[sacw] S A A N Post | 2 August 00

[Harsh Kapoor]

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South Asians Against Nukes Post
2 August 2000
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#1. Pakistan: Peace & Anti Nuclear actions on August 6, 2000
#2. Pakistan: Lahore Peace Forum Formed
#3. Pakistan: Peace Activist News from Balochistan
#4. Pakistan army can detonate six A. bombs in 60 hours & India will be
defenceless
#5. India: Aug. 6, 2000 Anti Nuke Event in New Delhi
#6. India: MIND Letter + concept paper re Anti Nuke convention in Delhi
(November 00)
#7. India: August 6 event by Bangalore Platform Against Nuclear Weaponisati=
on
#8. Bangladesh: Arguments of the Nuclear Power Boss
--------------------------------------------

#1.

[Extract from an e-mail by Beena Sarwar, Peace activist in Lahore, Pakistan=
]

27 July 2000

Dear

[...]

Lahore Peace Forum was formed recently, to focus on the nuclear and on
peace issues. It will be, working with the umbrella group Joint Action
Committee, which has a lot of other issues on its agenda.

At a preliminary meeting held at the Labour Party office in Lahore, it
was decided to organise a seminar at the Lahore Press Club on Aug 6, at
which there will be some speeches, as well as a play by the writer
Khwaja Ahmed Abbas of Bombay, 'ananas aur atom bomb' (pineapple and the
a-bomb).

Photographs from Hiroshima and Nagasaki (sent by friends in Japan) will
be displayed, and we will have a chart of nuclear accidents also on
display as well as photocopies for distribution. Also to be distributed:
photocopies of relevant articles, information booklet by the Advocacy
Development Network (Islamabad) and Urdu translation of an article on if
Karachi and Bombay were a-bombed; translation of an article by a
religious scholar about how the A-bomb is un-Islamic

A peace banner signature campaign will be draped around the Press Club.
Any other ideas and feedback are welcome.

I am copying this to friends here for information.

regards
beena
______

#2.

[ Recieved on: 29 July 2000]

Lahore Peace Forum Established

At a meeting of activists from several trade unions, civil organisations
and political parties, Lahore Peace Forum was established on 26th July.
The decision to form the new organisation was taken to co-ordinate and
organise anti nuke activities at city level. A committee has been formed.
It was decided to work very closely with Joint Action Committee for
Peoples Rights and to affiliate the new organisation with pakistan Peace
Coalition.

It also decided to organise a seminar on 6th August to the theme of "NO
More Hiroshima" at Lahore Press Club building. The seminar will be a joint
effort by LPF and JAC. This is to launch the LPF and to commemorate those
who died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Speakers at the seminar include Cecil Choudry, Hina Jilani, Rizwan Atta,
Tahira Mazhar, Farooq Tariq and Dr. Mubashar (if he gets well),

An exhibition will be organized to show the holocaust of
Hiroshima.Several other activities around peace issues will be carried out
as well.

If you want to become active in the peace movement in lahore, please
contact and join LPF.

To contact LPF, please send a message to

lahore.peace@u...

Fraternally,
Farooq Tariq

--------

#3.

[Excerpt from Message from Naela Quadri | 1 August 2000]

In Balochistan around 2000 signatories have recorded their protest against
nuclear arms race. On white cloth pieces of 1x1 yd. A public meeting will
be held on Aug.6,2000 Hiroshima Day in Quetta, poets, intellectuals,
activists, women, NGOs and students will participate in this. Conscience
promoters a media group will show a film on the dangers of the nuc.arms
race. Akhtar Jan Mengal, ex CM of Balochistan will preside the meeting.
Zahra here is a brief description of the background of Anti nuke move in
Balochistan. Anti Nuke movement in Balochistan started on May16,1998 when
about 200 marchers protested against nuclear tests of India(May11) and
Pakistan's N.tests, they protested against using the soil of Balochistan
for this crime against humanity and against people of Balochistan. this
protest march was lead by Prof. Naela Quadri and Manzoor Baloch, chairman
of Baloch Students Organization, a great pressure aroused from central
govt. and local news papers to arrest them and throw them out of the
university, . Naela received show cause/explanation notices from the
University administration. Anti Nuke Move in Balochistan is mostly lead by
Balochistan National Party, headed by Sardar Attaulla Mengal.( This party
was ruling the province when Nawaz govt. did nuclear test in Balochistan
with out taking provincial govt. in confidence. On the nuclear issue
Balochistan National Party divided into two parts, one lobby was in the
favor of continuing cooperation with Nawaz regime and other headed by
Akhtar Jan Mengal who was the Chief Minister of Balochistan was insisting
to end cooperation with Nawaz after the blast and to struggle for
provincial autonomy of Balochistan, party decided to hold its council
session and in that supreme session party divided into two parts. Akhtar
Jan mengal resigned from C. M office. In Balochistan every May 28 is
observed as Back Day in the whole of the province, protest rallies are
organized against using Balochistan for nuclear tests resulted in the
horrible famine which has killed around 300 people, and 8 million cattle,
3 million people had to be displaced from their ancestral homes.=20=20

