The Anti-Nuclear Movement: Crucible of Resistance

Bugey and Fessenheim: Early Mobilizations

No issue galvanized French environmentalism more than nuclear power. The government's ambitious nuclear program, accelerated after the 1973 oil crisis, provoked sustained resistance that would define the movement for decades.

Early protests at Bugey (1971) and Fessenheim (1971-1975) established patterns of anti-nuclear activism. Local farmers allied with urban activists, creating rural-urban coalitions that challenged stereotypes. The movement developed sophisticated critiques not just of nuclear risks but of technocratic decision-making that excluded public participation.

At Fessenheim, located near the German border, the movement took on international dimensions. German and Swiss activists joined French protesters, creating transnational networks. The occupation of the construction site in 1975 brought together diverse participants: local winegrowers worried about their vineyards, Alsatian autonomists asserting regional identity, and ecological activists from across Europe.

Malville: The Turning Point

The proposed Superphénix fast breeder reactor at Creys-Malville became the site of the French anti-nuclear movement's most dramatic confrontation. On July 31, 1977, 60,000 demonstrators marched toward the construction site, met by 5,000 riot police and mobile gendarmes.

The day ended in tragedy. Police used unprecedented force, including explosive grenades that killed Vital Michalon, a 31-year-old physics teacher. Hundreds were injured in what participants described as a "militarized operation" against peaceful protesters. The violence at Malville marked a turning point, radicalizing many activists while also forcing the movement to reconsider its tactics.

The state's response revealed the stakes involved in France's nuclear program. This was not merely an energy choice but a defining national project linked to military power, technological prestige, and economic strategy. Challenging nuclear power meant confronting the French state's vision of modernity itself.

Cultural Resistance and Alternative Visions

The anti-nuclear movement generated rich cultural production. Singer-songwriters like Maxime Le Forestier and Graeme Allwright provided anthems for demonstrations. The comic series "Gai-Luron" satirized nuclear technocrats. Alternative newspapers like "La Gueule Ouverte" (The Open Mouth) combined environmental reporting with countercultural aesthetics.

Beyond protest, the movement created positive alternatives. The Larzac plateau, where farmers resisted military base expansion, became a laboratory for ecological agriculture and communal living. Alternative technology fairs demonstrated renewable energy possibilities. These experiments showed that environmentalists offered not just critique but vision for different ways of living.