CSS ASPIRANTS
ESSAYS By CSPs
Compiled By
Saad Baig
,Global Zero: World without Nuclear Weapons
By Irshad Ali Sodhar (FSP)
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Brief history of nuclear weapons
3. Perils of nuclear weapons
4. Need to eliminate nuclear weapons
5. Global zero initiative
6. Is this goal achievable? Yes:
a. Historical support
b. Political will
c. Strong public support
d. New leadership
7. How to achieve it? Procedure/Strategy:
a. Ratification of NPT/CTBT
b. Reduction by the US and Russia
c. Elimination by all nuclear states
d. Follow up: control mechanism
8. Creation of International Nuclear Fuel-Bank
9. Advantages of nuclear zero
10. Conclusion
“This is the moment to begin the work of seeking the peace of world without
nuclear weapons” (Barak Obama)
Man has achieved tremendous progress in developing scientific technology for the welfare
and well-being of humanity, but simultaneously, he has also developed weapons for his own
destruction. To acquire power–the most flagrant of all passions–he created weapons
including explosive, chemical, biological and nuclear. Among them, the nuclear weapons are
the most destructive causing mass destruction. Though, these have been used once in
history during the World War-II, these have created a perpetual fear of annihilation among
all humans. Now, with the evolving of a multi-cultural globalised world, there is an increase
in momentum to develop a consensus for achieving Global Zero- elimination of all nuclear
weapons. To succeed in this initiative, the need is to sit together, contemplate, devise a
strategy and agree to divert this capability from weapons to welfare of humanity. The most
resounding argument, generating urge to achieve this surpassable task lies in the brief
history of apocalyptic perils of nuclear weapons.
The perils of atomic weapons were manifest as the two cities of Japan were wreaked when
the bombs were dropped on them. In Hiroshima, some 75,000 people were immediately
killed by blast, fire and radiation. Another 70,000 died by the end of 1945. Three days later
in Nagasaki, plutonium bomb killed about 40,000 people immediately, another 75,000 died
by the end of 1945. Five days after Nagasaki’s flattening, Japan surrendered. But the impact
didn’t stop there. Thousands people died in following years due to radiation. Tens of
thousands became disabled. Not only the people present at the time suffered but the
‘unborn’ as well. Thousands others were born with deformities and genetic disorders due to
which successive generations have suffered.
,The Americans and Japanese learned different lessons from these bombings. “The
Americans lesson was; the nuclear weapons win wars, and therefore have value.
The Japanese learned that human being and nuclear weapons cannot co-
exist.” (David Krieger, President Nuclear Age Peace Foundation). However, the danger
posed by nuclear weapons today is far greater than the destruction they caused in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Today, the number of nuclear weapons around the world is about 30,000 bombs with far
greater weight and destruction power. Even a fraction of these weapons could put an end to
human as well as other species on our planet. It is clear that if we don’t achieve ‘Global
Zero’, our planet is always at risk, of being converted into a ‘Ground Zero’. This could
happen not only due to a deliberate act but also accidental incident. Therefore, there is a
strong reason that ‘these weapons must be abolished before they abolish us’.
The need to eliminate nuclear weapons is not only because these can be used for
destruction in war but also because they pose equal danger in times of peace. There have
been “Close Calls” to annihilation in various occasions. [In 1995] President Boris Yeltsin was
informed that a nuclear missile was speeding towards the heart of Russia. Russian nuclear
forces, already on hair-trigger alert, were put in even higher alert. Russian policy called for
a “launch on warning”. The fate of the planet hung in the balance. Yeltsin wisely waited. And
within those moments, the alarm declared false. “An unimaginable nuclear disaster had
barely been avoided”, declared America’s Defense Monitor, Center for Defence Information,
December 26, 1999.
Another, important incident took place in the US on August 31, 2007. Air Force crew loaded
six live nuclear warheads onto a 8-52 Bomber and flew from ‘Minot Air Force Base’ in North
Dakota to ‘Barksdak Air Force Base’ in cruising over the country’s heartland (Around 15
states). Each warhead was 10 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In analysis report, America’s Defence science Board (DSB)
revealed that ‘six of the planet’s most powerful weapons were missing and no one noticed
until they had landed in Louisiana after flight of 3 ½ hours.’ The report concluded that
‘human error was at the heart of the incident.’
