[DRAFT] Nuclear Arms Proliferation Act

[Lord Dominator]

“While I certainly appreciate the reappearance of my good friends from Cretox, I must say that I am rather annoyed by their brazen theft of my future proposal plans. Ambassador Lorica apparently feels extant resolutions are sufficient to cover the area, but I rather disagree. It’s a grop-darned tragedy that we’ve only protected the right to possess nuclear weapons, but never enabled the possession of them.”

The World Assembly;

Aghast that non-member nations now outnumber member nations by more than twelve to one;

Observing that this is more than double the ratio at the time Safeguarding Nuclear Materials passed, itself observing a ratio doubled over the one that the Nuclear Arms Possession Act observed;

Believing that the ability to possess nuclear weapons is a useful tool to prevent interference in a nation’s affairs by another nation;

Considering that the massive number of non-member nations not subject to resolutions the General Assembly has passed regulating war, international diplomacy and other topics leaves member nations disadvantaged in dealing with nations who have chosen not to comply with common-sense legislation promoting peace and the development of all;

Holding that member nations should maintain a right to nuclear weapons and that the World Assembly should facilitate thus, hereby:

Reiterates the right of all member nations to possess nuclear weapons and use them in their own defense or that of other nations;

Prohibits member nations from transferring nuclear weapons, knowledge regarding the manufacture and construction of such, and materials with which to construct such to non-state entities;

Establishes SKYNET as a subsidiary committee of the Nuclear Energy Safety Committee with the following duties:

• Determine whether a given non-member nation is likely to use nuclear weapons against a member nation and prohibit the transfer by any member nation to said non-member of the items indicated in the prior clause,
• Maintain knowledge of the construction and manufacture of all kinds of nuclear weapons, assisted by the extant knowledge of member nations,
• Assist member nations in the development of their own nuclear weapons using the aforementioned knowledge when asked,
• Enable the World Assembly to defend itself with nuclear weapons in retaliation for any used against it and to enable the rapid destruction of facilities to prevent their capture by any hostile forces.

[Lord Dominator]

“I am of course aware that the last bit is utterly illegal to include in a proposal at this time, but I rather intended this to appear after the abomination was repealed.”

OOC: This isn’t entirely serious, but my basic intent is.

[Tinhampton]

Enable the World Assembly to defend itself with nuclear weapons

No.

[Lord Dominator]

Enable the World Assembly to defend itself with nuclear weapons

No.

“The ambassador might observe that nuclear weapons must first be used against it, before any nuclear retaliation is allowed. It would after all be fairly MAD to allow for unrestricted usage.”

[Heidgaudr]

An aide from the Heidgaudr delegation stands up. "When considering the many hyper-advanced nations throughout the multi verse, it's strange to stop at just nuclear weapons. After all, they may prove woefully inadequate when facing more scientifically advanced foes. I'd recommend expanding the scope of this bill to any and all weaponry that - Yarrg!"

Asgeir Trelstad yanks the collar of the aide's shirt, sending the young man down sprawled on the floor. Trelstad clears his throat. "The Associated Communities oppose this bill."

[Lord Dominator]

An aide from the Heidgaudr delegation stands up. "When considering the many hyper-advanced nations throughout the multi verse, it's strange to do at just nuclear weapons. After all, they may prove woefully inadequate when facing more scientifically advanced foes. I'd recommend expanding the scope of this bill to any and all weaponry that - Yarrg!"

Asgeir Trelstad yanks the collar of the aide's shirt, sending the young man down sprawled on the floor. Trelstad clears his throat. "The Associated Communities oppose this bill."

“While I personally would love to legislate such, in light of the typical technology possessed by our fellow member states, opposed non-member states, and the prior consideration of this topic it seemed prudent to limit myself. Might I ask then Ambassador why your nations opposes this?”

[Heidgaudr]

An aide from the Heidgaudr delegation stands up. "When considering the many hyper-advanced nations throughout the multi verse, it's strange to do at just nuclear weapons. After all, they may prove woefully inadequate when facing more scientifically advanced foes. I'd recommend expanding the scope of this bill to any and all weaponry that - Yarrg!"

Asgeir Trelstad yanks the collar of the aide's shirt, sending the young man down sprawled on the floor. Trelstad clears his throat. "The Associated Communities oppose this bill."

“While I personally would love to legislate such, in light of the typical technology possessed by our fellow member states, opposed non-member states, and the prior consideration of this topic it seemed prudent to limit myself. Might I ask then Ambassador why your nations opposes this?”

