Nuclear weapons disarmament

Indeed, when new countries like the U K. France or China became nuclear powers, countries which were already members of the club were strongly opposed, but now it is quite well accepted that possession of nuclear weapons by those countries did not provoke a catastrophe. Some even consider that the existence of nuclear weapons in different camps was a stabilizing factor during the Cold War and prevented a major conflict during the past half-century. Why, then, the possession by India should not stabilize the relation between India and China, and by Pakistan the relation between Pakistan and India, preventing major conflicts in these zones At least the question may be asked. In the same way, the possession by Israel of nuclear weapons, in the opinion of some, has stabilized the situation in the Middle East. In any case, when a country has decided that it is worth while to make the effort and take the risks of developing nuclear weapons, it seems that after some initial outcry, the world accepts it without major retaliation That shows some kind of hypocrisy in the initial claim of a fundamental evil connected with the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The real issue is probably to avoid the acquisition of nuclear weapons by unstable, not very democratic countries. May be Pakistan is in that category clearly the West would not like Libya or Iran and Iraq to possess such weapons. A real, major issue is full nuclear disarmament, but this is another story. 

Language is not always neutral, and often contains powerful codes of permissible and impermissible behaviour. The constant reference in recent times to the risks posed to America by weapons of mass destruction may well be part of the pohtical-psychological strategy of making the use of nuclear weapons more palatable to domestic public opinion. But the effort to expand the role of nuclear weapons as a counter to the development or acquisition of WMD by US-hostile states could pose a threat to arms control, disarmament and non-prohferation. It is not clear... 

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the single most important component of the non-proliferation regime. Under it, the 182 non-nuclear-weapon State Parties have committed themselves not to manufacture or otherwise acquire any nuclear explosive device and to accept IAEA safeguards on all source or special fissionable material to verify that commitment. Under it also the five nuclear weapon State Parties have committed themselves to embark on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament. 

The CTBT was hammered out in the Conference on Disarmament, a 61-member international forum, beginning in January 1994. In that committee, the US, Russia, the UK, France and China (members of the nuclear club ) and a number of the non-nuclear weapons states worked together. Negotiations were greatly aided by behind-the-scenes efforts from a number of states, especially Australia, as well as by the diplomatic skills of the committee chairs. 

Welcoming the international agreements and other positive measures of recent years in the field of nuclear disarmament, including reductions in arsenals of nuclear weapons, as well as in the field of the prevention of nuclear proliferation in all its aspects. 

Convinced that the present international situation provides an opportunity to take further effective measures towards nuclear disarmament and against the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects, and declaring their intention to take such measures. 

Stressing therefore the need for continued systematic and progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of eliminating those weapons, and of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control. 

Affirming the purpose of attracting the adherence of all States to this Treaty and its objective to contribute effectively to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects, to the process of nuclear disarmament and therefore to the enhancement of international peace and security. 

Weapons disarmament. Should the plutonium from disarmed nuclear weapons eventually be turned into nuclear fuel or made useless immediately and buried with other HLW ... 

The disarmament policy conducted at present by states possessing nuclear weapons after the cold war has both positive aspects that are aimed at promoting peace on the Earth, as well as a number of security problems that are common to mankind on the whole. Among these problems, the most complicated are the provision of highly reliable radiation safety for the personal and the population as well as environmental protection when dismantling nuclear weapons and disposal of the resulting fissile and radioactive wastes. 

In 1947, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists began to use this clock, set at 7 minutes before midnight, as a reminder of the potential for disaster from nuclear weapon use. The clock was reset to 17 minutes before midnight when the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to begin nuclear disarmament in 1991. In 2002, the clock was reset to 7 minutes before midnight, where it currently remains, in response to terrorist activities. 

VRAALSEN, T., Non-Proliferation of Nuclear, Chemical and Other Weapons, Disarmament, vol.xii, no.3. Autumn 1989. 

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