This incident underscores the risk of accidental nuclear explosion threat due to ‘human
error’ even in the country of its origin and in the ‘peace times’. It is important to note that
this incident occurred in the US, which claims to employ world’s best safety standards for
nuclear weapons. While the US itself keeps expressing concern over the safety of Pakistan’s
nuclear arsenal.
It is learnt from these incidents that the humanity is at the risk of just single human error, if
the nuclear weapons exist in the world. Therefore, wisdom calls for elimination of all nuclear
weapons in order to make the future of humanity—our generation and our future
generations – safe and secure.
In addition, the Cold War which was the pushing force behind nuclear race has ended two
decades ago. Also due to the interdependence of states in the current scenario, there is
unlikeness of revival of such conflicts.
Moreover, the presence of nuclear weapons in some states provides reason and pretext for
other ambitious nations to acquire the same status. This unwise race has itself caused
devastating effects on economy and human development, particularly in developing
countries.
, One of the major world powers, the USSR too, collapsed under the heavy burden of
extraordinary defence spending on economy. The developing countries like India, Pakistan,
and North Korea also joined the race. They did succeed in acquiring nuclear weapons but
their poor population is suffering from abject poverty. A country like Pakistan, which is
merely surviving at the edge of economic insolvency, could gain much economic growth,
had the resources been utilised for the welfare of people. Iranians are bearing the sanctions
imposed by western powers through the UN for pursuing nuclear technology, which
according to them, is aimed at acquiring weapons.
Besides, the argument to possess nuclear weapons to maintain deterrence capability has
also lost its ground. More the states acquire ‘nukes’, more the risk of their use builds-up.
Moreover, the presence of nukes always poses risk of slipping into the hands of terrorists.
Admiral Noel Gayler, a former commander-in-chief of the Pacific Command of US Navy, asks,
“Is difference of nuclear weapons still possible?” He answers, “No”. He also questions, “Does
nuclear disarmament imperil our security?” He answers, “No, it enhances it.” As human –
beings are fallible, deterrence is not a perfect system. It can be failed by human error,
accident, miscalculation or simply miscommunication. “Does it make sense to risk the future
of our cities and even the human species on an unprovable theory?”, David Krieger, founder
of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.
This is why, fortunately, the initiative of achieving peace of the world without nuclear
weapons is gaining support among both the senior military and the political leaders of the
world. The increasing number of leaders have realised what Abraham Lincoln said, “We
must think anew and act anew.” Recently many world leaders have expressed
willingness to move towards this goal. British Prime Minister Gorden Brown said in March
2008 that the UK was ready to work for “a world that is free from nuclear weapons.” On
December 5, 2008, Nicholas Sarkozy, the French President, while holding EU Presidency,
wrote a letter to UN General Secretary, outlining an EU plan to advance global progress
toward nuclear disarmament.
In order to seize this positive trend, to achieve the commitment of the entire international
community, and to re-energise effort for complete nuclear disarmament, a new initiative
“Global Zero” was launched on December 9, 2008, in Paris. The initiative was endorsed by
100 international political, military, business and civic leaders across the world. The
signatories included former US President Jimmy Carter, former Soviet leader Mikhail
Gorbachev, former British Foreign Secretary Margaret Becket, Queen Noor of Jordan,
Ehasnul Haq, former Joint Chief of the Staff committee (JCSC) of Pakistan, former Indian
National Security advisor Brajes Mishra.
Global Zero envisages eliminating nuclear weapons through phased and verified reduction
over a period of years. Key steps include:
• Massive reduction in Russian-US arsenal.
• Complete elimination to zero by all states.
• Establishing verification system to keep check.
• International management of the fuel cycle.
