Author: Young Ho CHAE

THE UNCONTROLLED AVAILABILITY OF FISSILE MATERIALS

(October 2,1994)

The International Nuclear Society Council (INSC) is an organization whose member societies represent more than 50,000 nuclear professionals around the world and is dedicated to the principle that the nuclear professional has an overall responsibility for nuclear safety. Therefore, the Council is alert to any lapse in the global nuclear safety structure. In that respect, the INSC is most concerned about the apparent breakdown in security measures that has resulted in the recent uncontrolled availability of fissile materials.

The Council views a correction of this problem to be of paramount urgency. It is encouraged to see the rapid reaction of involved governments and international agencies in apprehending the material. Furthermore, the INSC recognizes immediate international efforts to correct the breach of security.

The Council stresses the significance of nuclear materials control and urges governments to pay serious attention to the management of fissile materials and the importance of the responsibilities resting on the individuals involved in such management.

The Council further recommends to its member societies that they should stress to the relevant authorities the need to discourage unethical actions leading to unauthorized transfer of fissile materials.

INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR SOCIETIES COUNCIL

NUCLEAR ENERGY IN THE 21st CENTURY

(Distributed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, June 1992)

The International Nuclear Societies Council (INSC) is composed of learned nuclear societies working with global co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, for the benefit of mankind in a manner in which the public health and safety, and environmental protection, are paramount.

In 1990, learned nuclear societies of four geographical regions of the world, namely:

North America

Central and South America

Europe

East Asia

as well as an at-large region, founded INSC.

The member societies of INSC today have a total of more than 40,000 members who are scientists, engineers, technicians, and specialists with a major interest in the development of peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. The best expression to date of their opinion about nuclear energy in the 21st century is hereby appended:

A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY RESOURCE
There is a growing global consensus on the need for sustainable development. Adequate energy supply is critical for emerging economies to develop and for industrialized economies to support the legitimate needs of their societies. Energy in the form of electric power is essential to improve efficiency, develop conservation technologies, recover, recycle and properly dispose of wastes, and minimize environmental pollution. Nuclear energy can play a vitally needed role in meeting future electricity needs.

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Electricity generated from nuclear fission energy has been evaluated in more depth than any other energy source. Licensed nuclear power plants, designed to established standards and operated by qualified personnel, have amassed a safety record unmatched by any alternative energy source. The accident at Chernobyl was indeed serious. Important safety features required by Western safety standards, including a pressure-resistant containment building, are not present in the Chernobyl-type plants. All new designs must meet stringent safety standards, and international efforts are proving successful in instilling a safety culture and management controls to all operating plants.

With the exception of those regions where more hydroelectric power is available, nuclear energy is the only large-scale source of base-load power that produces no sulfur oxides, no acid rain and no carbon dioxide emissions. It does produce radioactive wastes. These are sufficiently concentrated that it is worth the effort and cost to confine them and dispose of them in permanent repositories, and thereby keep them out of the environment forever.

Wastes already exist from more than thirty years of commercial nuclear electricity production. The technology for safe disposal is well understood, and is being pursued in a number of nations. High-level wastes are concentrated, carefully handled, and are being stored safely. The major nuclear nations have plans for permanent disposal facilities. It is the obligation of the current generation to dispose of them safely and permanently. The proper test for any repository is safety, and not its location relative to state or national borders.

A PART OF THE MIX FOR BASE-LOAD ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION
No claims are made that nuclear power is the only answer to electricity needs. Nuclear plants provide base-load power, day and night, while peak loads can be met by natural gas and even oil. Alternative energy sources: solar, wind, geothermal and hydro, should be used whenever they are available. Choices for future plants need to be based not only on the cost of production, but also on environmental impacts. In some nations, attempts are being made to estimate and internalize environmental costs into the calculated costs of production.

Energy conservation programs can lower demand growth rates, and delay for a few years perhaps, but not eliminate, the need for new power plants.

The record around the world shows that nuclear plants can compete effectively with coal and other alternative sources. They provide diversity of supply, and in some nations are of critical importance in reducing the need for imported oil and liquified natural gas. Reliability records are improving each year. New plants are currently under construction in France, Japan, China, Korea, Brazil and Romania.

Uranium resources are abundant and fuel supplies are economical at this time. Recycling of plutonium will help to keep nuclear fuel prices down and extend the natural uranium resource well into the 21st century. Ultimately, breeder reactors will be able to produce enough new plutonium to assure sufficient nuclear fuel supply for future centuries.

