Groupement des scientifiques pour l'information sur l'énergie nucléaire
Encyclopedia
The Groupement de scientifiques pour l'information sur l'énergie nucléaire GSIEN (Association of Scientists for Information on Nuclear Energy) is a multidisciplinary not-for-profit
association of independent scientists who aim to spread information about the nuclear industry in France
founded on December 15, 1975.
In addition to providing a structure within which independent evaluations can take place, GSIEN aims to ensure that the French nuclear industry, one of the World's largest, provides open and honest information.
In 1977 GSIEN was first to provide an explanation of the causes and consequences of the Three Mile Island accident
, while the authorities tried to play-down the incident, however GSIEN came to prominence at the time of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster
when the press and public found that their independent information helped to compensate for the shortcomings in the official information. They subsequently became widely recognised after many of their members contributed to various overseas projects.
signed initially by over 400 scientists, and ultimately by around 4,000, expressing their concern over a number of issues including 'secrecy' and 'official propaganda
'. GSIEN was created following this petition, inspired in part by model of the Union of Concerned Scientists
in the United States
, with the objective of disseminating information to 'prevent nuclear officials from turning information into propaganda'.
In 1998 Monique Sené, nuclear physicist, one of GSIEM's co-founders and its first president, was awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour for her work.
GSIEM has also published a number of books including Electro-nucléaire : danger (1977, ISBN 978-2020047111), Plutonium Sur Rhône (1981, ISBN 978-2901968474)
, Golfech Nuclear Power Plant
and Blayais Nuclear Power Plant
, as well as in a various other assessments.
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
association of independent scientists who aim to spread information about the nuclear industry in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
founded on December 15, 1975.
In addition to providing a structure within which independent evaluations can take place, GSIEN aims to ensure that the French nuclear industry, one of the World's largest, provides open and honest information.
In 1977 GSIEN was first to provide an explanation of the causes and consequences of the Three Mile Island accident
Three Mile Island accident
The Three Mile Island accident was a core meltdown in Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania near Harrisburg, United States in 1979....
, while the authorities tried to play-down the incident, however GSIEN came to prominence at the time of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
when the press and public found that their independent information helped to compensate for the shortcomings in the official information. They subsequently became widely recognised after many of their members contributed to various overseas projects.
History
GSIEM was founded in the wake of the sudden and unexpected launch in 1974 of the Messmer Plan to switch all of France's electricity generation to nuclear power, which took place without public or parliamentary debate. The announcement of the Messmer Plan caused a split in the scientific community between those physicists (generally older) who favoured the plan, and those (generally younger) who were concerned about the potential risks, leading to l’Appel des 400 (the appeal of the 400), a petitionPetition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
signed initially by over 400 scientists, and ultimately by around 4,000, expressing their concern over a number of issues including 'secrecy' and 'official propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
'. GSIEN was created following this petition, inspired in part by model of the Union of Concerned Scientists
Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit science advocacy group based in the United States. The UCS membership includes many private citizens in addition to professional scientists. James J...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with the objective of disseminating information to 'prevent nuclear officials from turning information into propaganda'.
In 1998 Monique Sené, nuclear physicist, one of GSIEM's co-founders and its first president, was awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour for her work.
Publications
Since its first edition in June 1976, GSIEN has published over 250 editions of it quarterly newsletter, la Gazette Nucléaire (the Nuclear Gazette).GSIEM has also published a number of books including Electro-nucléaire : danger (1977, ISBN 978-2020047111), Plutonium Sur Rhône (1981, ISBN 978-2901968474)
Technical expertise
GSIEN members have been invited by several Local Information Commissions to participate in a number of 10-yearly nuclear plant inspections, including those at FessenheimFessenheim Nuclear Power Plant
The Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Fessenheim commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France, north east of the Mulhouse urban area, within of the border with Germany, and approximately from Switzerland...
, Golfech Nuclear Power Plant
Golfech Nuclear Power Plant
The Golfech Nuclear Power Plant is located in the commune of Golfech , on the border of Garonne between Agen and Toulouse on the Garonne River, from where it gets cooling water, and approximately 40 km west of Montauban.The station has two operating nuclear reactors that are both pressurized...
and Blayais Nuclear Power Plant
Blayais Nuclear Power Plant
The Blayais Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear plant on the banks of the Gironde estuary near Blaye, South Western France operated by Électricité de France.-Description:...
, as well as in a various other assessments.