Re: Pope on nuclear power

["Thomas J Savin " <tjsav@lycos.com>]

I suggest we keep three - because its three strikes and your out! I am somewhat serious though it just makes sense.
---
Tom Savin

On Thu, 21 Dec 2000 09:26:20  
 Ted de Castro wrote:
>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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