{"id":5585,"date":"2010-05-31T00:00:45","date_gmt":"2010-05-30T22:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=5585"},"modified":"2010-05-30T23:42:58","modified_gmt":"2010-05-30T21:42:58","slug":"the-npt-and-the-nuclear-power-trap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2010\/05\/the-npt-and-the-nuclear-power-trap\/","title":{"rendered":"The NPT and the Nuclear Power TRAP"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NPT, NGO, Article IV Dynamics<\/strong><\/p>\n

The UN 2010 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, May 3 \u2013 28, is in its final week. Parallel to the official meetings with delegates of states parties to the NPT, NGOs – active members of nongovernmental organizations, came to New York to represent the interests of civil society.<\/p>\n

The Abolition Caucus is a group of committed NGOs with specific expertise, who are deeply devoted to the elimination of nuclear weapons.\u00a0 NGOs observe the official meetings when open, invite Ambassadors for off-the-record briefings, present information to each other and delegates in side events, and caucus daily to analyze progress of the NPT and explore strategies. At each NPT, NGOs have three hours to present our views to the delegates, who generally appreciate the input. Reaching Critical Will (www.reachingcriticalwill.org<\/a>) puts out a daily newsletter, News in Review, the Acronym Institute www.acronym<\/strong>.org.uk<\/a> and Tim Wright of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, http:\/\/www.icanw.org<\/a> put out daily analyses, deeply valued by most.<\/p>\n

Article IV of the NPT claims an \u201cinalienable right\u201d to \u201cpeaceful uses\u201d of nuclear energy \u2013 which is the \u201cthird pillar\u201d of the NPT, along with the nonproliferation and disarmament. The NPT, is organized around a significant role for the International Atomic Energy Association, the IAEA, which promotes and regulates nuclear energy.<\/p>\n

On May 20, the Abolition Caucus, delivered a statement to UN 2010 NPT delegates stating concerns about the May 14 Report of Main Committee II, the body assigned to address nuclear energy which made \u201cglowing\u201d claims about nuclear power\u2019s benefits for energy, the environment, health, the economy, and Millennium Development Goals.<\/p>\n

NGOS vs. Delegates \u2013 Parallel Universes? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Abolition Caucus NGOs are alarmed at the dangers and proliferation risks in the face of delegates\u2019 overwhelming enthusiasm and promotion of nuclear power. Why the huge discrepancy?<\/p>\n

For 40 years, there is virtual, unquestioned acceptance of nuclear energy, with frequent and automatic repetition of the mantras \u2013the “inalienable right” to “peaceful uses” of nuclear energy, the \u201cthe third pillar\u201d throughout the speeches. The belief in nuclear power is so deeply and widely held that it may seem outrageous to even question it.<\/p>\n

While the delegates are skillful in diplomacy and consensus building, they are not natural scientists. Their opinions on nuclear energy are largely informed by the IAEA, with its contradictory role in both promoting and regulating atomic power, and by vested interests, such as Areva, a French multinational nuclear power conglomerate and others who spend fortunes on deceptive propaganda promoting nuclear power. The industry spent $665 million in the US on rebranding nuclear energy as clean, green, and an answer to the climate crisis, and on congressional campaigns, including to President Obama, who approved loan guarantees to build new nuclear reactors.<\/p>\n

NPT Groupthink <\/strong><\/p>\n

The NPT bubble is a perfect environment for \u201cgroupthink\u201d defined by Yale research psychologist Irving Janis as: \u201cA mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members’ strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.\u201d Despite disagreements within the NPT on disarmament and nonproliferation, the dialogue is dominated by virtual unchallenged support for nuclear energy. Few dare challenge this mindset.<\/p>\n

In a \u201cgroupthink\u201d environment, pressures for consensus implicitly or explicitly discourage independent thinking, creativity, and expression of doubts. Failure to consider alternative views, facts and bodies of knowledge impairs sound decision-making processes, often leading to irrational, flawed and hasty decisions.<\/p>\n

