Pope on nuclear power

["William McCabe" <william.mccabe@worldnet.att.net>]

Sandy et al,

Pope's position on nuclear power follows.  Sounds like a lot of RADSAFERs
(pro-nuclear) to me.

Will McCabe

NUCLEAR ENERGY MUST BE USED NOT ONLY PEACEFULLY BUT SAFELY
Mons. Diarmuid Martin
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HOLY SEE'S REPRESENTATIVE SIGNS ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS PROTOCOL TO 1972
NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
On Thursday, 24 September, during the 42nd General Conference of the
International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria, Mons. Mario Zenari,
the Holy See's representative to the Agency, signed the Additional
Safeguards Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1 August
1972. The new protocol is meant to strengthen the Agency's verification
system in order to prevent the illegal military use of peaceful nuclear
developments.

Before the document was signed, Mons. Diarmuid Martin, Secretary of the
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Head of the Holy See's
Delegation to the General Conference, explained the Holy See's motives in
the following address, which he gave in English on Tuesday, 22 September.



Madam President,

On behalf of the Delegation of the Holy See, I should like to join previous
speakers in congratulating you on your election as President of the 42nd
General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency. I am confident
that your wealth of experience and outstanding leadership will guide this
conference to a successful conclusion and I assure you of the fullest
cooperation of my Delegation in your very delicate task.

Safeguards

The realization of the biblical vision of "turning swords into ploughshares"
is one of the principal reasons why the Holy See became a member of the
IAEA, encouraging the various initiatives aiming at this goal.

The Holy See, sharing the feelings of most men and women of goodwill who
aspire after a total elimination of nuclear weapons, intends also as a
member of the Agency to call upon the leaders of nations to put an end to
nuclear tests and arms production, to reduce stocks, to transfer nuclear
material from military use to peaceful activities, and ultimately to
eliminate definitely every possibility of a nuclear arms race.

While some positive steps have been taken in this direction, such as by the
indefinite extension of the NPT and the signing of the vast majority of
States of the CTBT, there is an urgent need for a universal, immediate and
unconditional adherence to these treaties and for a greater commitment by
nuclear-weapon States to reduce and finally eliminate their nuclear weapons
in accordance with Article VI of the NPT.

"In this regard, the Holy See is of the opinion that, in the sphere of
nuclear weapons, the banning of tests and of the further development of
these weapons, disarmament and non-proliferation are closely linked and must
be achieved as quickly as possible under effective international controls.
These are steps towards a general and total disarmament which the
international community as a whole should accomplish without delay" (Pope
John Paul II, Speech to the Diplomatic Corps, 13 January 1996; L'Osservatore
Romano English edition, 17 January 1996, p. 2).

Moreover, since experience makes us aware that there is also a recurrent
temptation to transform "ploughshares into swords", it is necessary to
support a renewed political will by effective means of verification, and to
"reject firmly and universally everything that might make the danger of a
nuclear war return" (cf. Address of Pope John Paul II to the 50th General
Assembly of the United Nations Organization, New York, 5 October 1995, n.
16).

In this context, by signing the new Additional Safeguards Protocol in a few
days, the Holy See intends to support this political commitment which aims
at guaranteeing greater international nuclear transparency.

With a more efficient verification system, States can in fact better show
the peaceful nature of their nuclear activities and can have a greater
certitude about the loyalty of all others.

Furthermore, greater confidence in the efficiency of the verification
systems will certainly facilitate also the political initiatives aimed at
reducing or eliminating nuclear arms.

Safety Culture

One of the main tasks entrusted to the IAEA is to ensure that nuclear energy
is used not only peacefully but also safely. No doubt safety remains one of
the greatest challenges in the use of nuclear power. Given the importance of
arriving at harmonized minimum safety standards in every country, the Holy
See appreciates and follows with special interest the efforts and
initiatives of the IAEA to promote a global nuclear safety culture by means
of assistance in establishing legally binding international agreements,
non-binding safety standards and the provision of safety services.

Significant achievements in this regard have been reached in recent years
with the adoption of conventions regarding the early notification of a
nuclear accident; mutual assistance in case of a nuclear emergency; the
nuclear safety of land-based power plants; the safety of spent fuel and
radioactive waste management; the revision of the regime of international
liability.

Naturally there remain other sectors which should be regulated by norms,
e.g., those concerning transport of nuclear material, radiation protection
and illicit trafficking in nuclear material.

But it is equally necessary to ensure that these norms and standards are
implemented. Hence the importance of keeping the safety strategy always
alert, with the assistance of the IAEA Annual Nuclear Safety Review and
safety services.

Very useful is the exchange of experience on a vast range of activities,
from nuclear plant design and operation to decommissioning of nuclear power
plants and the management of radioactive waste.

The study of techniques and methods of disposing nuclear waste in ways that
can protect both present and future generations should continue with
particular and urgent attention.

Nuclear power being a common patrimony of mankind, the risks connected with
its peaceful use should lead the international community to take into
account the necessity of an appropriate control and management of these
matters and to foster co-operation in order to reach the highest
internationally recognized nuclear safety standards.

These legal instruments, as well as the whole body of norms and
recommendations and technical assistance contribute to promoting a "safety
culture", which is absolutely necessary if the world wants to continue to
use this source of energy.

No doubt the pursuit and development of this "safety culture" could serve as
an example and stimulus to do the same in other fields of human activity.

Sustainable Development

Both specific international organization meetings (such as the June 1997
Special Session of the UN General Assembly on the implementation of Agenda
21), and political meetings of Presidents and Heads of States (such as the
Birmingham G-8, the Second Summit of the Americas, etc.) have expressed
their concerns about environment degradation and the need for development in
ways which are truly sustainable.

No doubt many applications of nuclear techniques for peaceful purposes can
help, especially in developing countries, to facilitate or promote
sustainable development: research programmes, nutritional projects, soil
fertility preservation, pest control, safe water access, etc.

In the case of commercial energy services, an impartial and objective
judgement is still needed in order to achieve a fair balance between the
long-term risks and the potential contribution of nuclear energy to a rapid
and consistent diminution of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Mr. President, the Holy See does not feel competent to propose or to judge
particular technical solutions but would like to support the aim that
scientific and technological progress should be at the service of all people
and of each country, especially the less privileged. "If the world's regions
are moving closer together economically, this must not involve a
globalization of poverty and misery, priority must be given to a
globalization in solidarity" (Pope John Paul II, Address to the Austrian
Authorities and the Diplomatic Corps, Vienna, 20 June 1998, n. 8)

Finally, Mr. President, my delegation intends to express its particular
appreciation and gratitude to all officers of the IAEA, to Director-General
and to the staff members of the various departments, who by their competent
and assiduous work render an indispensable service to the cause of the
safety and progress of mankind.

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Taken from:
L'Osservatore Romano
Weekly Edition in English
7 October 1998, page 6
L'Osservatore Romano is the newspaper of the Holy See.
The Weekly Edition in English is published for the US by:

The Cathedral Foundation
L'Osservatore Romano English Edition
P.O. Box 777
Baltimore, MD 21201
Subscriptions: (410) 547-5380


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