THE CIVILIAN NUCLEAR POWER FUEL CYCLE AND SAFEGUARDS
The commercial nuclear electric power fuel cycle is not a logical or effective pathway to nuclear weapons. Systems of safeguards under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreements have proven successful in assuring that diversion of plutonium has not taken place. Experience has shown that accurate inventories of critical materials can be maintained.

The major weapon states are IAEA signatories and have put their commercial fuel cycles under IAEA safeguards. Most non-weapons states have accepted full-scope safeguards, committing themselves to having no national program to develop nuclear weapons. It is of critical importance to bring the remaining nations into IAEA agreements.

The sad experience with Iraq proves that if a nation is determined to acquire nuclear weapons, it will not depend on the nuclear power fuel cycle. Iraq’s weapons facilities were totally clandestine. It had no nuclear power plants.

SUMMARY
Nuclear energy is a safe and environmentally acceptable source for base-load electricity generation. Because radioactive wastes already exist, facilities must be built for their ultimate disposal. Commercial nuclear power under IAEA safeguards is not a realistic pathway to nuclear weapons. Therefore, decisions affecting the extent of nuclear power’s future role will likely depend on economics, diversity of fuel supply and environmental considerations.

Electricity will help build a clean energy base upon which sustainable future development will be based. As other energy sources become practical, they can join fossil fuels and nuclear energy to sustain a diverse base of energy

GLOBAL CREED

(Approved June 20, 1993)

Nuclear Professionals should uphold and advance the integrity, honor, and dignity of their profession by:

Promoting the involvement of Societies and professionals worldwide in the quest of excellence and quality in the application of nuclear science and technology for the service of humanity.

Promoting the use of their knowledge and skills for the enhancement of human welfare by furthering public health and safety and environmental protection in the implementation of nuclear projects and programs.

Enhancing the peaceful uses and application of nuclear science and technology.

Ensuring the public is informed of the facts surrounding nuclear science and technology in an objective and truthful manner.

SOCIETIES HAVING ADOPTED THE INSC GLOBAL CREED

AS OF 1st DECEMBER 2006

Asociacióî Argentina de Tecnologia Nuclear (AATN)

Associação Brasileira de Energia Nuclear (ABEN)

American Nuclear Society (ANS)

Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ)

Australian Nuclear Association (ANA)

Canadian Nuclear Society (CNS)

European Nuclear Society (ENS)

Israel Nuclear Society (INS)

Korea Nuclear Society (KNS)

Latin American Section of ANS (LAS)

Nuclear Energy Society, China, Taipei (NEST)

Nuclear Society of Russia

Sociedad Nuclear Mexicana (SNM)

MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES

(Approved October 2, 1994)

Members of INSC shall comply with the “Criteria for Membership” as approved in INSC Meeting 02-91 of 10 November 1991.

A Nuclear Society Member can be either a National or an International Organization within a region as defined by the INSC Bylaws.

A Section, a Branch or any other subdivision of a Nuclear Society Member, may not become a member of INSC if its geographical jurisdiction lies in the same region of the Society Member.

INSC Charter organizations are members of INSC in their own right.

A Federation of Nuclear Societies may become a member of INSC if the geographical area covered by the Federation lies within a region as defined in the INSC Bylaws. Member societies of a INSC Federation Member may not become individual members of INSC. With the exception of Charter organizations as stated in item 4, Nuclear Societies that were individual Members of INSC prior to the INSC membership of a Federation of Nuclear Socities, shall lose their INSC Member condition upon joining such Federation.

The distribution of unoccupied seats in a given region shall be agreed upon by the Members of such region, provided that at least each Member of the region has one seat. If agreement cannot be reached by consensus of the members of the region, INSC shall distribute the unoccupied seats among the members of the region by majority vote of the Council, upon proposal submitted by the INSC Officers. In this case, seats allocated by the Council shall be vacated as soon as the application by a new Nuclear Society of the region is approved.

INSC Member Societies in the “at-large” region can apply for the creation of a new region, provided they belong to a determined geographical area. A minimum of three “at-large” members are required for such an application be considered by the INSC Chairman. The Council shall approve by majority vote a proposal on this matter put up by the INSC Officers. Under this situation, during a two years period, item 6 above shall not apply for the completion of unoccupied seats in the newly created region.

