United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee
Mitigating Potential Damages of Nuclear Energy
Letter from the Secretary-General
Dear Participants,
I would like to welcome you all to EuroAsia Model United Nations Training and Development Conference 2013. My name is Fatma Betül Bodur and I am a junior at Ankara University Faculty of Law.
Organized under the auspices of Model United Nations Association of Turkey, as a method to fulfil its mission to familiarize MUN-related activities country-wide; EuroAsia MUN 2013 continues the tradition of eight years to host a wide range of delegates from beginners to be introduced to MUN for the first time; to those who are experienced in MUN, seeking a unique opportunity to develop in the field. This year, nine committees will be simulated in EuroAsia MUN; each chosen delicately to appeal to its participants from different levels and areas of academic studies and interest.
United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee, Special, Political and Decolonization will discuss the agenda item Mitigating Potential Damages of Nuclear Energy. This study guide and the academic structure of the Committee have been prepared by the respected Under-Secretary-General Ms. Hazal Çisem Aynalı. Prepared by her talent, hard-work and wisdom; the study guide serves as a perfect first step to comprehend this particular agenda of utmost importance in global scale.
I advise the participants to read the study guide thoroughly. You may also check further readings and key documents which are found on our website. As a whole, the documents presented by the Academic Team will provide you the awareness which is required so as to follow the discussions within the Committee and fully enjoy Model United Nations.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via .
Regards,
Fatma Betül Bodur
Secretary-General of EuroAsia MUN 2013
Letter From the Under Secretary-General
Dear Delegates,
It is my utmost pleasure to welcome you all to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee of EuroAsia Model United Nations 2013 Training and Development Conference. I am Hazal Çisem Aynalı, the Under-Secretary General responsible for the committee. I am currently a senior student at Ankara University Faculty of Law and I have been participating in Model United Nations related conferences for three years now. This is going to be my third EuroAsia MUN conference and my first experience as a member of the Academic Team.
EuroAsia MUN Training and Development Conference has always had a special place for those who are participating in MUN related conferences for the very first time. The first experience of being a delegate, acting like a diplomat, improving public speaking and lobbying skills will never be forgotten. Therefore, I am quite certain that it will be a beneficial and memorable experience for all of us.
This year, SPECPOL, will be dealing with the matter of "Mitigating Potential Damages of Nuclear Energy". The committee is expected to come up with ways to promote international nuclear safety framework by focusing on different aspects of emergency preparedness and response mechanisms in the event of a nuclear crisis.
This document will hopefully act as a guide to your research and discussions in the committee. With great pleasure, I wish you all a satisfying and successful conference.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via .
Regards,
Hazal Çisem Aynalı
Under Secretary-General Responsible for SPECPOL and NATO
EuroAsia MUN 2013 Page 1
United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee
Mitigating Potential Damages of Nuclear Energy
GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOURTH COMMITTEE: SPECIAL, POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION
Being the Fourth Committee of the main deliberative and policy-making organ of the United Nations,[1] namely the General Assembly (GA); Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) deals with various matters of international politics.
Until the late 1970s, General Assembly contained in itself two basic committees which handled political matters being the Political and Security Committee (GA1-POLISEC) and an unnumbered main committee called the Special Political Committee.[2] Trusteeship and decolonization matters were the main subjects of the Fourth Committee. However; with the culmination of the trust territories and progression of the decolonization movement, the functions of the Special Political Committee were merged into the Fourth Committee in 1993, through GA Resolution 47/233.[3]
From that day on, SPECPOL lays stress on the political matters which are not discussed by the First Committee, Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) and particularly on the subjects related to decolonization, Palestinian refugees and human rights, peacekeeping, mine action, outer space, public information, atomic radiation and University for Peace.
Sharing the same procedures and the structure with the other General Assembly committees, SPECPOL does not have the authorization to make a legally binding decision.
A chairperson, three vice-chairpersons and a rapporteur are elected at the outset of each regular GA session. The current chairperson of the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly in its 67th session is Gabon.
