Put nuclear safety first

Since man began to use nuclear energy more than 50 years ago 20 major accidents have occurred, causing many deaths and countless numbers of people to suffer for many years -- from contracting cancer and radiation sickness to losing out financially.

From the disaster at Britain's Windscale complex, when fire destroyed the core of a plutonium-producing reactor in October 1957, to the latest nuclear mishap in France in November 1992 when three workers were contaminated after entering a particle accelerator without adequate protective clothing, the world has been gripped by the fear of a cataclysmic nuclear disaster.

And this fear was evidently reflected in the words of U.S. President Bill Clinton at the end of the summit of the seven most industrialized countries (G-7) on nuclear safety in Moscow last week.

"We must not rest until the dangers (of nuclear disasters) have been reduced, until the cloud of fear has been lifted," Clinton told leaders of the G-7 countries, which comprise the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan. Russia and Ukraine, being active nuclear powers, also participated. Together, these countries hold most of the world's nuclear energy and weapons.

We gladly welcome the results of the summit. The powers agreed a joint program to tackle nuclear problems, such as the wiser and more enhanced management of reactors; concerted plans to modernize aging Soviet-built, first-generation reactors, such as the one which blew up at Chernobyl a decade ago; and a commitment to combat the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials which may fall into the hands of terrorists and thus endanger the entire human race.

The G-7 countries have pledged financial aid of US$3 billion to Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, which last week reaffirmed its decision to close down the Chernobyl nuclear power station by the year 2000.

Although the Chernobyl incident happened 10 years ago, serious contamination, according to news reports, was still occurring last November when fuel was being removed from one of the reactors.

Against this backdrop, we cannot but appeal to the international community, particularly the seven rich, industrialized countries, to pay serious attention to Ukraine's demand to cope with its nuclear problem. Ukraine has said that it needs funds to close down Chernobyl and find alternative sources for its energy needs.

Apart from this, aging nuclear reactors considered dangerous by international safety standards are still operating in several former Soviet republics. These, according to experts, have to be shut down if they are not modernized. But some $20 billion is needed to improve these first-generation reactors, .

Given all this, it is evident that nuclear safety is one of the most important issues that affects the entire human race, third possibly to only economic growth and political development.

Clinton's advice should also act as a reminder to the Indonesian government, who should seriously consider the issue of nuclear safety before making a final decision on whether to build its proposed nuclear power plant on Mount Muria, Central Java. With a generating capacity of 800 megawatts, the power station may well imperil the people and environment of not only this country but also neighboring nations.

The Chernobyl tragedy and other nuclear disasters are living examples from which we can all learn a good lesson.