--------

#4.
Gulf News,
07/25/2000

News from our world resources: Pakistan
'can use six A-bombs in 60 hours'

"The Pakistan army can detonate six atom
bombs in 60 hours and India will have no defence to offer,"
military sources were quoted yesterday as
commenting on reports on how Islamabad would respond if
New Delhi ...

--------

#5.

[Aug. 6, 2000 Anti Nuke Event in New Delhi]

25 July 2000

Dear Friends,

In memory of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and as a statement of
our opposition to nuclear weapons worldwide we are holding a public meeting
on Hiroshima Day this August 6th, 2000 (Sunday) at 16.00 hours (4.00 pm) at
the Indian Social Institute, 10 Institutional Area, near Lodhi Road, New
Delhi.

1. We will begin with a brief remembrance for the victims of those terrible
bombings.

2. This will be followed by the showing of a brief video film (20-25
minutes) secretly filmed at the Los Alamos Weapons Laboratories of the USA
about "Why Nuclear Weapons are Important to the US: The Los Alamos
Perspective". The film will be followed by a brief discussion on matters
related to the film contents, such as contemporary US plans for a national
Missile Defence, etc.

3. The main item on the agenda will be a report of the July 30 national
preparatory meeting at Nagpur which is preparing for the "National
Convention for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace" which is to be held in New
Delhi between November 11 and 14, 2000. This report will be followed by a
discussion of what the Delhi host committee and supporters will have to do
to ensure that the National Convention takes place and runs smoothly.

4. This will be followed by another short video film (30-35 minutes) on
"Nuclear War Between India and Pakistan" with a brief discussion afterwards=
.

The duration of the meeting is expected to be not more than 2 hours (a
maximum of two and one-half hours) and will be over by 18.00 hours or 6.00
or 6.30 pm latest.

You are urged to please attend this meeting not only to show solidarity
with the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to register your opposition
to the nuclearisation of South Asia and worldwide, but also to help us
collectively prepare for the forthcoming National Convention. The plans for
holding this Convention have aroused great enthusiasm all over the country
and when held will be a major achievement and boost for building a strong
anti-nuclear disarmament movement in this part of the world. We request
your support to make this coming Convention a great success.

Achin Vanaik
[On Behalf of Movement in India Against Nuclear Disarmament]

--------

#6.

Dear friends

Since India's reprehensible entry into the nuclear weapons club which
violated New Delhi's own principled stance against nuclear weapons for 50
years, many groups around the country have been working steadily to halt
and reverse this. They have marched in the streets, campaigned in the
media, lobbied in political and expert circles, with whatever resources
they have been able to lay their hands on.

The post-1998 adventurism in South Asia, culminating in the Kargil war last
year, brings home the urgency of making this fight against nuclear weapons
more effective. For doing this, some of us, as anti-nuclear weapons groups
and people, have met over the past few months. A large number of groups,
over 20 of which met in Nagpur at the end of March, and then again in
Nagpur on July 30, plan to hold a broad-based National Convention of all
those who are actively participating in and contributing to the Indian
struggle against nuclear weapons.

The proposed National Convention is going to be held in New Delhi between
November 11 and 13, 2000. A local committee of organisations and people in
Delhi has already been set up and has begun putting the infrastructure and
resources together. A draft paper forming the basis of the discussions at
the proposed Convention and sponsored by a host of organisations and
individuals has also been written by the people involved in the preparatory
meetings through long discussions, and is appended to this letter. The
hope is that the National Convention would clarify views, build solidarity,
provide information, and help plan unified or coordinated plans and
strategies as well as making a public point about the strength of the
movement in the country.

