Bonsoir IR
Please don't get me wrong when I mentioned the words "politics" and "politician" in my last post. I was not about "politicking", I was about the Sovereign State tasks and the decision making process involved in them, especially after the 1970s oil shocks.
In France, Education, Public Health issues, Security, Military, Energy, are matters of national sovereignty where the definitive decisions are made by the government which is accountable directly to both chambers of the French parliament elected by direct universal suffrage. In other words, this means that the fundamentally decisions are made by people representing the public. Even though I do not agree with all of the decisions, that's what politics is.
In my opinion it is nothing to be ashamed of talking about politics even in this forum, but let us not confuse "ideological politicking" with the fundamentally political questions that concern the grandiose functions of the State and its ability to assume these functions and to serve its citizens.
I have studied Latin scholar at school, I remember texts we had to translate where Romans wanted to connect Arles (Rhone) to North Sea via Saone - Moselle - Rhine but problems existed already at this time which were safety concerns and security issues !
I believe as well in the virtues of increasing the use of river transport for goods. This objective depends on the implementation of logistic facilities enabling development of shipping traffic and reducing goods feeder costs. A "Grand Gabarit" route to link the river Saone into the Moselle would be a great opportunity for progress and development, a real source of substantial savings by reducing costs, by significant saving energy, and to shorten delivery times. Moreover, proximity to the market, which can result in faster turnaround times, is always an important success factor.
In my opinion, if river transport was to compete, it had to modernize. I know the area quite well around of Sète, your idea is really excellent.
About EDF, I am less strict than you :
- The French government holds 85 percent of EDF whose nuclear is of major strategic, industrial, geopolitic importance to France, Europe and more. In my own opinion it is therefore difficult to assess the accuracy of data produced by media about the nuclear of EDF, & I have no competence in this matter.
- France is the third largest hydroelectric power producer in Europe, &
the second largest renewable energy producer (and consumer) in Europe.
- EDF manages
actually 75% of the surface water of France, in its dams and reservoirs. It is always possible to do better, but it's already no bad at all.
What will be the future here in France ? Renewable energy systems, including grid-connected windmills, decentralized wind-diesel systems and photo-voltaic devices ? hydroelectric ?
Natural river flows are critical to hydroelectric power production, climate change is critical to natural river flows... Energy produced in France with hydro-power was slightly less in the last year compared to 2013 (23 % less !) due to weather changes that have reduced precipitations in some regions of the country.
In 2012 I visited the China's Three Gorges Dam just 7 weeks after it was completed and fully functional, one of my questions to a technician was "What will be your main focus for the near future ?" the answer was : "It's global climate change, an important parameter to take into account."
Dropbox - Error - Simplify your life
IR, if you ask my friend Art here (I mean TF's member "Art"), you'll discover a vision of the future of new energy and one of the possible solutions to current problems. Art is brilliant.
I am ready to discuss this conundrum outside of TF