Re: Pope on nuclear power

[Ted de Castro <tdc@xrayted.com>]

Would we be allowed to keep just one on hand for the next big asteroid??

Not a great defense I'll admit - but beats anything else within current
technology.

William McCabe wrote:
> 
> 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
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
> 
> 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.
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
> 
> 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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