21st Century Dimensions of Nuclear Security Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam Nov 29 2011

Concept Paper for the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) for President Lee Myung-bak, Chair of the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit

I am very delighted that President Lee Myung-bak is the Chair of the second Nuclear Security Summit in 2012 being hosted in Republic of Korea, after the first Washington

Summit in 2010, on this issue of great importance. It is also heartening and timely

that the nations of the world are attaching due importance to this area of deep

concern to the entire humanity. A comprehensive approach is required: Since 1000 BC (that is for over 3000 years) there have been more than 8000 peace treaties and conventions and each one lasted on the average of no more than nine years. The League of Nations was created in 1920 to ensure that "World War I was the end to all wars". But within twenty years World War II erupted! This gave rise to the United Nations that was established in 1945 "to end wars and conflict between nations once and for all". Since then there have been over 150 wars including the cold war which have all claimed millions of lives!! It is clear then that political negotiations, conventions, treaties and the use of arms have not succeeded in creating a long lasting state of world peace and the problem of nuclear insecurity due to terrorism and proliferation may rise again and again at weak moments that humanity invariably passes through, unless all nations achieve invincible security.

What then is the way out of this predicament? How can this 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit help to draw the world out of this fast grip of constant fear and suffering,

and alternate waves of war and peace on a sustainable basis? Only a new seed will create a new crop. It has been shown in all history that the principle of every nation being secure in isolation of other nations is not a completely workable or reliable concept and doctrine. Only a new philosophy and new efforts based on new knowledge and new discoveries, scientific, technological and humanities, will fulfill the age old dream of the wise for prevention of war and maintenance of sustainable world harmony on an international and national basis. Therefore the series of Nuclear Security Summits having started as an international campaign in 2010 and 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit are already on the right philosophical footing and right foundation.

The Principle of Invincibility The key to address nuclear insecurity comprehensively lies in

the principle of every nation being invincible by self-referral national consciousness.

This unified state of national consciousness can eternally sustain itself, giving rise to

unity in the midst of diverse qualities of all the different peoples in the nation. Time demands that the security of every nation should be completely independent of

anything outside the nation, but every nation concurrently and generously sharing its

special and unique strengths, skills and resources (its core competencies) with other

nations in a cooperative, fair & equitable manner. Such a concept of integrated and balanced independence and interdependence alone

can raise the level of collective invincibility of the human species as a whole on planet

Earth. Integrated National Consciousness Maintaining a high level of integrity and coherence in national and international consciousness, by various means, in individuals, groups, institutions and societies, prevents the birth of any internal and external enemy. It overcomes a perennial unstable, unbalanced, uncoordinated and unsustainable life on planet earth. An integrated nation will radiate a nourishing, life-supporting influence on every other nation; and depending on how strongly integrated is its national consciousness, its influence of coherence and nourishing power of positivity will prevent the birth of any external enemy. For such a nation, no enemy will be born anywhere on earth; and all nations will live in one grand, glorious, unified family of nations, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Implementing 21st Century Invincible Nuclear Security A model for implementing the

concept of invincible nuclear security when translated into a means of collective action

gives rise to nine core values, based on the study so far. Some of these were already

articulated in the NSS 2010 agreed Work Plan. These core values for invincible nuclear

security are: 1. Eternal Vigilance: Integrated and shared information and intelligence by real

time environmental and situational awareness systems and technologies. This is

already a recommended part of the Work Plan at the 2010 Washington NSS Summit

namely a. "Participating States are encouraged to develop and apply mechanisms to expand

sharing of information on issues, challenges, risks and solutions related to nuclear security,

nuclear terrorism and illicit nuclear trafficking in a comprehensive and timely manner; and b. Participating States are encouraged to develop methods and mechanisms, where

appropriate, to enhance bilateral and multilateral collaboration in sharing urgent and

relevant information on nuclear security and incidents involving illicit nuclear trafficking."

2. Coherence in formulation and implementation of an international and national

nuclear security vision through well defined and publicly articulated international and

national energy security missions, objectives, strategies, goals, policies and practices

that generate

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stability, flexibility and capabilities to resist internal disorder created by regional

and international nuclearization. 3. Dynamism and Strength of every nation in the world through such integrated international energy technology missions that will create strong people-to -people

bonds, based on regional and global alliances and national competitive strategies wherein each nation nourishes every other nation by world-wide deployment of its own

unique core competencies for advantage of the human species as whole. Such strong people-to-people bonds, being based on steadfastness will enable man do what is right

and good relations will remain firm and triumph over everything 4. Freedom that enables every nation develop evolutionary, creative, democratic socio-

economic development process which is not injurious to other nations and does not

radiate negative values to pollute life in other countries and also to ensure that negative

values do not come into the country from outside. 5. Indestructibility of society and its critical institutions through creativity and self-

sustaining growth using perennial, limitless, sources of clean energy. 6. Self-reliance and Independence in energy, food supplies and critical technologies with

surplus capacities to nourish other nations in need. 7. Continuous Expansion of all available energy technology options, especially those in

the green power domain. 8. Thorium Power for a Secure Future of Nuclear Energy: It is believed that the amount of energy in Thorium reserves on earth is more than the combined total energy in remaining petroleum, coal, other fossil fuels and Uranium. Thorium has many other advantages. It is estimated that Thorium may be able to generate (through uranium-233 producible from it) 8 times the amount of energy per unit mass compared to (natural) Uranium . The much debated waste generation is also at a relative advantage for Thorium. It produces waste that is relatively less toxic due to the absence of minor actinides. It is noteworthy also, that Thorium is far more difficult to weaponize compared to Uranium thus ensuring an inherently safer system for energy generation with lesser security hazard. We need an active knowledge platform for rapid development of this technology, which has to be a major international objective. The nuclear advanced nations, can then share their knowledge of safe and non-weaponizable Thorium Power Generation. 9. Taking Responsibility for nuclear safety and security : Analyzing the relatively insecure

nuclear nations in the world, one can find few common trends like weak governance,

threatened or non-existent democracy and social inequity. As a society or nation

graduates into being a nuclear power, both civilian or military, it has to realize that it

automatically takes on an immense responsibility of carefully protecting and securing

such

assets. It would not just be towards the securing of the nuclear reactors, but also

towards finding secure disposal mechanism for the nuclear, with a shared responsibility

towards all forms of life, and the environment of our planet, only then will 21st century

nuclear security be realized. Concluding Remarks All progress in eliminating nuclear insecurity world-wide now depends on new

discoveries that enable man break out of past limitations. The scope of these nine values

for invincibility is unbounded. Invincible nuclear security can be accomplished by every

nation individually and collectively through eternal vigilance, continuous expansion of

new energy technology options, coherence, dynamism and strength, freedom,

indestructibility and self sufficiency not only in the immediate term but remain

sustainable in the long term for the survival and growth of the human race on planet

Earth. By carefully considering the practical aspects of formulating and implementing such

a comprehensive mission-oriented strategy for invincible nuclear security, a set of

international and national integrated programmes grounded in these nine values, and a

complete and comprehensive solution emerge that would add significant value to

survival and growth of the human species on planet Earth in a stable, balanced,

coordinated and sustainable manner.

By, Dr. APJ Abdulkalam www.abdulkalam.com

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