NGOs, who have devoted their lives to studying nuclear issues in depth, have an open process characterized by freedom of thinking, eagerness for information, and independence from vested interests. Scientific information is valued, brought in by groups like The International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation,\u00a0 (http:\/\/www.inesap.org<\/a>),\u00a0The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, (http:\/\/www.ieer<\/a>), Physicians\u00a0 for Social Responsibility (http:\/\/www.psr.org<\/a>), and others.<\/p>\n

Frozen Accidents <\/strong><\/p>\n

The NPT culture has been driven by political and economic influences. Our global nuclear power system – including structures, financial investments, infrastructures, institutions, networks, jobs, dynamics, language, thought patterns, and belief systems, has evolved from what Nobel physicist Murray Gell-Mann calls a Frozen Accident, which begins with an event, say the NPT organized around a central role for the IAEA. It generates widespread, diverse consequences, bifurcations, deviations and path-dependent processes that are reinforced through positive feedback and result in a \u201cfrozen lock-in state\u201d which can dominate an entire system and shape history.\u00a0 The way a path develops is not inevitable and could have turned out differently.<\/p>\n

The NPT is tightly organized around nuclear power, which is a TRAP \u2013a Toxic RadioActive Proliferator. NPT Groupthink is still driven by archaic ideas, beliefs, interests, language, symbols and images that are frozen in consciousness, eclipse deeper understanding and constrain wiser actions. As the third pillar of nuclear energy keeps knocking down the other two pillars – nonproliferation and disarmament – might the system designed to prevent proliferation paradoxically provoke proliferation?<\/p>\n

Whether we can collectively break out of these traps is a matter of consciousness and demystifying ourselves from nuclear myths and illusions. To free ourselves, we must recognize the ways in which we are trapped. Here is a partial list of TRAPS.<\/p>\n

* Old Ways of Thinking TRAP<\/span> \u2013The world has changed in 40 years. We know things now that we didn\u2019t know then. We have experienced Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and other accidents. We have hundreds of thousands of tons of waste that did not exist in 1970. We know about climate chaos and renewable energy \u2013 for which nuclear energy is part of the problem \u2013not the solution. It is time to upgrade our global operating system to reflect hard science, new technologies and 21st<\/sup> century realities.<\/p>\n

* Manipulative, Orwellian Language and Framing\u00a0 TRAP<\/span> \u2013 Highly crafted language creates thought forms with emotional charges that motivate opinion and policy.\u00a0 People mindlessly repeat \u201catoms for peace\u201d and \u201cpeaceful uses\u201d of nuclear energy. We don\u2019t say water molecules for peace, or peaceful uses of electricity. Why not just say \u201cnon-military uses\u201d?\u00a0 Who could be against a \u201cNuclear Renaissance\u201d? How ironic – a rebirth of death!\u00a0 The image of the cherished \u201cthird pillar\u201d of the NPT seems necessary to hold up the whole structure.<\/p>\n

* The Inalienable Rights Frame Mind TRAP<\/span>–\u00a0\u00a0 Nuclear power is NOT an inalienable right – by definition, which is one that “no earthly power can rightfully deny” and\u00a0that “can only be transferred with the consent of the person possessing those rights.” Furthermore, nations do not have rights, only individuals. It is astonishing that intelligent people repeat this perverse, misleading and fake use of language. What all life forms do in fact have an inalienable right to is clean air, water and safe, non-toxic, renewable energy.<\/p>\n

* The Prestige TRAP<\/span> \u2013 Framing nuclear energy as a right creates an artificial value and right to demand. It manipulates desire and seduces many leaders and citizens into a dangerous lifestyle, devoting precious resources to creating an infrastructure harmful to their financial, health, political and environmental interests.<\/p>\n

* The Political Double Bind\u00a0 TRAP<\/span> \u2013Article IV creates a political TRAP,\u00a0 inviting conflicts that would not otherwise exist. Denying membership in the \u201cnuclear club\u201d to certain parties is discriminatory, and can be experienced as a humiliating insult. Claiming their NPT given \u201cinalienable right,\u201d some states may be drawn into preventable political conflicts that compromise their security and political relationships.\u00a0 Denying another\u2019s \u201cinalienable right\u201d creates a double-bind<\/em> – damned if we allow it and damned if we deny it. The conflict with Iran would not exist without Article IV. It is a conflict-generating artifice in which states can be treated in a provocative way, triggering a chain of reactions and counter reactions, unwittingly escalating tensions, within and between states. How many more unexpected conflicts might arise in the next 40 years?<\/p>\n