AGENDA ITEM: MITIGATING POTENTIAL DAMAGES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
A. INTRODUCTION
“The effects of nuclear accidents respect no borders. It is a matter of global concern which requires global response. To adequately safeguard our people, we must have strong international consensus and action, as well as strong international safety standards.”[4]
Ban Ki-moon
In today’s world, nuclear energy is seen as a prominent alternative of producing huge amounts of electricity.[5] Within this regard, in contrast with the coral-fired plants, nuclear power has the eligibility to provide sustainable, economic and clean form of energy to the electric industry.[6] Despite all the above mentioned beneficial facts, nuclear power has several risks both to the human health and environment. In order to assess these; the risks should be divided into five categories, namely; nuclear accidents, environmental degradation, nuclear terrorism, safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste, and nuclear proliferation.[7] Hereunder, aforementioned categories will be analyzed and particular issues will be pointed out on the way to the solutions, except nuclear proliferation since the subject is included in security issues.
B. DEFINITIONS
Radiation
In general, radiation refers to “the energy that comes from a source and travels through space and may be able to penetrate various materials.”[8] Radiation goes into a division with regards to its effects on human nature and environment as ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.[9] The ionizing radiation is an energy that poses enormous danger to the human nature by damaging cells and DNA genes.[10] Man-made, comparatively low energy of ionizing radiation can be seen through medical examinations. As for the non-ionizing radiation, having no risks, is considered as low energy and includes ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves, radio and radar waves, wireless internet connections and mobile phone signals.[11]
Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy, also referred to as nuclear power, is an alternative source of energy which is used in order to generate useful heat and electricity. Nuclear energy is produced from two kinds of substances being helium and uranium.[12] During a nuclear reaction, the energy in the nucleus of the helium and uranium releases and it is used to generate electric power.[13] Nuclear energy is also being used in medical examinations.[14]
Nuclear power plant
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor.[15]
Radiation exposure
Radiation exposure includes the damages of ionizing radiation and contamination of people in the event of a nuclear crisis.[16] Radiation exposure is referred to as a form of damage to organ tissue caused by excessive exposure to ionizing radiation in a short period.[17] Nevertheless, it can also occur with long term exposure.[18]
Radioactive material
Radioactive material refers to any material produced, leaked or wasted from nuclear power facilities.[19]
Radioactive contamination
Radioactive contamination refers to the contagion of the human nature and environment from radioactive release as a result of any nuclear activity.[20]
Seismic robustness
Seismic robustness refers to the resistance of a nuclear power plant to the earthquake.[21]
Nuclear Meltdown
Nuclear meltdown basically refers to the melting of the core of a nuclear reactor from overheating. Nuclear fuel becomes very hot that it melts through its container and escapes into the environment.[22]
C. BACKGROUND
As it has been mentioned earlier, there are several contingencies in order for the radiation to pose danger.
I. Environmental Degradation
Radiation permanently and naturally exists throughout the environment including the air, water, food, soil and all living organisms.[23] Thus, a human being consistently receives small amounts of radiation from natural sources and medical exposures.[24] However; such releases are considered as non-ionizing radiation which is known as low energy and it does not leave any lasting impact on human nature and environment.[25] The ionizing radiation, on the other hand, is the ultimate hazardous type of radiation which is the outcome of nuclear power industry and manmade or natural sources of nuclear energy.[26]
Any radioactive release from a potential nuclear crisis such as an accident or an exposure to radiation from radioactive waste, intensely affects both human nature and the ecological system.[27]
Ionizing radiation causes damage to the molecules of living cells. If the amount of radiation is low, the damage in the cells is repaired rapidly.[28] However, in case of high amounts, the damages may not be repaired and it leads the cells to permanently change or die.[29] When the cells permanently change, they become cancerous.[30]
On the other hand, experimental evidences show that even small amounts of radiation affect wildlife and lead to an increase in the mutation rates to.[31] In this context, there are concerns on the long-term effects of radiation and the very large number of other environmental contaminants that may induce mutations.
