PASSED: Nuclear Disaster Response Act

[Veilyonia]

Nuclear Disaster Response Act

Category: International Security
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: Veilyonia

The World Assembly,

REALIZING that nuclear disasters, whether accidentally caused, or caused as result of conflict, pose a serious threat to the world’s population,

UNDERSTANDING that nuclear radiation can have catastrophic effects on the environment and international population if the disaster is not dealt with accordingly, as contaminated waterways and nuclear fallout can disperse nuclear radiation across international borders,

ALARMED that many nations do not adequately respond to nuclear disasters, or underestimate their severity, placing not just their national population, but the international community at risk,

HEREBY

1) DEFINES, for the purposes of appropriately interpreting the material of this resolution:
-A ‘nuclear disaster’ as any event, brought about intentionally or accidentally, that results in the widespread expulsion of harmful concentrations of nuclear radiation
- A ‘contaminated zone’ as an area containing concentrations of radiation that can be harmful or fatal with prolonged exposure.

2) ESTABLISHES the Nuclear Disaster Response Organization (NDRO), which shall perform the following duties:

A) Confirming the severity of nuclear disasters, that is, the amount of radiation released, and its extent and distribution.
B) Providing cleanup crews to control the spread of radiation, and prevent individuals from receiving harmful doses of radiation.
C) Determining the causes of accidental nuclear disasters, for the purposes of preventing similar disasters in the future.

3) MANDATES that all member nations report nuclear disasters to the NDRO, and any surrounding nations that may have been affected by the disaster.

4) REQUIRES that nations afflicted by nuclear disasters take the following measures in dealing with such disasters, including, but not limited to:

A) Evacuating any areas that have been contaminated by radiation as a result of the disaster, beginning with areas closest to the source of radiation and moving outwards.
B) Providing clean water to areas that have had their sources of drinking water contaminated as a result of the disaster.
C) Providing immediate medical services to those suffering from radiation poisoning as a result of the disaster.
D) Clearly marking contaminated zones with multi-lingual signs, using languages present in the surrounding area.
E) Taking appropriate measures to prevent the spread of radiation by restricting or diverting the flow of contaminated waterways, where possible.

This draft has already been scrutinized by several nations, so there shouldn't be any grammatical errors. I'm mainly looking for any comments/ideas/thoughts before I submit the proposal.

[Swarming Cute Kittens]

If I may suggest:

D) Clearly marking contaminated zones with multi-lingual signs.

Perhaps this should read something like 'with signs using the most commonly used languages in the affected area'. The thought behind this is that some nations could have a lot of languages or dialects through their nation.

Other than that, I applaud the effort and this would be something I would likely wish to vote in favor of.

[Veilyonia]

If I may suggest:

D) Clearly marking contaminated zones with multi-lingual signs.

Perhaps this should read something like 'with signs using the most commonly used languages in the affected area'. The thought behind this is that some nations could have a lot of languages or dialects through their nation.

Other than that, I applaud the effort and this would be something I would likely wish to vote in favor of.

Thanks for the feedback! I think doing so may be more practical than including languages not even present in the area. Constructing signs for the hundreds of languages in the world would be very impractical, especially when many may not even be spoken in the afflicted area.

[Veilyonia]

Nuclear Disaster Response Act

Category: International Security
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: Veilyonia

The World Assembly,

REALIZING that nuclear disasters, whether accidentally caused, or caused as result of conflict, pose a serious threat to the world’s population,

UNDERSTANDING that nuclear radiation can have catastrophic effects on the environment and international population if the disaster is not dealt with accordingly, as contaminated waterways and nuclear fallout can disperse nuclear radiation across international borders,

ALARMED that many nations do not adequately respond to nuclear disasters, or underestimate their severity, placing not just their national population, but the international community at risk,

HEREBY

1) DEFINES, for the purposes of appropriately implementing the material of this resolution:
-A ‘nuclear disaster’ as any event, brought about by malicious intent or otherwise, that results in the widespread expulsion of nuclear radiation across a populated area, that is, a population center of at least 30,000 persons.
- A ‘contaminated zone’ as an area containing concentrations of radiation that can be harmful or fatal with prolonged exposure.