There are many positive indicators which indicate why this goal is achievable. First; there is
a strong historical support. Throughout the nuclear age, even at the height of the Cold War,
leaders foresaw a day when the world could be free of nukes. In 1986, Soviet Premier
Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Ronald Reagan agreed that: “A nuclear war could never
be won and must never be fought.” In 1999, Chinese President Jiang Zemin stated: “There
is no reason why nuclear weapons should not be comprehensively banned and completely
ESSAYS By CSPs
Compiled By
Saad Baig
,Global Zero: World without Nuclear Weapons
By Irshad Ali Sodhar (FSP)
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Brief history of nuclear weapons
3. Perils of nuclear weapons
4. Need to eliminate nuclear weapons
5. Global zero initiative
6. Is this goal achievable? Yes:
a. Historical support
b. Political will
c. Strong public support
d. New leadership
7. How to achieve it? Procedure/Strategy:
a. Ratification of NPT/CTBT
b. Reduction by the US and Russia
c. Elimination by all nuclear states
d. Follow up: control mechanism
8. Creation of International Nuclear Fuel-Bank
9. Advantages of nuclear zero
10. Conclusion
“This is the moment to begin the work of seeking the peace of world without
nuclear weapons” (Barak Obama)
Man has achieved tremendous progress in developing scientific technology for the welfare
and well-being of humanity, but simultaneously, he has also developed weapons for his own
destruction. To acquire power–the most flagrant of all passions–he created weapons
including explosive, chemical, biological and nuclear. Among them, the nuclear weapons are
the most destructive causing mass destruction. Though, these have been used once in
history during the World War-II, these have created a perpetual fear of annihilation among
all humans. Now, with the evolving of a multi-cultural globalised world, there is an increase
in momentum to develop a consensus for achieving Global Zero- elimination of all nuclear
weapons. To succeed in this initiative, the need is to sit together, contemplate, devise a
strategy and agree to divert this capability from weapons to welfare of humanity. The most
resounding argument, generating urge to achieve this surpassable task lies in the brief
history of apocalyptic perils of nuclear weapons.
The perils of atomic weapons were manifest as the two cities of Japan were wreaked when
the bombs were dropped on them. In Hiroshima, some 75,000 people were immediately
killed by blast, fire and radiation. Another 70,000 died by the end of 1945. Three days later
in Nagasaki, plutonium bomb killed about 40,000 people immediately, another 75,000 died
by the end of 1945. Five days after Nagasaki’s flattening, Japan surrendered. But the impact
didn’t stop there. Thousands people died in following years due to radiation. Tens of
thousands became disabled. Not only the people present at the time suffered but the
‘unborn’ as well. Thousands others were born with deformities and genetic disorders due to
which successive generations have suffered.
,The Americans and Japanese learned different lessons from these bombings. “The
Americans lesson was; the nuclear weapons win wars, and therefore have value.
The Japanese learned that human being and nuclear weapons cannot co-
exist.” (David Krieger, President Nuclear Age Peace Foundation). However, the danger
posed by nuclear weapons today is far greater than the destruction they caused in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Today, the number of nuclear weapons around the world is about 30,000 bombs with far
greater weight and destruction power. Even a fraction of these weapons could put an end to
human as well as other species on our planet. It is clear that if we don’t achieve ‘Global
Zero’, our planet is always at risk, of being converted into a ‘Ground Zero’. This could
happen not only due to a deliberate act but also accidental incident. Therefore, there is a
strong reason that ‘these weapons must be abolished before they abolish us’.
The need to eliminate nuclear weapons is not only because these can be used for
destruction in war but also because they pose equal danger in times of peace. There have
been “Close Calls” to annihilation in various occasions. [In 1995] President Boris Yeltsin was
informed that a nuclear missile was speeding towards the heart of Russia. Russian nuclear
forces, already on hair-trigger alert, were put in even higher alert. Russian policy called for
a “launch on warning”. The fate of the planet hung in the balance. Yeltsin wisely waited. And
within those moments, the alarm declared false. “An unimaginable nuclear disaster had
barely been avoided”, declared America’s Defense Monitor, Center for Defence Information,
December 26, 1999.
Another, important incident took place in the US on August 31, 2007. Air Force crew loaded
six live nuclear warheads onto a 8-52 Bomber and flew from ‘Minot Air Force Base’ in North
Dakota to ‘Barksdak Air Force Base’ in cruising over the country’s heartland (Around 15
states). Each warhead was 10 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In analysis report, America’s Defence science Board (DSB)
revealed that ‘six of the planet’s most powerful weapons were missing and no one noticed
until they had landed in Louisiana after flight of 3 ½ hours.’ The report concluded that
‘human error was at the heart of the incident.’
