect, but it has many advantages in the much-needed energy transition, and it is unreasonable to reject it for unreliable reasons.
If it were you, would you like to live in the "Garden of Eden" next to the nuclear power plant?