None of this is going to succeed unless the people who are really concerned
about nuclear weapons stand up to be counted in the Convention. We
therefore appeal to you to participate in the Convention, to publicise it
widely, and to contribute to it financially. All letters for attending as
well as financial contributions can be sent to the address below.

While the appended draft paper is a basis for discussion, the participating
organisations and people are aware that there can be certain differences of
perspective, or disputes over details, or disagreements over precise
formulation. We appeal to all those friends who have such reservations
that, so long as we all believe in the need to eliminate nuclear weapons,
all other issues can be discussed and debated openly and constructively at
the Convention, and we therefore urge them to attend the Convention in such
a spirit of critical and constructive friendship and solidarity. Total
agreement or even substantial agreement with the appended draft is not a
pre-condition for full and effective participation in the proposed and
forthcoming Convention. Without both the criticism and the solidarity, all
efforts would be in vain.

Organisations agreeing with the general spirit of the draft are requested
to add their names to the list of sponsors.

We look forward to hearing of your participation.

In solidarity,

(On Behalf of the National Convention Preparatory Committee)
Achin Vanaik

MIND (Movement in India for Nuclear Disarmament)
c/o Delhi Science Forum
B1 Local Shopping Centre, IInd Floor.
J Block, Saket
New Delhi 110017
Tel. nos.6862716/6524323
Fax no. 6862716
email:ctddsf@v...

SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS
Journalists Against Nuclear Weapons (JANW), Chennai
Physicians for Peace, Chennai
Movement in India for Nuclear Disarmament (MIND), Delhi, Mumbai
Student Christian Movement, Kerala
Indian Social Institute, Delhi
National Alliance for Peoples' Movement (NAPM), Delhi, Lucknow, Nagpur
Centre for Education and Documentation (CED), Bangalore
All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA-Canara Bank), Bangalore
Alternate Lawyers Forum, Bangalore
Bharat Electricals Limited Employees Union, Bangalore
Citizens Against Nuclear Energy, Bangalore
Documentation and Dissemination Centre for Disarmament Information, Bangalo=
re
Federation of Voluntary organisations for Rural Development-Karnataka
Gandhi Peace Centre, Bangalore
General Insurance Employees Union, Bangalore
Indian Scientists Against Nuclear Weapons, Bangalore
International Energy Initiative, Bangalore
Karnataka State Peace and Solidarity Organisation, Bangalore
Manasa, Bangalore
New Entity for Social Action, Bangalore
Peoples Union for Civil Liberties-Karnataka
Pipal Tree, Bangalore
Samvada, Bangalore
Science for Society, Bangalore
Anglo-Indian Guild, Bangalore
Visthar, Bangalore
Bharath Gyan Vigyan Samithi, Bangalore
National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), Nagpur
Youth for Nuclear Disarmament (YND), Delhi
Vikas Adhyayan Kendra, Mumbai
Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA), Nagpur
Anumukti, Vedchhi
India Peace Centre, Nagpur
Gandhi Peace Foundation, Delhi
Anti-Nuclear Movement, Nagpur
Wan Kamgar Sanghathna, Nagpur
Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons, West Bengal
Greenpeace, India
Saheli, Delhi
Public Interest Research Centre, Delhi
Gene Campaign, Delhi
EKTA (Unity), Mumbai
Indian Scientists Against Nuclear Weapons (ISANW). Chennai
Chhattisgarh Anumukti Manch (CAMM), Chhattisgarh
Indian National Social Action Forum (INSAF)

Draft 1 of Concept Paper for National Convention

A NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT MOVEMENT IN INDIA

India's self-declared entry into the nuclear weapons club in May 1998 when
it conducted five nuclear tests in Pokharan, Rajasthan is ethically
reprehensible, socially, politically and economically ruinous, and deserves
unequivocal condemnation.

1. Why We Must Oppose Nuclear Weapons

1.1. The Moral Dimension: Nuclear weapons are means of mass destruction
regardless of who wields them. They impose horrendous suffering on victims
across generations. They can destroy the ecosystem. The sheer scale and
character of the devastation they can cause makes them a profound and
distinctive evil. For this and other reasons their possession, use, or
threat of use is immoral.

