12. Nuclear weapons and
power: activist
issues which are surrounded by form, and which are yet another measure of real
progress. Nuclear technologies, weapons or power, are among the most extreme examples
of the form of scientists and technologists, and the corporations which support
them, pursuing their interests blindly without any regard for their effects on
others, including people, society, other species and the planet. As such, they
are perfect examples of the human selfishness that is one of our core problems,
and among the clearest targets of our opposition.
We cannot have real and enduring peace until nuclear weapons are eliminated, but
given the effects of chaos it is likely that we will never be able to accomplish
this. We are trapped in a cage of our own design. Also, as we saw earlier, this
demonstrates that the worst technology will always get into the worst hands.
The world of the twentieth century was completely remade - the effects cannot
be overstated - by Soviet espionage of American nuclear secrets. The world of
the twenty-first century may well suffer a similar fate due to the recent Chinese
espionage. (There is a greater need for the end to dictatorship in China than
ever before.)
(Regardless of the involvement, or lack of involvement, of Los Alamos scientist
Wen Ho Lee, such espionage did take place. The Cox Commission found that the
Chinese government sometime in the late 1980s acquired sensitive design information,
in particular regarding the miniaturized W-88 warhead used on the Trident D-5
submarine-launched ballistic missile. Wall Street Journal, September
19, 2000)
As for nuclear power, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Since we are using our
non-renewable energy sources with wild abandon, and without developing new, renewable
sources, we may well feel compelled at some point - the nuclear energy industry
will certainly tell us that we are - to end our opposition to such power on practical
grounds. And, with such an opening not only will we have a far greater potential
for nuclear accidents, and ecological damage, but we will also lose our ability
to halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons. While it seemingly has evaporated
into the background, at least in Western consciousness - India and Pakistans
and North Koreas actions notwithstanding [and now Iran] - this remains one
of our greatest threats, and it likely will surface again [it has]. But rather
than wait for this to happen, for the next nuclear war or incident
to occur, we must reenergize our activism and do our best to prevent it.