2) ESTABLISHES the Nuclear Disaster Response Organization (NDRO), which shall perform the following duties:

A) Confirming the severity of nuclear disasters, that is, the amount of radiation released, and its extent and distribution.
B) Providing cleanup crews to control the spread of radiation, and prevent additional individuals from receiving harmful doses of radiation.
C) Determining the causes of accidental nuclear disasters, for the purposes of preventing similar disasters in the future.

3) MANDATES that all member nations report nuclear disasters to the NDRO, and any surrounding nations that may have been affected by the disaster.

4) REQUIRES that all member nations take the following measures in dealing with the nuclear disaster, including, but not limited to:

A) Evacuating any areas that have been contaminated by radiation as a result of the disaster, beginning with areas closest to the source of radiation and moving outwards.
B) Providing clean water to areas that have had their sources of drinking water contaminated as a result of the disaster.
C) Providing immediate medical services to those suffering from radiation poisoning as a result of the disaster.
D) Clearly marking contaminated zones with multi-lingual signs, using languages present in the surrounding area.
E) Taking appropriate measures to prevent the spread of radiation by restricting or diverting the flow of contaminated waterways, where possible.

Updated. The bolded portion has been added to the draft.

[Malikov]

There are some species in Nation States, that depend on high radiation environments to survie, and launch highly radioactive bombs of to sustain these high levels.

[Buffett and Colbert]

There are some species in Nation States, that depend on high radiation environments to survie, and launch highly radioactive bombs of to sustain these high levels.

Then this proposal doesn't apply to them as it wouldn't be a disaster.

[Malikov]

Ah, but in clause 1, part 2, it doesn't specify who it is harmful to. Changes need to be made, so that it has to be harmful to the species within the immediate surroundings.

[Morlago]

Well, Malikov, do you have to be so mean? But since you've brought it up I suppose you should change. Perhaps you can say,
1) DEFINES, for the purposes of appropriately implementing the material of this resolution:
-A ‘nuclear disaster’ as any event, brought about by malicious intent or accident, that results in the widespread expulsion of nuclear radiation across a populated area, that is, a population center of at least 30,000 persons.
- A ‘contaminated zone’ as an area containing concentrations of radiation that can be harmful or fatal to [b]humans and/or similar beings[/u] with prolonged exposure.

[Spredronia]

Nothing much.

Oh, full support.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

4) REQUIRES that all member nations take the following measures in dealing with the nuclear disaster, including, but not limited to:
D) Clearly marking contaminated zones with multi-lingual signs.

It may be simpler to simply say "Clear signage to indicate contaminated zones". No need to go into the multi-language bit.

[Seculartopia]

4) REQUIRES that all member nations take the following measures in dealing with the nuclear disaster, including, but not limited to:
D) Clearly marking contaminated zones with multi-lingual signs.

It may be simpler to simply say "Clear signage to indicate contaminated zones". No need to go into the multi-language bit.

Hmm, but what if the nation has more than one language?

A compromise could be something about the National Languages instead of every spoken language, because that could be MANY languages depending, the signs would be to large.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Hmm, but what if the nation has more than one language?

A compromise could be something about the National Languages instead of every spoken language, because that could be MANY languages depending, the signs would be to large.

The international radiation symbol may suffice as a minimum in my opinion. Multiple languages would still be permitted, just as long it is clear-marking.

[Dee Beelle]

An excellent proposal. That said, I don't think we can define a nuclear disaster by the population it immmediately affects, because they may be missing the point slightly. The issue here is the dispersal of radioactive material over international borders and over great distances. Which means that, for example, a nuclear accident could occur in the heart of an uninhabited mountain range and only affect a handful of people. However, it could irridiate some local glacier formations, which in the Spring some months later severly pollute several large rivers that flow throught the region, heading ginto major cities in several different states.

Clearly, I think we should consider any remotely large scale emission of radiation to be a disaster. As for the international effect, I think we too should include something regarding the co-operation of member-states (and, possibly even non-member states) in regards to nuclear disasters which affect several nations.

And, while it might not really have a place in this particular pice of legislation, what about fallout from the deliberate use of nuclear or radioactive weapons?