"We believe that - one moment please." Trelstad turns back and leans down to address the fallen aide. The microphone picks up a few snippets of the conversation: "Stop making this more difficult than it has to ... no, I don't ... just shut up."

Trelstad turns back around to address the Assembly. "We believe that this subject is adequately covered by existing legislation. Furthermore, the section that states "Assist member nations in the development of their own nuclear weapons using the aforementioned knowledge," we believe can have negative externalities. The proliferation of nuclear weapons is a complex diplomatic and military issue, and one which we don't believe the World Assembly should be interfering in. We believe it will cause more harm than good as it may lead to arms races and the escalation of military threat."

[Lord Dominator]

“While I personally would love to legislate such, in light of the typical technology possessed by our fellow member states, opposed non-member states, and the prior consideration of this topic it seemed prudent to limit myself. Might I ask then Ambassador why your nations opposes this?”

"We believe that - one moment please." Trelstad turns back and leans down to address the fallen aide. The microphone picks up a few snippets of the conversation: "Stop making this more difficult than it has to ... no, I don't ... just shut up."

Trelstad turns back around to address the Assembly. "We believe that this subject is adequately covered by existing legislation. Furthermore, the section that states "Assist member nations in the development of their own nuclear weapons using the aforementioned knowledge," we believe can have negative externalities. The proliferation of nuclear weapons is a complex diplomatic and military issue, and one which we don't believe the World Assembly should be interfering in. We believe it will cause more harm than good as it may lead to arms races and the escalation of military threat."

“Observably, any individual member nation is already likely to be on the losing end of an arms race they may end up, simply because other resolutions already place limits on military technology, among other things. The WA assisting in weighing the scale in favor of its members is simply good policy in consideration of that. Additionally, you drew my attention to the non-optionality of that clause, an error which I have now destroyed.”

[Simone Republic]

Enable the World Assembly to defend itself with nuclear weapons

No.

Yes yes yes

[Imperium Anglorum]

Totally based. Make your clauses spell BASED too!

[Tinhampton]

Does "SKYNET" stand for anything or is it just six capital letters smoshed together in the hopes that somebody, somewhere, will be able to make a Terminator 2: Judgment Day joke about it?

This resolution both forbids member states from transferring nuclear knowledge to non-state entities while requiring SKYNET, a non-state entity, to use "the extant knowledge of member nations" as a guide in its work. How deliberate was this supposed to be?

If "the massive number of non-member nations not subject to resolutions the General Assembly has passed regulating war, international diplomacy and other topics leaves member nations disadvantaged in dealing with nations who have chosen not to comply with common-sense legislation promoting peace and the development of all," then why does this resolution only cover nuclear weapons?

Capture of facilities by hostile forces: Hostile to who?

[Lord Dominator]

Does "SKYNET" stand for anything or is it just six capital letters smoshed together in the hopes that somebody, somewhere, will be able to make a Terminator 2: Judgment Day joke about it?

OOC: It’s capital letters until/unless I figure out an acronym. Fair notes all around otherwise.

[The Orwell Society]

"We strenuously support this piece of legislation. Let them have nukes!"

[Heavens Reach]

Strongly oppose. High-yield conventional weaponry (e.g. kinetic weapons, explosives), and non-conventional weaponry that don't produce radioisotopes (e.g. antimatter), are sufficient to act as a deterrent without the generation nuclear fallout. Radiation sickness from fallout would cause, not just widespread, but a particularly ghastly sort of suffering, with primarily civilian casualties, and should be considered heinous under the same reasoning that biological and chemical weapons have already been banned by this body. In addition, uncontrollable and far-reaching ecological damage; massive civilian casualties that continue to rack up years after the act of war itself; degradation of the collective genomic data of every exposed species, with especial concern for those species which are sentient, sapient, or a cornerstone species of their biome; and the potential for global (i.e. international) economic or even civil collapse are also each individually good enough reasons not to codify, or to continue to codify, access to nuclear weapons. Besides which, the best deterrent is not one which endangers the welfare of an entire region (which to a despot -- however foolish it may be -- might not even rise to the level of concern), but which precisely targets those with the desire and wherewithal to foment war.

[Nepleslia]

Full support.

[Cretox State]

“I am of course aware that the last bit is utterly illegal to include in a proposal at this time, but I rather intended this to appear after the abomination was repealed.”

OOC: This isn’t entirely serious, but my basic intent is.

Lorica: "Ambassador, your proposal doesn't appear to actually contradict GA 10 in any way that we can see, other than potential complications caused by the REQUIRES clause (giving other nations access to your nukes and/or information regarding them could increase the risk that those weapons "fall into the wrong hands").