Additional provision

(Approved October 29, 1995)

(To be applied in cases not foreseen in previous paragraphs 1 to 7 and not to modify the status of vote rights of October 1995).

1. More than one national nuclear society within the same country may become an INSC Society Member provided that the new member(s) is(are) admitted in the “at-large” region if no vacant seat(s) is(are) available within the geographical region being considered. To reflect the position of the majority of their combined membership, INSC Member Societies of the same country shall reach previous agreement to have a common position on INSC voting issues subject to the rule that the country in question must be represented by just one vote in the Council..

RULE – CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP

(Approved November 10,1991)

Membership in the INSC may be through a nuclear society or a regional federation of nuclear societies as stipulated in the INSC Bylaws and in accordance with the following:

Nuclear Society Member – Any organization of nuclear scientists and engineers having a minimum of 50 paid-up members, willing to support the charter and Bylaws of INSC, and intending activity in the nuclear field at least country-wide, may become a member of INSC. Local sections of Nuclear Societies within the region of that society (as defined in the Bylaws) may not become members of INSC.

Regional Federation of Nuclear Societies Member – Any officially designated organization of nuclear societies, willing to support the charter and Bylaws of the INSC, and intending activity in the nuclear field at least on a regional scale, may become a member of the INSC. Any nuclear society, choosing to be represented through a regional nuclear society, may not become a member of the INSC.

Member in good standing – A member in good standing is defined as being a nuclear society member or regional federation of nuclear societies member who is current in payment of the organization’s assessed fees.

Observer – To foster the global interests of the INSC, observers, representing other international nuclear organizations or learned societies may be invited to attend meetings of the INSC.

Membership may be granted to nuclear societies by majority vote of the Council using a secret ballot. The vote may be made by mail or at a meeting announced to all members at least 45 days in advance and at which a quorum exists.

INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR SOCIETIES COUNCIL BYLAWS

(Adopted November 11, 1990. Amended November 15, 1992. Amended December 11, 2005).

Name and Purpose – The International Nuclear Societies Council (INSC) is an organization of learned nuclear societies whose interests are in the development and utilization of nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes. The INSC aims to foster ongoing cooperation, communication and exchange of information among the world’s nuclear societies, undertake joint actions and ensure joint representation where necessary. Specific activities will be planned and programmed by the Council to achieve these aims.
Membership – INSC members can be any national nuclear society or regional federation of such societies. Members will be identified initially according to four Charter Regions (Europe, Far East, North America, Latin America) plus Rest of the world (this last At Large Region being divided into further regions when appropriate). Each region may send up to six representatives to Council meetings. Nuclear Societies wishing to become members shall apply in writing to the Chairman. Membership may be granted by majority vote of the INSC.

Officers – The Council shall elect, by majority vote, a Chairman, a First Vice-Chairman, a Second Vice-Chairman, and a Secretary/Treasurer for concurrent two-year terms beginning January 1. To the extent possible, the officers shall be from different regions, and the Chairmanship rotated among the regions. The Chairman may appoint an assistant, who should be a staff member of his/her Society, to keep contacts with Member Societies up to date, to ensure continuity and to keep the records which, at the end of his/her tenure, will be passed on to his/her successor. The Secretary/Treasurer shall arrange for recording the proceedings of INSC meetings and be responsible for overseeing the administrative and financial affairs of the INSC as directed by the Council.

Fiscal – The INSC shall be operated as a not-for-profit organization. The Council may establish a fund from an agreed upon assessment of its members. This fund will finance secretariat services to support the meetings of the INSC and other activities as may be designated by the Council. It shall not be used for remuneration of members or travel for members other than officers.

Meetings – The Council will meet at least once a year. Invitations will be sent out by the Chairman with the agenda 45 days prior to the meeting(s).

Rules -The INSC may adopt rules for its operation.

Bylaw Amendments – These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Council by a two-thirds vote cast by voting members present, provided that a quorum exists and the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting or by mail to all members at least 30 days in advance of the meeting at which the vote is to take place.

Decisions – The Council shall strive to make all decisions by consensus. When a consensus is not feasible on internal matters, decisions shall be made up by a two-thirds majority vote of Council provided a quorum exists. Decisions may be made by mail or at any meeting announced to all members at least 45 days in advance and at which a quorum exists. A quorum is defined as one-half plus one of the Council present in person or by proxy.