Chaïm Nissim
Chaïm Nissim | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1949 (age 74–75) Jerusalem |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Education | Electronical and computer engineer |
| Alma mater | EPFL |
| Known for | sabotage attack on Superphénix |
| Spouse | "a Swiss woman" [1] |
| Children | Sylvia (1986) Yael (1988) |
Chaïm Nissim (born in 1949 in Jerusalem[1]) is a Swiss former activist, author of the rocket attack of 18 January 1982 on Superphénix, and Green politician.
Biography
Nissim was born in Jerusalem in 1949 to the family of a banker.[1]
In the mid-50s, his family moved to Geneva. Nissim obtained a degree in electronical and computer engineering at the EPFL in 1973. [1]
anti-nuke activism background
For ten years, Nissim, erroneously believing that fast breeder reactor "can explode with their fast neutrons", [2] trained himself for underground guerilla, notably sabotaging electricity pylon with explosives.[1]
On 18 January 1982, Nissim fired five rockets on the Superphénix nuclear plant, then under construction. Five rocket-propelled grenades were launched at the incomplete containment building – two hit and caused damage, missing the reactor's empty core.
The weapon, a RPG-7, was obtained from the Red Army Faction through Carlos the Jackal and the Belgian Cellules Communistes Combattantes. [3] [4]
Nissim states that
I know that is might sound odd to consider rockets as a non-violent mean of action. However, we took every imaginable precaution to be certain that no worker was at risk of being hit, therefore we commited a non-violent attack.[1]
He further stated
These sabotage were part of a general movement in which each little piece had its importance. In 1998, the french government proved the antinuclears right, by deciding to close the power plant. The movement used various means, people fired rockets, myself for instance. We had found a bazooka by German terrorists and I fired it. We failed, as the closest rocket missed the important part that we targeted by one metre. It was nevertheless quite poetic. And, symbolically, it was a token contribution to the larger movement. [5]
Political career
In 1985, Nissim was elected to a MP office at the cantonal parliament of Geneva, under the aegis of the Green Party of Switzerland. He held the position until 2001. [1]
On 8 May 2003, Nissim went public about the rocket attack of 1982, [3] publishing a book on the subject and his connections to terrorist groups. [1] [6] see also a broadcast on TV: [7]
Nissim currently supports the Noé 21 group, [8] [9] a thinktank on energy policies.
Notes and references
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Chaim Nissim, biography on Chaim Nissim's blog
- ^ "les surgénérateurs comme Creys- Malville, qui, avec leurs neutrons rapides, peuvent faire explosion" [1]
- ^ a b [2]
- ^ An industry incapable of adapting to the post-9/11 world, global-chance.org
- ^ RETOUR SUR MALVILLE, CHAIM NISSIM A CŒUR OUVERT
- ^ Chaïm Nissim, L'amour et le monstre : roquettes contre Creys-Malville, Lausanne, Paris, Favre, 2004
- ^ tv broadcast
- ^ Noé 21 webpage
- ^ noe21 members