* The Denial and Overconfidence TRAP<\/span> \u2013 When enthusiastically promoting a vested interest, there is a tendency to exaggerate the potential for success and to minimize potentials for accidents and failure. This is natural and common, especially before going to war. This includes a denial of vulnerability. Accidents, overruns and problems are inevitable, and can be catastrophic.<\/p>\n

* The Proliferation TRAP<\/span> \u2013 Nuclear plants are bomb factories. Countries with reactors can develop nuclear weapons. As political sands shift, new threats and conflicts arise, countries may suddenly feel a need to \u201cdeter\u201d dominating powers. As long as nuclear energy is promoted, the elimination of nuclear weapons will be impossible.<\/p>\n

* The Terrorism TRAP<\/span> \u2013 Nuclear power plants are vulnerable to theft of fissile materials that can be used to make dirty bombs, and to become targets for terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n

* The Health and Human Rights TRAP<\/span> – Uranium mining causes devastating health and environmental damage and great suffering to individuals, families, and whole communities, as well as to those living close to nuclear reactors, including cancer and birth defects. This denies innocent people, animals, and habitats their true inalienable right to health and safety.<\/p>\n

* The Radioactive Waste TRAP<\/span> \u2013 Radioactive waste remains dangerous for 240,000 years. With 63,000 tons of nuclear waste in the US alone, and no good solutions for protecting them, the NPT is encouraging more. There are problems with disposal, transportation, storage, theft, terrorism and accidents. We trap our descendents for eons.<\/p>\n

* The Money TRAP<\/span> \u2013 Nuclear power is the most expensive form of energy. Estimated costs don\u2019t account for accidents, (which in the US will be borne by the taxpayers) earthquakes, overruns, transportation, storage, and so on.<\/p>\n

Consciousness and Courage <\/strong><\/p>\n

Given the overwhelming downside to nuclear power, and the upside to efficiency, conservation, and all forms of safe, clean, nontoxic, renewable, sustainable energy, let’s consider weaning ourselves off of toxic radioactive proliferating poison power. Fortunate countries that do not have a nuclear infrastructure – before they get one – can leapfrog right over this toxic trouble to rely on clean, safe, renewable energy that will create more jobs and improve their security. Countries burdened with a nuclear infrastructure can phase in renewable energy with IRENA \u2013 The International Renewable Energy Association (www.irena.org<\/a>), which now has 144 countries signed on. IRENA can supplant the IAEA as we phase out our nuclear infrastructure.<\/p>\n

What we do now will affect all species of life for all future generations. It would be unconscionable to condemn them because we are TRAPped. The first step in liberating ourselves is recognition. Next comes courage. There are countries who are not seduced, and are wisely choosing not to take the toxic path. Perhaps delegates who can see through the TRAPs can raise their voices this week, and not collude with the Groupthink.<\/p>\n

The structures that imprison us are very powerful. The stakes are as high as can be. Can we liberate ourselves from the scourge of war and of poisoning the Earth?\u00a0 It would be miraculous if, in our remaining days at the NPT, NGOs and delegates could collaborate to test the limits of what might yet be possible. <\/strong><\/p>\n

_____________________<\/strong><\/p>\n

Diane Perlman, PhD\u00a0–\u00a0Psychologists for Social Responsibility, Mediators Beyond Borders, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong>dianeperlman@gmail.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong>www.consciouspolitics.org<\/a>
\nwww.humanchainreaction.org<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For 40 years, there is virtual, unquestioned acceptance of nuclear energy, with frequent and automatic repetition of the mantras \u2013the “inalienable right” to “peaceful uses” of nuclear energy, the \u201cthe third pillar\u201d throughout the speeches. The belief in nuclear power is so deeply and widely held that it may seem outrageous to even question it. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-transcend-members"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5585\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}