1.2. Betraying The Past: Until 1998, the government of India consistently
termed nuclear weapons evil and was in the forefront of initiatives to
eliminate them. This consistent ethical position was abandoned in 1998,
without any tenable explanation for Pokhran II and the weaponisation in its
aftermath. India [followed by Pakistan] has thus joined the club of
nuclear weapons states (NWSs) which pursue discriminatory and hegemonic
agendas. .

1.3. The Nuclear Danger: Nuclear weapons do not provide 'national security'
but increase insecurity and paranoia. Time and again since the Nuclear Age
began in 1945, we have come to the brink of a nuclear exchange either by
design, miscalculation or accident. If the world continues to have such
weapons, it is very likely that they will be used sometime, someplace. In
this respect, the India-Pakistan nuclear face-off is an obvious danger,
even if not the only one. The myth that nuclear weapons provide security
was debunked by the Kargil conflict. Nuclearization and arms-racing arouses
greater mutual suspicions and fears.

1.4. A Diversion From Real Needs: Nuclear arming is unnecessary and
wasteful. Since a 'minimum credible nuclear deterrent' is not a fixed
position but moves ever upwards depending on the changing technologies and
preparations of other 'nuclear rivals', building such a deterrent over the
next decade can (according to the estimates of the nuclear lobby itself)
cost anything between Rs. 70,000 crores and Rs. 700,000 crores. Alternative
uses of such resources would eliminate illiteracy, dramatically improve
health-care as well as provide a basic social security net for all Indians.
The economic cost of a spiralling arms race will be ruinous and the
marginalized will be pushed further to the periphery.

1.5. Undermining Democracy, Destroying the Environment: A nuclear weapons
regime creates unacceptable levels of secrecy and unaccountability. When
this regime is linked to, and reinforced by, a communal, chauvinist and
militaristic ideology, as is the case in India, then it can only greatly
worsen matters. To protect the health and safety of employees, local
residents and prevent degradation of the local environment there must be
proper and full transparency with public accountability regarding the
activities of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).

1.6. A Race Against Time: Early nuclear disarmament is a must. It is an
essential link in the struggle for an egalitarian, socially just society
and world. As such the struggle for nuclear disarmament must connect with
global, regional, national and local concerns.

2. Building the Movement

2.1. A Unified Focus: An anti-nuclear weapons focus brings together groups
that share this basic platform but may have differences of perception on
related and important issues: namely how best to handle the tensions
between arms control/abolition, between nuclear weapons/energy, between
nuclear disarmament/general disarmament and peace. These tensions can
neither be hidden nor ignored but must be creatively explored and managed
through building a united movement AGAINST nuclear weapons which is also
simultaneously linked to the various movements FOR social justice and
development. Such an anti-nuclear disarmament movement must encourage
maximum freedom of discussion and spaces for multiple forms of co-operation
between like-minded groups and individuals, but also continuously deepen
and strengthen overall unity on an agreed minimum programme and platform.

2.2. A Global Perspective: It is essential to keep in mind the global
dimension of an Indian/South Asian struggle against nuclear weapons.
Therefore, connections with global movements are essential. The culpability
of the NWSs, especially (but not solely) of the US, must be recognised and
every effort made to push the NWSs towards rapid and total global
disarmament.

2.3. A Broad Front: The national coalition that composes the anti-nuclear
weapons movement will include groups that work primarily on nuclear
weapons-related issues, groups that work on nuclear cycle-related issues,
as well as a large majority of groups that work on broader or allied areas
of social justice and empowerment which see nuclear weapons as one more
target of their struggle. These sensibilities and perspectives need to be
respected and harnessed creatively.

2.4. Maintaining Dialogue: It is essential for such a movement to maintain
dialogue with the followers of all political parties, and with the leaders
of those parties and political groups which have opposed India's nuclear
weaponization. This dialogue must focus on the need for nuclear
disarmament at the national, regional and global levels and for stopping
all nuclear tests and weaponization. An ongoing and ever deeper dialogue
with the general public is, of course, vital.

2.5. Unity And Diversity: The movement must steadily evolve consensus
positions on the core issue of nuclear weapons and the immediately related
matters of nuclear safety and transparency. Beyond this the movement must
forge links with the broader issues of social justice, development and
'security'. The national network of organisations must itself be of a
correspondingly loose, democratic and open type. It would also be very
useful for the National Convention to generate a national-level
co-ordinating group of some kind.

