LONDON -- Sixty years ago this month Hiroshima and Nagasaki were devastated by the first nuclear bombs. The effects of these bombs on the civilian populations of these cities are a horrific reminder of why all governments need to redouble their efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and to achieve nuclear disarmament. Unfortunately the threat of nuclear proliferation has increased rather than diminished, and the nuclear powers have been dilatory in attempting nuclear disarmament.
The rising price of oil and the inadequacy of "green" energy alternatives such as wind turbines, solar energy and tidal power have revived the desirability of developing atomic power. The risks of a nuclear accident can be reduced by careful management and stringent discipline in power plants, but it can never be eliminated. The greatest risk arises from the fact that peaceful uses of atomic power opens the way to fuel-enrichment processes, which, if misused, may lead to the development of atomic weapons. Hence stringent U.N. supervision of the fuel cycle is vital.
The main nuclear powers, the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France, have been joined by India, Pakistan and Israel. North Korea claims to possess a small number of nuclear warheads, and has declared its intention of going ahead with the development of atomic weapons.