Sorry I'm raising alot of questions without providing alot of answers, but these are issues I think should be discussed before putting this thing up for vote.

[Bears Armed]

The scope of this clause

1) DEFINES, for the purposes of appropriately implementing the material of this resolution:
-A ‘nuclear disaster’ as any event, brought about by malicious intent or otherwise, that results in the widespread expulsion of nuclear radiation across a populated area, that is, a population center of at least 30,000 persons.

technically includes the normal functioning of every star that has at least one world with at least 30'000 persons in its system...

[Xaipete Benn]

B) Providing cleanup crews to control the spread of radiation, and prevent individuals from receiving harmful

Small grammatical issue. Harmful what?

Apologies if you have already changed this and I haven't noticed, the office of the Supreme Xaipete is very busy processing tax returns.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

It might have been an editing accident which happens to me sometimes, accidentally deleting the wrong parts, honoured ambassador.

I think the honoured ambassador to Veilyonia was meaning to say "Providing cleanup crews to control the spread of radiation, and prevent individuals from receiving harmful levels of radiation."

[Veilyonia]

It might have been an editing accident which happens to me sometimes, accidentally deleting the wrong parts, honoured ambassador.

I think the honoured ambassador to Veilyonia was meaning to say "Providing cleanup crews to control the spread of radiation, and prevent individuals from receiving harmful levels of radiation."

In my second draft, listed in one of the below posts, the problem was already repaired to say "harmful doses of radiation."

The scope of this clause

1) DEFINES, for the purposes of appropriately implementing the material of this resolution:
-A ‘nuclear disaster’ as any event, brought about by malicious intent or otherwise, that results in the widespread expulsion of nuclear radiation across a populated area, that is, a population center of at least 30,000 persons.

technically includes the normal functioning of every star that has at least one world with at least 30'000 persons in its system...

I believe this will remedy the situation;

-A ‘nuclear disaster’ as any event, brought about by malicious intent or otherwise, that results in the widespread expulsion of harmful levels of nuclear radiation across a populated area, that is, a population center of at least 30,000 persons

[Krioval]

Would it be possible to add a clause that would allow for WA member nations to request the services of the NDRO in cases involving populations of less than 30,000 individuals?

[Lord] Ambassador Darvek Tyvok
Great Chiefdom of Krioval

[Dee Beelle]

-A ‘nuclear disaster’ as any event, brought about by malicious intent or otherwise, that results in the widespread expulsion of harmful levels of nuclear radiation across a populated area, that is, a population center of at least 30,000 persons

I still think that the revised version doesn't quite address the issue. And I still think that's too large a population to define a "disaster". I'd reword it more as

DEFINES a "nuclear disaster" as, intentional or unintentional, the dispersal of harmful levels or radiation or radioactive materials in a way that threatens any population over 5,000.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Even if a disaster hits a desert then action would still be needed if the rivers affected lead to a population centre some thousands of miles away. When not treated, radiation will spread, fast. Same goes for the atmosphere too. Therefore there may not be a need to specify a minimum population, honoured ambassador.

[Veilyonia]

Nuclear Disaster Response Act

Category: International Security
Strength: Significant
Proposed by: Veilyonia

The World Assembly,

REALIZING that nuclear disasters, whether accidentally caused, or caused as result of conflict, pose a serious threat to the world’s population,

UNDERSTANDING that nuclear radiation can have catastrophic effects on the environment and international population if the disaster is not dealt with accordingly, as contaminated waterways and nuclear fallout can disperse nuclear radiation across international borders,

ALARMED that many nations do not adequately respond to nuclear disasters, or underestimate their severity, placing not just their national population, but the international community at risk,

HEREBY

1) DEFINES, for the purposes of appropriately interpreting the material of this resolution:
-A ‘nuclear disaster’ as any event, brought about intentionally or accidentally, that results in the widespread expulsion of harmful concentrations of nuclear radiation
- A ‘contaminated zone’ as an area containing concentrations of radiation that can be harmful or fatal with prolonged exposure.

