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The 56th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs

A Region in Transition: Peace and Reform in the Middle East
11-15 November 2006, Cairo, Egypt
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Paper from Working Group 1

1.4 (Buckley)
56th Pugwash Conference
Cairo, Egypt, 11-15- November 2006

 

ACCEPTING NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION AND PREVENTING NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION

Adele Buckley, Canadian Pugwash Group

 

Because of the large unsatisfied demand for energy in India, China and other countries, the construction of new nuclear reactors, and new nuclear power plants, is inevitable.  In the west, the prevalent distrust of nuclear plants and the potential availability of other modes of electricity supply may supply a significant portion of demand in the developed world. 

There is a tendency in the peace movement to continue protests  and present rationale for prevention of new nuclear power facilities, instead of adapting to reality.  The reality is that nuclear plants will be built and, even to those far from the countries of installation, there are significant dangers:

  • Safety (we never want Chernobyl or Three Mile Island again)
  • Potential access to weapons grade fissile material that could be used by terrorists, or states that are operating the nuclear reactors
  • Disposal of nuclear waste - must be safe for generations to come

In view of the real likelihood that many more nuclear reactors will exist, the global community needs develop a unified approach, radically increase their support for the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Commission) and empower IAEA with real capability to protect us all.   Two of the possible pathways for doing this are:

  1. Add provisions to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, wherein the mandate is given to IAEA for its work. (However, considering the unfortunate lack of support within the nuclear weapons states for the NPT, changing the treaty would be problematic, slow in pace and generally frustrating.)
    AND THEREFORE,
  2. A separate treaty, or independent addendum to the NPT,  should be negotiated that addresses only upgraded the international safeguards for nuclear power plants.

Further, a multinational framework should, with urgency and in the short term, be negotiated and implemented so that there can be enrichment, fuel production and waste disposal under international control. 

Qualifications:  Adele Buckley

  • Chair, Canadian Pugwash Group – extensive experience at Pugwash Conferences, served 3X as rapporteur; personal study of nuclear disarmament etc. over several yrs.
  • Physicist and aerospace engineer  - appropriate science backgd for nuclear weapons/nuclear energy
  • Two pieces of contract work for Nuclear Waste Management Organization, Canada