2.6. Stock Taking And Co-ordination: The National Convention must take
careful stock of the various resources and capacities collectively
available in avenues such as advocacy, propaganda, school and college
programmes, cultural displays, creating pressure through public agitation
and mobilisation, interactions with opinion-shaping constituencies like the
public media. This will enable groups to plan and carry out co-ordinated
activities at local, regional and national levels.

2.7. An Action Plan: It would be useful to set up a United Action Plan for
one year at the National Convention to express the broadest unity common on
the nuclear weapons issue, and to make public [perhaps via a press
conference] a declaration representing the broad sense of the anti-nuclear
weapons National Convention [see goals below]. A symbolic public act/event
associated with the holding of the National Convention would help establish
that there is a national anti-nuclear opinion translating into action.

3. Our Common Agenda

3.1 India

To halt and roll back India's nuclear weapons-related preparations and
activity we demand the following measures to be implemented immediately:

No assembly of nuclear weapons, induction and deployment of nuclear weapons=
.
No acquisition and development of nuclear weapons-specific delivery systems
and no missile tests.

Advanced research into nuclear weapons to be halted.
No to explosive testing, subcritical tests, production or acquisition of
weapons-usable fissile materials and tritium.

Complete transparency and independent monitoring of DAE performance and
full public accountability.

Proper compensation and reparation to all victims and their families for
damages done to their health and local environmental conditions by
activities related to all aspects (from uranium mining to reactor
production to waste disposal) of the fuel cycle. All environmental damage
to be fully rectified.

Public accountability of the veracity and efficacy of the freeze.

3.2 Other Nuclear Capable and Nuclear Weapons States

We demand similar immediate measures of nuclear restraint and roll back
from Pakistan and Israel.

All the N-5 countries (USA, Russia, China, Britain, France) must
immediately de-alert fully their nuclear weapons system, make a pledge of
No First Use and stop all research into advanced nuclear weapons. No to all
efforts to construct an anti-ballistic missile system or missile shield.

We demand the rapid, systematic and continuous reduction by the N-5 of
their nuclear weapons down to zero level through unilateral, bilateral and
multilateral commitments and pacts.

We demand that the Indian government go back to being among the
pace-setters in matters of global nuclear disarmament.

We want a nuclear weapons free world and support all genuine efforts in
pursuit of this goal.

_____

#7.

29 July 2000

This is to tell you that the Bangalore platform Against Nuclear
> Weaponisation ( a platform comprising of about 25 different
> organisations besides some individuals) has decided to take up the
> cloth banner idea along with other things as part of the campign.
>
> For august 6th we have decided to get on to the streets. We are
> having three different groups perform in three different places in the
> city - in parks, busstops and shopping areas in the morning at 10.30.
> Here we will also collect signatures.
>
> In the evening all the groups along with people mobilised especially
> for this and passers-by will converge at one place. (a historical park
> that has witnessed many protests from the days of the freedom
> struggle) We will form a human chain and sing peace songs in
> english and Kannada (and may be other Indian languages).
>
> We are working with a wide cross section of people - children, trade-
> unions, NGOs, Gandhians, Marxists, culture groups, women's
> groups etc.
>
> On the 5th there is another programme has been planned at the
> Gandhi Peace Foundation - where about 500 children are expected to
> come. They will then take out a silent March to the Gandhi statue.
>
> We just thought we should let you know about this, as the idea of the
> cloth banner was sent by you.
>
> Regards,
>
> In solidarity
> shubha
> for the Bangalore Platform Against Nuclear Weaponisation

_____

#8.

[Bangladeshi Nuclear Power Lobbyist's view]

http://independent-bangladesh.com/news/jul/30/30072000pd.htm#A3
The Independent (Bangladesh)
30 July 2000

