Britain, France, and the European Union - Comparing Environmental Policies in 16 Countries - page 121

not strong enough. At first, the euro appeared to be doing well, enjoying
the backing of the strong German economy. But in 2009 the government
of Greece found itself with a sovereign debt of 300 billion euros, far more
than it could support. When the government imposed austerity programs
of high unemployment, firing civil servants, reducing pensions, and rais-
ing prices, the Greek people rioted. Soon Ireland, Portugal, and Spain
were also unable to pay their debts. The EU does not have a real central
bank that can intervene. The euro crisis led to economic recession, with
more unemployment and reduced prosperity. The hard times spread to
Britain, dragging down its economy. In turn the British government toyed
with leaving the Union.
CONCLUSION
The British frequently participated in demonstrations to support nature.
Hikers and ramblers staged a mass trespass in 1932. In 1961, thousands
marched against nuclear submarines in Holy Loch in Scotland, which
later inspired the Danes. In 1971, protesters dumped nonreturnable
Schweppes bottles in London. In France, the 1960 attempt by the govern-
ment to dump atomic waste into the Mediterranean Sea caused protesters
to sit on the tracks to block the train that carried the waste. Once more,
nuclear electric plants and nuclear weapons can mobilize citizens better
than other issues. Voters in both countries show support for Green Parties
at a level of 5%-6%, but in the United Kingdom, the first-past-the-post
method means none have won seats in Parliament. In France, they usu-
ally elect a few members of the assembly. In the European Parliament,
the voters in multiple countries elect candidates of the Green Group. The
method of proportional representation makes it possible to aggregate
votes over a wide area.
Interest groups are ubiquitous in the United Kingdom. The Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds has more than a million members.
Friends of the Earth has 200,000 members. The National Trust (with a
scope of historic buildings as well as nature) has more than three million.
On the other side are the Confederation of British Industry, the Society of
Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and the Country Land and Business
Association. France Nature Environnement is huge, with many affiliates.
Pollution Non began in the 1970s. International groups like Friends of Earth