IAEA´s International Decommissioning Network (IDN) has begun using popular social networking tools to connect with more than 400 nuclear professionals in 60 countries all year round. The social networking sites will be used to face the challenge of delivering the right training to the right people world-wide. The decommissioning experts can share ideas and learn from each other.
It has proven difficult for some young nuclear professionals who are actually involved in day-to-day decommissioning to attend workshops, seminars and global site visits. So, the IDN´s coordinators at the IAEA are using non-traditional approaches to engage them.
The IDN provides hands-on experience in nuclear installations that are currently being decommissioned. The IDN now posts instructional videos online; videos which are available to more than 400 people working in this field. There are also plans to begin uploading more of these videos using an approach similar to that used by YouTube, thereby sharing critical, cutting-edge knowledge with professionals working in their own countries. An excellent idea to share nuclear knowledge!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
What is Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT)?
In December 1993, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for negotiation of a treaty banning the unsafeguarded production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. The Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) might extend verification measures to fissile materials production facilities, such as uranium enrichment plants and spent fuel reprocessing facilities for the production of plutonium. These facilities are not currently subject to international monitoring. The fissile materials are also used for non-weapon purposes such as a component of the fuel used in nuclear power plants
The resolution called for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to provide assistance in examining verification arrangements to ensure that conditions of the treaties are implemented. It is assumed that such a treaty will be conducive to the prevention of nuclear proliferation and promotion of nuclear disarmament.
Though US Congress is yet to ratify the treaty, Obama administration in USA is keen to mount a diplomatic offensive to push India and other countries to sign the CTBT and FMCT. India has refused to accept obligations of the treaties that hinder India’s “strategic programme”. India seems to be of the view that “Nuclear weapons are an integral part of the national security and will remain so pending the global elimination of all nuclear weapons on a universal, non-discriminatory basis”.
In view of the hostile neighbors, the country should ensure the country’s security before yielding to any pressures from US and other countries. India should realize that the Indo-US deal will only help US with billions of dollars worth Indian nuclear business. There is nothing much for India to gain from the deal.
The resolution called for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to provide assistance in examining verification arrangements to ensure that conditions of the treaties are implemented. It is assumed that such a treaty will be conducive to the prevention of nuclear proliferation and promotion of nuclear disarmament.
Though US Congress is yet to ratify the treaty, Obama administration in USA is keen to mount a diplomatic offensive to push India and other countries to sign the CTBT and FMCT. India has refused to accept obligations of the treaties that hinder India’s “strategic programme”. India seems to be of the view that “Nuclear weapons are an integral part of the national security and will remain so pending the global elimination of all nuclear weapons on a universal, non-discriminatory basis”.
In view of the hostile neighbors, the country should ensure the country’s security before yielding to any pressures from US and other countries. India should realize that the Indo-US deal will only help US with billions of dollars worth Indian nuclear business. There is nothing much for India to gain from the deal.
Friday, September 18, 2009
1998 test of a thermonuclear device by India at Pokhran had been a failure?
It is unfortunate that a DRDO scientist and a few BARC scientists have questioned the stated success of the thermonuclear device tested in 1998, that too after 10 years, and without much scientific evidence. Why wake up so late? As per Dr. Chidambaram, the device was “a two-stage device of advanced design, which had a fusion-boosted fission trigger as the first stage and a fusion secondary stage which was compressed by radiation implosion and ignited.”
One wonders what is exactly behind this controversy. Some people with the knowledge suspect that there is much more to it than the pure science. There are three possibilities: One can be to force India government to call off the self-committed moratorium on tests and not to sign CTBT; the second reason can be the possible competition for supremacy between BARC and DRDO, and the third may be some one is vying for the top post of DAE in the near future.
In this situation, the common man is taken for a ride, and the national secrets are being openly discussed. I am firmly of the opinion that the full disclosure should be avoided. The issue of credibility of India’s nuclear deterrent should be decided by the Prime Minister himself after due deliberations and hard talk to these scientists. National security should not be jeopardized at any cost.
One wonders what is exactly behind this controversy. Some people with the knowledge suspect that there is much more to it than the pure science. There are three possibilities: One can be to force India government to call off the self-committed moratorium on tests and not to sign CTBT; the second reason can be the possible competition for supremacy between BARC and DRDO, and the third may be some one is vying for the top post of DAE in the near future.
In this situation, the common man is taken for a ride, and the national secrets are being openly discussed. I am firmly of the opinion that the full disclosure should be avoided. The issue of credibility of India’s nuclear deterrent should be decided by the Prime Minister himself after due deliberations and hard talk to these scientists. National security should not be jeopardized at any cost.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Radiation around us
Radiation is a fact of life. People on this earth are being continuously bombarded by radiations from different sources, i.e., cosmic radiation from space, radiation emitted from the natural radioactive elements present in soil/rocks, like uranium and thorium and internal exposure from inhalation of natural radioactive gases, like radon preset in the air which we breathe, and traces of radioactive elements present in food and water we consume. Totally, these contribute about 79 % of the annual average global human exposure to radiation. Out of remaining 21%, 20% is contributed from medical exposures from X-rays and scans and only 1% from all other man-made sources, including nuclear power ((World Health Organization, WHO).
In India, major part (over 98%) of the average annual human exposure is from natural sources, about 1.93% from medical exposures and only about 0.37% from man-made sources. The large difference in medical exposures in WHO and Indian values, is due to enhanced medical care provided in developed countries as compared to India.
This information should be made available to the public so that risk from man-made sources are seen in proper perspective, and members of the public readily accept the numerous benefits from the application of radiation and radioisotopes.
