Mr. Eugenio Vargas, Chair
e-vargas@northwestern.edu


March 14, 2006, is the fiftieth anniversary of the first session of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The committee was created to review the source and effects of ionizing radiation on human beings and the environment. In 1986, the UNSCEAR investigated the effects of the nuclear meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear facility in the former USSR. In addition to dealing with nuclear disasters, the committee conducts studies that other organizations, such as the International Commission on Radiological Protection, use in order to recommend radiation protection policies for the United Nations and individual states.

There have been no large-scale nuclear disasters for the committee to address since the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Now, however, there may be need for the committee to augment its activity level and shift focus to non-peaceful radiation. In recent years, there have been several incidents regarding international cooperation with non-proliferation treaties, or the lack thereof. Between Iran’s recent decision to remove UN weapons and the prevalence of self-assigned inspectors who disregard UN mandates and safeguard the development of nuclear works, potential risks arise. Such problems range from the minimal possibility of weapons testing in the near future to the extreme of a full-scale nuclear attack.

Not since World War II has a nuclear warhead been detonated in an assault setting, although weapon testing has occurred. Some have voiced concern that the international community is ill-prepared to deal with nuclear attack should one occur. The face of nuclear energy and weaponry has changed quite a bit since the UNSCEAR was created in 1955; thus, it may be time to reevaluate how the committee is run. Should funding to the committee be increased in the face of nuclear proliferation? Should the UNSCEAR be restructured to put more focus on present day issues? Should UNSCEAR be dissolved entirely and a new committee created to deal with the more militant issues that go along with atomic radiation today?


http://www.un.org/ga/60/fourth/fourth_themes.html
http://www.unscear.org/