• Home /
• Statewatch Database /
• France: Anti-nuclear protester dies during nuclear transport

France: Anti-nuclear protester dies during nuclear transport

01 November 2004

In November, 21-year old Sebastien Briat died near the French city of Avricourt after being hit by a train carrying nuclear waste. Briat and his friends were protesting against the freight company Castor Transport, which dumps nuclear waste near the German city of Gorleben, by shackling themselves to the train tracks. However, the train was travelling at such a speed that Briat was surprised by the air vortex and thrown onto the tracks. Earlier reports claimed he was unable to free himself from the shackles before the train reached him. The French rail trade union Sud Rail criticised the fact that the train was travelling at almost 100 km per hour, whilst the dangerous cargo and winding route demanded a maximum speed of 30 km per hour. Sebastien's death has led to some questioning of the blockade as a form of protest. These have been countered by representatives from the environmental movement and local farmer's organisation who point out that the authorities failed to ensure a safe speed for the cargo. In the USA nuclear waste transport is only allowed to travel at walking speed. Further, the standard procedure of sending a helicopter to check the tracks in front of the train had been interrupted because the helicopter was apparently taking petrol at the time. Despite decades of protest in the German area of Wendland, the Gorleben nuclear waste repository is likely to remain.

Jungle World 17.11.04.