Is it paradox or even hypocrisy? The French government bans liquefied natural gas (LNG) shale as an example to the world, but imports and makes money on it at the same time. Is there something like a French blind spot about shale? Nick Grealy takes a look. At the end of January during a demonstration in France against shale gas, one of the key slogans was “Ni ici, ni ailleurs. Ni aujourd’hui, ni demain”. Like most things, it sounds better in French, but the translation is simple enough that the message reverberates not only around Europe but to Algeria, Quebec and even among shale opponents in the US:  Not here, not anywhere. Not today, not tomorrow. The total lack of any nuance in the French shale debate poisons the shale debate worldwide. How many times do we hear in Lancashire or New York State or even in Denton Texas that France has banned shale gas so why can’t we follow their example. Before antis dismiss me as right wing Euro-sceptic French basher, let me out … Continue reading The French paradox on shale