We have generations of folks with blacklung and other mining injuries. Just looking at the honeycomb of mining shafts uncovered in strip mining suggests how very dangerous and inefficient the process was.
In any case, the French rely on nuke power, so they can feel smarter than us if they want to. They are smarter in using clean nuke power.
I agree, I believe they even reprocess their fuel, something we don’t do here currently.
Where do the French dump their nuclear waste?