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World leaders hope for a nuclear-free future
Published: 14 April, 2010, 00:21
Edited: 30 April, 2010, 23:28
US, Washington: President Barack Obama (C) waves with other world leaders during a group photo during the Nuclear Security Summit at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, April 13, 2010. (AFP Photo / Jim Watson)
(22.5Mb) embed videoTAGS: Arms, Meeting, Nuclear, USA
The history of nuclear weapons has been devastating and tragic. World leaders meeting in Washington, DC hope the future is one of peace.
The images of atomic bombs exploding in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II will never be forgotten. But 50 years from now, will the images of US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signing the new START treaty be as significant as they seem today? The agreement between the United States and Russia to limit nuclear weapons and nuclear non-proliferation is only one step on a long journey to protect the world from the nuclear threat.
"We've had 47 heads of state gathered in Washington, that's never happened before. We've had 47 heads of state gathered to discuss nuclear weapons issues. That's never happened before and these were the major countries: China, Russia, India, Israel, Brazil, major countries around the world," Cirincione said.
But many more countries were invited than the world's known nuclear powers.
“There's only nine countries in the world that have nuclear weapons," said Cirincione. "Even if they don't have nuclear weapons, they have materials that could be used to make nuclear weapons or the manufacturing capability that could make the materials for nuclear weapons. Two countries that were not at the summit were Iran and North Korea. But the summit wasn't designed to focus on them in particular, it was more focused on the non-state actors. How do you stop a group like Al-Qaeda or the Chechen rebels from getting nuclear weapons materials?”
Analysts who follow the issue believe that the summit is about more than just pomp and circumstance.
"The very fact that the meeting is taking place is just a demonstration, a declaration to the world that yes this is an important problem, we want to bring attention to it and we're going to do something about it," said Ivan Oelrich of the Federation of American Scientists.
And figures from the entertainment industry are also trying to get the issue into the public sphere.
"Most people on the streets, not just in the United States, but all over the world have no idea about where we are right now, which is almost like on a potential tipping point on nuclear proliferation. That's why we made the movie," said producer Lawrence Bender, speaking about his new film Global Zero.
The goal of these meetings, the summit and the film alike is to create a world where we will never again see the consequences of a nuclear attack.
14.04.2010, 00:06
6 comments
Americans prepare for disasterAlthough world leaders are addressing the nuclear threat, some Americans feel that loose nukes coupled with the state of the economy make the world a scary place and they need to be ready to fend for themselves. |
14.04.2010, 10:32
7 comments
Keeping Pandora’s box shutThe US and Russia have sealed a deal on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in Washington which would see both sides disposing of 68 metric tons of excess weapons-grade plutonium beginning in 2018. |
I'm glad that the head of Israel (Netanyahu) attented the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington. I am even more glad that Israel has finally come out to admit that it has at least 200 nuclear weapons and that the country has promised to sign the Non Proliferation Treaty by this time next week. Finally, the country that is most concerned (Israel) about nuclear weapons ending up in the hands of those "terrible" Muslims is leading the way to a more peaceful existence for the Middle East and for the world in general. It is so refreshing that Israel is no longer exempt from being allowed to hide the truth about its vast nuclear arsenal. I'm so glad that the world has finally agreed that Israel is now better off allowing inspectors into their country in the same way that they have been doing in Iran. Wow, I never dreamed that this day would come, but alas, it has! Thank you Obama for hosting this Nuclear Security Summit and giving Netanyahu the wonderful opportunity to, in front of the whole world, come out with the truth and to also join in on Non Proliferation! What a brave and wonderful man that Netanyahu is. All the while I thought that this summit was just another opportunity to turn the world against Iran and the Muslim world in general in preparation for a military attack on Iran, but no, Obama and Netanyahu proved me wrong completely.
This summit was just childish nonsense thought up by the neophytes at the Obama White House. Nothing of significance will be accomplished at this summit, except of course propaganda designed to prop up Obama's image as a great world leader. I am shocked that so many world leaders rushed to Washington when Obama's beckoned. Must be the intoxicating affect of Obamaism. I am anxiously awaiting the next Obama stunt.