Step Towards Nuclear Safety

Key Facts:
• Nuclear power is fast spreading, and it is necessary to consider that some material for power may be used for weaponry.
• Forty-four nations are capable of developing nuclear weaponry.
• There are about 30,000 nuclear warheads scattered throughout the world, 17,500 of which are active.
• Terrorists within Russia and Germany are focusing on seizing nuclear material; some are linked with Al Qaeda.
• Georgian officials, backed by the CIA, arrested black market nuclear arms dealers in 2007.

As a deterrent to possible future nuclear threats, I will argue that a nuclear council ran by the UN is necessary.

It must be recognized just how much of a double-edged sword nuclear technology has become. On one hand, nuclear power provides a great portion of energy, being about six percent in the year 2005. It manages to become a safer form of alternative energy with every technological advancement. Nuclear weaponry serves as a powerful deterrent to possible catastrophic attacks, prime example being the Mutually Assured Destruction theory of the Cold War.

Despite these benefits, nuclear power still provides a massive threat, not only domestically but also internationally. Even though safety measures improve, there is room for error, error that can result in the loss of lives and the destruction of the local habitat. Waste harms the surrounding environment, yet is continually mistreated and piled on. The rise of nuclear power in nations such as Iran, nations that do not exactly have the best relation with the United States, draws a massive outcry for supervision or the end of their program altogether. Even in nations where relations are satisfactory, nuclear material is a dangerous commodity; agents in Russia and Germany report that terrorists are attempting to obtain weapons-grade uranium through the black market. Some of these terrorists have loyalty with Al Qaeda.

The fact is that forty-four nations are capable of developing nuclear weapons. The hypothetical situations of power plant attacks or meltdowns only serve as an addition to the threat. For these reasons, what I suggest is for the creation of a Nuclear Council (UNNC) manned by the United Nations (UN).

The UN has 192 member states currently, including the nuclear powers. The aim of the UNNC will be to improve communication, safety, and to impose regulations to boost national security and ecological standards, in conjunction with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In the September 2005 conference during the 49th session, they recognized the importance of openness between nuclear powers and the necessity of applying to the organization. Just as this is so, all of the nuclear powers are required to join the UNNC. This includes the current nuclear superpowers to those who are in the early stages of development, weaponry or energy. Each member state will have one vote, for ratification or for veto, and the floor will be open for public forum type discussions and debates; a 2/3 majority will constitute either passing or vetoing, depending on the situation.

With regards to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the UNNC will work as an enhancement of the UNSC, if not a replacement. The UNSC only contains five permanent members and ten nonpermanent measures as of 2010. It is important to note that this council only has one member from the Middle East and does not have a significant portion of the rising nuclear powers, including India, Pakistan, and Iran. This elite few seems to in fact be counterintuitive to security in general.

Before discussing costs, it is important to note that the UN published the facts that peacekeeping efforts are less expensive than the overall cost of some form of intervention. The approved budget for US spending is $7.1 billion. In 2006, the US gave $5.3 billion for UN peacekeeping missions. The cost may be large, but they are surpassed greatly by the cost of military spending worldwide, which is around $1,232 trillion. It is imperative to sell this as another deterrent of any possible conflict, which may lead to military intervention, intervention that can be avoided through the UNNC.

Talking Points:
• A UN council would improve transparency and environmental practices.
• Communications between the nuclear powers is a must and will be improved.
• Developed standards will improve overall security.
• The cost for the UNNC will be much less than the cost of military intervention.

Idea Origin:
Nuclear technology is a great source of alternative energy. However, it is also a highly dangerous one. Events that devastated local environments and nations were the results of mere hubris. The materials used are highly dangerous even if they are just waste. The growth and spread also can put radioactive weapons into the hands of terrorists, as shown in Russia. For these reasons, I find it imperative that some form of diplomatic communication needs to be established to avoid potential catastrophic events.

Sources

Bureau of International Information Programs, US Department of State, "U.S. Financial Contributions to the United Nations." September 24, 2007.http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2007/September/20070924121555xjsnommiS6.101626e-02.html (accessed January 26, 2010).

Brooking's Institute, "50 Facts About U.S. Nuclear Weapons." 1998.http://www.brookings.edu/projects/archive/nucweapons/50.aspx (accessed December 28, 2009).

Bunn, Matthew. "The Demand for Black Market Fissile Material." 2007.http://www.nti.org/e_research/cnwm/threat/demand.asp (accessed January 3, 2010).

Center for Defense Information, "Nuclear Facts at a Glance." February 4, 2003.http://www.cdi.org/nuclear/facts-at-a-glance.cfm (accessed December 28, 2009).

Global Security Institute, "Nuclear Facts." http://www.gsinstitute.org/dpe/facts.html (accessed January 2, 2010).

International Atomic Energy Agency "Measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management." General Conference. http://www-ns.iaea.org/tech-areas/radiation-safety/code-of-conduct.htm.
United Nations, "Fact Sheet: United Nations Peacekeeping." September, 2009.http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/factsheet.pdf (accessed January 16, 2010).

International Atomic Energy Agency "Measures to strengthen international cooperation in nuclear, radiation and transport safety and waste management." General Conference. http://www-ns.iaea.org/tech-areas/radiation-safety/code-of-conduct.htm.
United Nations Security Council, "Membership of the Security Council." January 2010.http://www.un.org/sc/members.asp (accessed January 26, 2010).