However, your proposal would likely contradict GA 418:

Establishes SKYNET as a subsidiary committee of the Nuclear Energy Safety Committee with the following duties: Determine whether a given non-member nation is likely to use nuclear weapons against a member nation and prohibit the transfer by any member nation to said non-member of the items indicated in the prior clause

Maintains the right of member nations to manufacture and trade nuclear weapons or reactors, to possess the materials required in such manufacture, and to acquire the materials required in such manufacture

418 gives members the right to trade nuclear weapons, while your proposal would infringe on that right.

We also have a question about the following clause of your proposal:

[SKYNET will m]aintain knowledge of the construction and manufacture of all kinds of nuclear weapons, assisted by the extant knowledge of member nations

How will the committee acquire that knowledge? The requirement that the committee have this knowledge and that this knowledge be at least partly based on that of members implies some mandatory component to the acquisition of this knowledge. How can we be assured that we won't be required to turn over state secrets to a WA committee, which can then be asked by another nation to help develop their own weapons using those secrets?"

[Simone Republic]

Welcome back.

[Simone Republic]

Does "SKYNET" stand for anything or is it just six capital letters smoshed together in the hopes that somebody, somewhere, will be able to make a Terminator 2: Judgment Day joke about it?

This resolution both forbids member states from transferring nuclear knowledge to non-state entities while requiring SKYNET, a non-state entity, to use "the extant knowledge of member nations" as a guide in its work. How deliberate was this supposed to be?

If "the massive number of non-member nations not subject to resolutions the General Assembly has passed regulating war, international diplomacy and other topics leaves member nations disadvantaged in dealing with nations who have chosen not to comply with common-sense legislation promoting peace and the development of all," then why does this resolution only cover nuclear weapons?

Capture of facilities by hostile forces: Hostile to who?

(In character in the style of Jennifer Government, so me trying to mimic the first few pages of Max Barry's book in a not very convincing way here)

Well, we are now at a point where the rest of the world resembles Jennifer Government (or Jennifer Government: NationStates, for that matter), with big oil (ExxonMobil then, Gazprom now) jacking up prices especially in the colony that is the UK (80%? 100%? Or whenever equilibrium is reached when enough pensioners freeze to death this winter and reduce demand), the US fully taking over the UK and Australia, China and Russia (and Europe) forming their own trade blocks, what's the problem with sending some nukes to other countries already owned by the United States, like Australia? It's only US$100 billion dollars (for the first tranche). We had to stop trading with France for that, but the United States never traded with France anyway and that was an anormaly.

For the honorable (without an "U" please, we speak American) ambassador, I recommend the new surname "Tinhampton Shell" or "Tinhampton BP" before winter comes.

(End of in character message)

[Excidium Planetis]

Prohibits member nations from transferring nuclear weapons, knowledge regarding the manufacture and construction of such, and materials with which to construct such to non-state entities;

Adelia looks over the proposal, her frown deepening as she goes on. She highlights a portion of it before speaking:

"This, uh, would make it illegal for nations to transfer fissile material to civilian nuclear power plants, and, er, other such things like that. I suggest removing the 'materials' part. Also, what exactly is SKYNET? It sounds s-scary."

[Separatist Peoples]

Enable the World Assembly to defend itself with nuclear weapons

No.

"This has our full support."

[Hulldom]

No.

"This has our full support."

"I'm sure the gnomes have taken Ambassador Bell to see those rooms in the basement of Building A that my ambassador has been physically restricted from seeing."

[Daarwyrth]

Zylkoven: "With the repeal of the NAPA, it is our delegation's hope that this proposal will be submitted to the General Assembly imminently."

[Philimbesi]

You have the full support of the USP in this endeavor. No notes.

Nigel S Youlkin
USP Ambassador to the WA.

[Heidgaudr]

Prohibits member nations from transferring nuclear weapons, knowledge regarding the manufacture and construction of such, and materials with which to construct such to non-state entities;

"Exactly what constitutes materials? All radioactive material, all forms of the specific elements used in nuclear weapons (e.g. uranium), or just the enriched versions (e.g. uranium-235)? I'm curious because overly broad definitions will lead to the banning of medical treatment."

Assist member nations in the development of their own nuclear weapons using the aforementioned knowledge when asked,

"Asked by whom? And by what authority?"

[Separatist Peoples]

"Any committee aiding in a member's nuclear weapon development program should first require the member state be in full compliance with WA law for a predetermined period. Otherwise nations may join, request aid while still" coming into compliance," and then resign, having gained the benefits of membership without paying the requisite tolls."