II. Incidents
Nuclear accidents are the most significant appearances of exposure to radiation since the risk is high, and a total of 33 serious accidents at nuclear power stations were identified since 1952.[32] Therefore, the major historical incidents should be particularly reviewed and lessons learned should be assessed in order to determine the root causes and enhance the safety standards.
a. Three Mile Islands
One of the major nuclear accidents in history occurred in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States; on March 28, 1979.[33] The findings showed that the main reason of the accident was a partial meltdown of one of the two nuclear reactors.[34]
Although the authorities did not know that the core had melted down for a day long, they took immediate actions and evacuated the surrounding population with particularly advising pregnant women and children five-mile radius of the plant to leave the area.[35] Concurrently, the source of the accident was found and proper actions were taken before a major disaster occurred.
During the five-day period of meltdown and reparation, fortunately, the amount of radiation exposure was low and had no detectable health effects on plant workers or the public.[36] Though, it is seen as the most serious accident in US commercial nuclear power plant operating history.[37]
b. Chernobyl
On 26 April 1986, the most destructive accident in the history of the nuclear industry occurred at Unit Four of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant located 100 km to the north of Kiev, in Ukraine (at that time, part of the USSR).[38] On the day of the accident, there was going to be a test on the Unit Four of the power plant; therefore the reactor including the safety systems was shut down for a period of time. The emergency signal mechanism did not work for the technicians to understand the core of the reactor exploded, depending upon a technical reason of the ongoing test. The Soviet Union denied any knowledge about a nuclear disaster for two days,[39] and did not take any actions to evacuate the surrounding population including the nearby city of Pripyat until then.[40] Thirty-one people died shortly after the explosion;[41] they were mostly firemen and rescue workers trying to bring the accident under control and were not fully aware of how dangerous the exposure to radiation in the smoke was.[42] After two days, the government officially announced that the reactor had been damaged and immediate evacuation process of Pripyat had had to begin.[43] By that time, most of the population was already highly contaminated by an incredibly huge amount of radiation exposure.[44] Concurrently, experts from the Soviet Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency (herein after referred to as IAEA), government officials, soldiers and tens of workers flooded into the area in order to assess the accident and prevent it from getting more catastrophic.[45] With long lasting endeavouring for months, another potential explosion was prevented and radiation exposure was ceased.
The Chernobyl accident resulted in widespread radioactive contamination in areas around of Belarus, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and a part of Europe inhabited by several million people.[46]
c. Goiania
Institute Goiano de Radioterapia which was a private radiotherapy institute in Goiania, Brazil; moved to its new facility at the end of 1985 with leaving a caesium-137 teletherapy unit in the building. Approximately two years later, during the demolition process of the abandoned building of the institute; the unit was found by the two scrap dealers who removed the source assembly from the radiation head of the machine and took it with them in order to keep it as a souvenir.[47] Until the capsule was taken to a public health centre[48] in 5 days, with passing from one to another and several attempts of demolition, a number of people showed gastrointestinal symptoms arising from the exposure to radiation from the source. After several examinations, it was understood that the capsule had been a material which led to huge amounts of radioactive release. Consequently; in total, some 112.000 people were monitored; of whom 249 were contaminated either internally or externally[49] and four people lost their lives.
d. Fukushima
Being the result of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011;[50] an accident occurred in Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant which was considered having the same level of severity with Chernobyl.[51] Three of six reactors that belong to Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), were operating which were shut down automatically at the time earthquake hit, proving that they are seismically robust.[52] However; the lack of technical infrastructure against a 15-meter tsunami led the entire site to flood and the core of the reactors to partially melt down and explode.[53]
Figure 1: Operational Reactors (2013)[54]
Along with radiation contamination in the air, one of the main concerns was the leaking of the radioactive materials to the public water. Therefore, the government evacuated the surrounding population with setting a 20-kilometre exclusion zone and banning fishing along the northeast coast of the country.[55] Nobody died from radiation exposure, however; in the meantime, failure to prevent further crises paved the way to a hydrogen explosion.[56]