Opinion: Radiation hazard and nuclear power

by Dr. Anwar Hossain

The Independent's recent editorial on radiation hazard was timely, so far
as indiscriminate installation of X-ray clinics without adequate radiation
protection facilities is concerned. However, I cannot agree with its
comment "Toying with the idea of nuclear power generation in Bangladesh".
Ever since the Chernobyl accident, there has been a retardation of nuclear
power programme all over the world. But it is equally true that since the
global energy crisis, the planners realised the importance of energy
conservation and demand for electricity is declining compared to the
projection that were made earlier. Slowing down of nuclear power programme
in some countries in the West was caused more by political than technical
or economic considerations. This indicates that a variety of reasons are
attributable to the present situation of energy sector in general and
nuclear power in particular. It is pertinent to note that after Chernobyl
accident, none of the existing nuclear power stations (over 400 of them)
was shut down purely due to reasons of nuclear safety.It is useful to have
an objective look at the Chernobyl accident in order to explain what effect
it had on the nuclear industry and safety. To start with, the design for
Chernobyl power reactor did not include state-of-the-art safety features,
including a proper containment dome (for protection against release of
radioactivity into the atmosphere if an accident takes place). Such
containments are mandatory in all countries and form a part of the
licensing conditions. This inadequacy had aggravated the effects of the
Chernobyl accident. The Chernobyl-type reactor would not have been allowed
to operate in any other country and not even in Russia now. In this
respect, the Chernobyl-type power reactor was already in the category of
risky' reactors. No such reactor exists now.The present design and accident
protection arrangements are now so developed that even if a serious
accident occurs, the power reactors have proven capabilities and features
to mitigate effects of unlikely (less than 1 million probability)
design-basis accidents. Concepts like minimum man-machine interaction
following a major accident have forced the industry to incorporate
stringent measures and safety systems. In fact, protocols, arrangements and
consensus have been introduced under the initiative of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whereby in future any accident has to be
promptly reported to the IAEA and through it, to all other countries. The
scopes for international cooperation have also been enhanced to help
mitigating effects of any such accident.During the normal operation of a
power reactor, there is practically no radiation hazard. The possible
radioactive emission in the air is even less than the natural and
unavoidable radioactivity that we are receiving (due to cosmic rays) every
day. What may be considered hazardous is the solid and liquid radioactive
wastes. Technologies have been developed and are being used for their safe
management including the reduction in volume for facilitating safe storage.
The worry at the present moment is the irradiated fuel, which is highly
radioactive, and its safe disposal. These fuel elements can now be kept
safely immersed in a water pool, where from hardly any radioactivity will
come out, until the radioactivity of the spent fuel goes below danger
level. Thus, unless one decides to reprocess, the fuel elements will be
almost as harmless as the fresh fuel. Also substantial work has already
been done to dispose irradiated fuel in permanent depositories.Some Western
countries have discontinued with nuclear power production. Three possible
main reasons can be identified for this. Firstly, additional safety
features and longer construction time have made it more expensive.
Secondly, they are not in desperate need for more power and there is
increased availability of oil and gas, although power stations from these
sources cause other types of environmental pollution. The third common
reason is purely political, especially in countries where Green Parties
form a part of the coalition government. I am sure, Indian and Chinese and
some other governments care for their people and they are going ahead with
nuclear power programme. If one takes the cases of France, Japan and South
Korea, it will become evident that the growth in nuclear power in these
countries was prompted by the need for attaining energy security.For
Bangladesh, generation cost of nuclear power is comparable with
conventional power. Lack of success in implementing the Rooppur Project was
mainly due to its high capital cost or more specifically, the constraints
of financing. The effort of the government to consider nuclear power is to
keep all options for power production open and release some pressure on
gas. In fact, gas can be more profitably utilised in many uses (sometimes
more efficiently) other than power.One of the main concerns of the West is
nuclear proliferation. But Bangladesh has signed NPT and CTBT. The power
plant will be under safeguards by the IAEA. After all, the construction of
nuclear power stations has not been banned internationally (like the use of
many insecticides) and Western countries (including USA) are continuing
research for a modern, inexpensive and safe nuclear power station.In our
case, we can impose conditions that the selected nuclear power plant has to
conform to international codes, guides and standards. It may be mentioned
that the risk for local dense population is more from dams, high-rise
buildings and environmentally-unfriendly factories, vehicles and some
consumer items. In the global context, the Kyoto Protocol having considered
the urgent need to reduce global greenhouse gases and pollutants had
underscored the need for pursuing a path of clean energy development
mechanism. In case of electricity generation, nuclear power can in fact,
reduce environmental pollution. We must ask ourselves about the best
alternative, namely, whether we damage the environment by using fossil
fuels (which is a definitive risk) or use nuclear power (which does not
emit green house gases and the probability an accident is very low). The
nuclear safety and radiation control act and rules thereof aim at ensuring
safety in running a nuclear power station.

The writer is former Chairman, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.