This incident underscores the risk of accidental nuclear explosion threat due to ‘human
error’ even in the country of its origin and in the ‘peace times’. It is important to note that
this incident occurred in the US, which claims to employ world’s best safety standards for
nuclear weapons. While the US itself keeps expressing concern over the safety of Pakistan’s
nuclear arsenal.
It is learnt from these incidents that the humanity is at the risk of just single human error, if
the nuclear weapons exist in the world. Therefore, wisdom calls for elimination of all nuclear
weapons in order to make the future of humanity—our generation and our future
generations – safe and secure.
In addition, the Cold War which was the pushing force behind nuclear race has ended two
decades ago. Also due to the interdependence of states in the current scenario, there is
unlikeness of revival of such conflicts.
Moreover, the presence of nuclear weapons in some states provides reason and pretext for
other ambitious nations to acquire the same status. This unwise race has itself caused
devastating effects on economy and human development, particularly in developing
countries.
, One of the major world powers, the USSR too, collapsed under the heavy burden of
extraordinary defence spending on economy. The developing countries like India, Pakistan,
and North Korea also joined the race. They did succeed in acquiring nuclear weapons but
their poor population is suffering from abject poverty. A country like Pakistan, which is
merely surviving at the edge of economic insolvency, could gain much economic growth,
had the resources been utilised for the welfare of people. Iranians are bearing the sanctions
imposed by western powers through the UN for pursuing nuclear technology, which
according to them, is aimed at acquiring weapons.
Besides, the argument to possess nuclear weapons to maintain deterrence capability has
also lost its ground. More the states acquire ‘nukes’, more the risk of their use builds-up.
Moreover, the presence of nukes always poses risk of slipping into the hands of terrorists.
Admiral Noel Gayler, a former commander-in-chief of the Pacific Command of US Navy, asks,
“Is difference of nuclear weapons still possible?” He answers, “No”. He also questions, “Does
nuclear disarmament imperil our security?” He answers, “No, it enhances it.” As human –
beings are fallible, deterrence is not a perfect system. It can be failed by human error,
accident, miscalculation or simply miscommunication. “Does it make sense to risk the future
of our cities and even the human species on an unprovable theory?”, David Krieger, founder
of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.
This is why, fortunately, the initiative of achieving peace of the world without nuclear
weapons is gaining support among both the senior military and the political leaders of the
world. The increasing number of leaders have realised what Abraham Lincoln said, “We
must think anew and act anew.” Recently many world leaders have expressed
willingness to move towards this goal. British Prime Minister Gorden Brown said in March
2008 that the UK was ready to work for “a world that is free from nuclear weapons.” On
December 5, 2008, Nicholas Sarkozy, the French President, while holding EU Presidency,
wrote a letter to UN General Secretary, outlining an EU plan to advance global progress
toward nuclear disarmament.
In order to seize this positive trend, to achieve the commitment of the entire international
community, and to re-energise effort for complete nuclear disarmament, a new initiative
“Global Zero” was launched on December 9, 2008, in Paris. The initiative was endorsed by
100 international political, military, business and civic leaders across the world. The
signatories included former US President Jimmy Carter, former Soviet leader Mikhail
Gorbachev, former British Foreign Secretary Margaret Becket, Queen Noor of Jordan,
Ehasnul Haq, former Joint Chief of the Staff committee (JCSC) of Pakistan, former Indian
National Security advisor Brajes Mishra.
Global Zero envisages eliminating nuclear weapons through phased and verified reduction
over a period of years. Key steps include:
• Massive reduction in Russian-US arsenal.
• Complete elimination to zero by all states.
• Establishing verification system to keep check.
• International management of the fuel cycle.
There are many positive indicators which indicate why this goal is achievable. First; there is
a strong historical support. Throughout the nuclear age, even at the height of the Cold War,
leaders foresaw a day when the world could be free of nukes. In 1986, Soviet Premier
Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Ronald Reagan agreed that: “A nuclear war could never
be won and must never be fought.” In 1999, Chinese President Jiang Zemin stated: “There
is no reason why nuclear weapons should not be comprehensively banned and completely