2) ESTABLISHES the Nuclear Disaster Response Organization (NDRO), which shall perform the following duties:

A) Confirming the severity of nuclear disasters, that is, the amount of radiation released, and its extent and distribution.
B) Providing cleanup crews to control the spread of radiation, and prevent individuals from receiving harmful doses of radiation.
C) Determining the causes of accidental nuclear disasters, for the purposes of preventing similar disasters in the future.

3) MANDATES that all member nations report nuclear disasters to the NDRO, and any surrounding nations that may have been affected by the disaster.

4) REQUIRES that nations afflicted by nuclear disasters take the following measures in dealing with such disasters, including, but not limited to:

A) Evacuating any areas that have been contaminated by radiation as a result of the disaster, beginning with areas closest to the source of radiation and moving outwards.
B) Providing clean water to areas that have had their sources of drinking water contaminated as a result of the disaster.
C) Providing immediate medical services to those suffering from radiation poisoning as a result of the disaster.
D) Clearly marking contaminated zones with multi-lingual signs, using languages present in the surrounding area.
E) Taking appropriate measures to prevent the spread of radiation by restricting or diverting the flow of contaminated waterways, where possible.

Thank you everyone for your input. We agree that the definition of a "nuclear disaster" should include sparsely populated areas, as radiation can still spread over vast distances (OOC: it is with this in mind that the resolution was drafted in the first place.) Hence, the population cap has been removed. Some other sections have been tweaked for grammar purposes.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

So far, so good, honoured ambassador. (it is a good idea to update to opening post as well!)

I'll get back to you if I find any issues.

[Greenlandic People]

3) MANDATES that all member nations report nuclear disasters to the NDRO, and any surrounding nations that may have been affected by the disaster.

What if the disaster is related to a matter sensitive to national security or secrecy? That is to say, what if a nation is using nuclear power as a front to build an nuclear weapon, but then has an accident with the research? Wouldn't it blow their cover to reveal that their project actually has an aggressive aim?

Is their any way that the clause can be changed so that the exact details of reports to the NDRO can be kept classified upon request?

~Sigismund Ibsen,
Lavinium Delegate to the World Assembly

[Veilyonia]

3) MANDATES that all member nations report nuclear disasters to the NDRO, and any surrounding nations that may have been affected by the disaster.

What if the disaster is related to a matter sensitive to national security or secrecy? That is to say, what if a nation is using nuclear power as a front to build an nuclear weapon, but then has an accident with the research? Wouldn't it blow their cover to reveal that their project actually has an aggressive aim?

Is their any way that the clause can be changed so that the exact details of reports to the NDRO can be kept classified upon request?

~Sigismund Ibsen,
Lavinium Delegate to the World Assembly

If so, only the cause of the disaster could be kept classified. The reason why I wrote the resolution in the first place was to prevent a situation similar to what occured in Russia in the 1960s, when the Mayak plant exploded. Thousands of people were irradiated, very few were evacuated, and no one was told that they were irradiated. I am hesitant to include such a clause, as the main reason why nations would request classification of such details would be intent to build/launch a nuclear warhead.

[Greenlandic People]

3) MANDATES that all member nations report nuclear disasters to the NDRO, and any surrounding nations that may have been affected by the disaster.

What if the disaster is related to a matter sensitive to national security or secrecy? That is to say, what if a nation is using nuclear power as a front to build an nuclear weapon, but then has an accident with the research? Wouldn't it blow their cover to reveal that their project actually has an aggressive aim?

Is their any way that the clause can be changed so that the exact details of reports to the NDRO can be kept classified upon request?

~Sigismund Ibsen,
Lavinium Delegate to the World Assembly

If so, only the cause of the disaster could be kept classified. The reason why I wrote the resolution in the first place was to prevent a situation similar to what occured in Russia in the 1960s, when the Mayak plant exploded. Thousands of people were irradiated, very few were evacuated, and no one was told that they were irradiated. I am hesitant to include such a clause, as the main reason why nations would request classification of such details would be intent to build/launch a nuclear warhead.

Sure, that's more or less what I meant. As long as the cause is allowed to be classified then you can reasonably protect your national secrets whilst still giving people the knowledge they need to take appropriate action.

~Sigismund Ibsen,
Lavinium Delegate to the World Assembly