NationStates Jolt Archive


DRAFT: UN Radiological Weapons Ban

[NS]New Ixion
23-08-2006, 19:13
This proposal failed to reach quorum a while back, and has since been extensively revised. I present it now for your comments, and welcome any constructive criticism.


UN Radiological Weapons Ban
A resolution to slash worldwide military spending.

Category: Global Disarmament
Strength: Strong

Description: DEFINING for the purposes of this resolution, a radiological weapon as any weapon that relies largely or solely on the dispersion of radioactive material as a means of attack, and does not achieve critical mass during the course of its use;

NOTING that radiological weapons (most commonly referred to as dirty bombs) differ greatly in effect from nuclear weapons, but pose some of the same long term threats;

APPALLED at the economic, environmental, and public health risks posed by the use of such a weapon in an urban area or area of special scientific interest, especially given that such weapons are:
a) Indiscriminate and of little or no use for targeting military institutions,
Yet are:
b) Capable of causing severe economic damage and generating considerable fear;

CONCERNED by the availability of radiological material from which a radiological weapon could be constructed, particularly material such as is discarded along with other waste by heavy industry and the healthcare industry, as such material could be obtained with relative ease by terrorist groups;

CONVINCED that radiological weapons are both unnecessary for national defence and an unacceptable risk to the safety of citizens of UN members and the environment in which they live;

HEREBY RESOLVES:

1.The possession, production, trafficking or use (either directly or through proxy) of radiological weapons as defined by this resolution is forbidden to all UN member nations.

2. Any radiological weapon proscribed as described in this resolution which at any time is in the possession of a member nation or known to be in the possession of its citizenry must be immediately and completely destroyed through a method which incorporates all practical safeguards against any detonation of the weapon and/or dispersal of the radioactive material.

3. United Nations member states to take every practical precaution to prevent use of or access to radiological material by unauthorised individuals, especially in areas such as hospitals, which the public have access to on a regular basis.

4. United Nations member states to require all those who stockpile, or otherwise make use of, radiological material to:
a) Secure radioactive material from theft and unauthorized access,
b) Promptly report lost or stolen material to appropriate authorities and
c) Dispose of such material safely and/or to deliver it to the government for supervision,
In order to avoid:
d) Deliberate and malevolent use of the material and
e) Accidental access that could result in injury
Ausserland
23-08-2006, 19:30
We thought it appropriate to advise our colleagues that the honorable representative of New Ixion has been working diligently on this draft in the Reclamation forum, carefully considering the comments and suggestions posted here, as well as those provided by Reclamation members.

We believe there is still some work to be done on the specific language and format of the proposal, but that will be addressed in due course. We'd like to encourage our colleagues to contribute to this effort by providing their comments and constructive criticism, particularly on the substance of the proposal.

By order of His Royal Highness, the Prince of Ausserland:

Patrick T. Olembe
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Myocardia
23-08-2006, 19:45
This looks like a worthwhile and carefully constructed proposal, and should it come to vote before the General Assembly, it will have Myocardia's support. Might I suggest one addition -- background checks and perhaps some level of training required for workers who handle radioactive materials at hospitals and so on. It doesn't help much if materials are protected from "unauthorized individuals" if the authorized ones don't know what they're doing, or worse, are going to steal material and sell it.

With friendship,
Jeremiah Dodge
Ambassador to the United Nations
Scientific Republic of Myocardia