In India, major part (over 98%) of the average annual human exposure is from natural sources, about 1.93% from medical exposures and only about 0.37% from man-made sources. The large difference in medical exposures in WHO and Indian values, is due to enhanced medical care provided in developed countries as compared to India.
This information should be made available to the public so that risk from man-made sources are seen in proper perspective, and members of the public readily accept the numerous benefits from the application of radiation and radioisotopes.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Moratorium on nuclear tests
In this blog on Nuclear Issues, it was repeatedly posted that any funds provided by the west to Pakistan will only be used to produce more and more weapons, including nuclear to fight against India. Fight to contain terrorist groups inside Pakistan is only a pretext under which the Pakistan government is demanding funds from US and other sympathisers from Arab world.
The Indian Army Chief says “Pakistan’s efforts of increasing its nuclear strength were a matter of concern and Islamabad was going well beyond the degree of deterrence”. India should be more concerned than ever since there is a huge controversy over the claims of success of the 1998 Pokhran thermonuclear explosion, as claimed by the India government. The Indian nuclear fraternity is also divided over the issue raised by one of the ex-DRDO scientists. The Indian Atomic Energy Commission Chief however said that no more nuke tests are required to confirm the disputed Pokhran test results.
The issue is raised at a time when the US is pressuring India to sign CTBT and other pacts which will hinder progress in India’s nuclear weapon programs. Under the circumstances, the India government can very well refuse to sign any pacts which will put permanent moratorium on nuclear tests if required at a latter date. No deal is above the national security.
The Indian Army Chief says “Pakistan’s efforts of increasing its nuclear strength were a matter of concern and Islamabad was going well beyond the degree of deterrence”. India should be more concerned than ever since there is a huge controversy over the claims of success of the 1998 Pokhran thermonuclear explosion, as claimed by the India government. The Indian nuclear fraternity is also divided over the issue raised by one of the ex-DRDO scientists. The Indian Atomic Energy Commission Chief however said that no more nuke tests are required to confirm the disputed Pokhran test results.
The issue is raised at a time when the US is pressuring India to sign CTBT and other pacts which will hinder progress in India’s nuclear weapon programs. Under the circumstances, the India government can very well refuse to sign any pacts which will put permanent moratorium on nuclear tests if required at a latter date. No deal is above the national security.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Radon helps climate scientists
Radon (Rn-222) is a naturally occurring heavy radioactive gas formed by the decay of radium (Ra-226). It is emitted from the soil and disperses into the atmosphere. It´s considered dangerous to human health when allowed to accumulate in confined places like cellars and basements. The rates of radon emission vary based on the amount of rainfall or the uranium content of the local soil. The concentration of radon and its daughter products depends on the level of ventilation or the air movements in a given area.
The IAEA and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) have taken another step in their global initiative to improve atmospheric investigations that use radon. Radon in the air is useful for studying how pollutants move through the atmosphere and for testing the accuracy of the atmospheric dispersion models. A particularly important application is its use in estimating greenhouse gas emissions and to predict climate change and global warming. It is also measured at stations of the WMO´s Global Atmosphere Watch network.
Scientists and engineers, world-wide, are involved in measuring radon emission from land and also in measuring atmospheric radon. The IAEA has been working on an initiative aimed at standardizing radon measurement tools and practices to improve the quality of their data so that the data are comparable world-wide, and can be used for global projections on climate change.
(Based on IAEA News)
The IAEA and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) have taken another step in their global initiative to improve atmospheric investigations that use radon. Radon in the air is useful for studying how pollutants move through the atmosphere and for testing the accuracy of the atmospheric dispersion models. A particularly important application is its use in estimating greenhouse gas emissions and to predict climate change and global warming. It is also measured at stations of the WMO´s Global Atmosphere Watch network.
Scientists and engineers, world-wide, are involved in measuring radon emission from land and also in measuring atmospheric radon. The IAEA has been working on an initiative aimed at standardizing radon measurement tools and practices to improve the quality of their data so that the data are comparable world-wide, and can be used for global projections on climate change.
(Based on IAEA News)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Paleoradiology for unravel age-old mysteries
Nuclear analytical techniques and imaging systems such as neutron activation analysis, proton-induced X-ray emission, accelerator mass spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and computed tomography are widely used in many applications. "Paleoradiology" uses such nuclear technologies to study artefacts, skeletons, mummies and fossils. Many museums worldwide use the nuclear technologies to discover otherwise hidden details that piece together historic puzzles.
With the advent of more sophisticated CT technology and post-processing software, it is now possible to view mummies in coronal and sagittal planes as well as manipulate the raw data to create three-dimensional (3D) models of mummies and reconstruct their physical appearance. The approach is non-intrusive, leaving the mummy intact, untouched, and unharmed. The age-old mysteries can now be unravelled through the modern science of paleoradiology.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is helping interested countries apply such nuclear technologies for purposes of archaeological study and cultural preservation. Countries should take benefit of the Paleoradiology to improve investigative archaeology, which is still in early stage.
With the advent of more sophisticated CT technology and post-processing software, it is now possible to view mummies in coronal and sagittal planes as well as manipulate the raw data to create three-dimensional (3D) models of mummies and reconstruct their physical appearance. The approach is non-intrusive, leaving the mummy intact, untouched, and unharmed. The age-old mysteries can now be unravelled through the modern science of paleoradiology.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is helping interested countries apply such nuclear technologies for purposes of archaeological study and cultural preservation. Countries should take benefit of the Paleoradiology to improve investigative archaeology, which is still in early stage.
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