Nuclear Energy Research Act
Contents
Resolution History
Resolution #151
The Nuclear Energy Research Act grew out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act. Article IV of that act read "Nothing in this legislation shall be interpreted as affecting the right of all UN nations to research, produce and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, or their participation in the exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for peaceful purposes, provided such activities are in conformity with article I of this legislation." From here, The Beltway's UN ambassador decided to broach the idea of a resolution that would help promote peaceful, or as the ambassador initially called it, civilian, nuclear power.
Yelda
A follow-up proposal to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act allowing for free trade of nuclear-energy technology had always been Yelda's plan [1], though it insisted it would not introduce such a proposal unless the non-proliferation agreement were adopted. Luckily, it did, by just under 300 votes. [2] Shortly thereafter, The Beltway came forward with its idea for a proposal. Ausserland would later boast about having brought the likeminded delegates together by referring The Beltway to Yelda ... or Yelda to The Beltway. Whatever. The point is not who Ausserland referred to whom (or "whom Ausserland referred to who"? "Whom"? Hmm?); the point is that its delegation did not charge a commission for matchmaking, making it either very generous or very stupid. Also, that the Yeldan ambassador was brave enough to shake The Beltway ambassador's hand to seal the deal.
Telegram Campaign
The telegram campaign was conducted by Yelda and The Beltway. The first approval, other than that of The Beltway, came from The anihialtum; other approvals soon followed, and the resolution made quorum on April 3, 2006.
UN Floor Debate
Proposal FAQ
So, what's this resolution about? It's designed to promote research and trade of civilian nuclear technology and civilian nuclear energy.
But couldn't a nation use nuclear fuel to make nuclear bombs? Wrong type of fuel. Bombs need weaponized (90% or more fissionable Uranium/Plutonium) nuclear fuel; reactors need enriched (2-3% fissionable Uranium/Plutonium) nuclear fuel.
Couldn't a nation enrich the nuclear fuel and make nukes? If it can enrich the fuel itself. Centrifuges and other means of enriching uranium are not a means of generating nuclear power, nor a piece of equipment needed to generate nuclear power, nor fissionable materials. Means of enriching uranium are therefore not covered by NERA.
Free trade's bad! Rhetoric is nice, but this is a Q&A. Please ask a question.
Fine. I hate free trade. Why should I vote for this? One, the sector involved is, for most nations, a minor sector of the economy. Two, the length of time before free trade must be enacted in the nuclear energy sector is eleven years, while the NERC starts immediately, allowing your companies to develop better nuclear technology faster. Three, the NERC is an incredibly useful tool for the world. Four, the UNFTC is an "impartial commission" that can settle disputes fairly.
But I have restrictions/a ban in place for nuclear power. Will those/that remain? As long as they apply equally to domestic and foreign companies.
What if I have to cut back on nuclear trade due to energy crises? The UNFTC is an impartial commission that will be able to settle any disputes that may arise.
Aren't you just plutocrats trying to get rich off of the poor countries of the world? No, we're technocrats and bureaucrats trying to improve the conditions of all nations by making electrical power cheaper and nuclear power safer.
What if I have another question? Then I provide you with another answer.
NERA and Res. 151
The debate on the UN floor concentrated on the possibility that this resolution could be used to avoid the provisions of Resolution 151, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act. Although initially somewhat poorly informed on the matter, Ambassador Clinton eventually came through with information showing that neither the nuclear fuel needed to build nuclear bombs nor the equipment needed to enrich nuclear fuel to the proper amount would be considered fissionable materials, a means of generating nuclear power, or equipment used to generate nuclear power.
Resolution Text
| Category: | Free Trade | Strength: | Strong | Proposed By: | The Beltway |
|---|
Description: (Co-authored by Yelda)
The General Assembly of the United Nations,
APPLAUDING the passage of Resolution #151 “Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act,”
BELIEVING the benefits of peaceful atomic energy technology should be available to all UN member nations,
AFFIRMING the right of UN member nations to exchange scientific information on the peaceful application of atomic energy,
NOTING that scientific advancement benefits greatly from collaboration of scientists from multiple nations,
CONCERNED with the potentially international and devastating impact of accidents involving nuclear reactors,
ACKNOWLEDGING that current techniques for disposal of nuclear waste materials are often lacking;
RECOGNIZING the threat of terrorist attacks on nuclear reactors,
DECLARING that all UN member nations are entitled to participate in the free trade of fissionable materials used in said technological applications,
HEREBY:
1. ESTABLISHES the Nuclear Energy Research Commission (NERC), mandated to: I - Coordinate research into safer and more efficient methods of nuclear power generation, II - Coordinate research into safer means of nuclear waste disposal, III - Support efforts to improve the security of nuclear plants;
2. STRONGLY URGES UN member nations to provide assistance to the NERC;
3. CALLS UPON UN member nations to conduct research into safer and more efficient methods of nuclear power generation, especially when such research is not already being conducted by other entities;
4. ENCOURAGES the sale and transfer of nuclear power generation materials and technology between UN nations;
5. REQUIRES the elimination of protectionist devices restricting the trade of nuclear power generation technology, equipment and fissionable materials, including but not limited to tariffs, duties, subsidies, subventions and quotas, within eleven years;
6. FURTHER REQUIRES the elimination of protectionist devices restricting the trade of electrical power generated by nuclear power plants, including but not limited to tariffs, duties, subsidies, subventions and quotas, within eleven years;
7. EMPHASIZES that UN member nations reserve the right to employ retaliatory tariffs towards non-member nations to prevent price dumping;
8. AUTHORIZES the United Nations Free Trade Commission (UNFTC) to arbitrate any trade disputes which may arise concerning the interpretation of this legislation.
- Votes For: 9,294
- Votes Against: 3,414
- Implemented: Tue Apr 25 2006
