Advantages, Disadvantages, And Ethical Issues In Nuclear Testing

Introduction to Nuclear Testing

Question:

Discuss about the Use And Testing Of Nuclear Weapon.

Nuclear testing and use of nuclear weapon is a controversial topic in every part. The main reason is that there are people who support the existence of the nuclear weapon while others are against them. Nuclear testing is a process through which the nuclear weapons are testing to define the safety measures as they are kept. Many of the countries who own the nuclear weapons define them as a measure of safety, which they term; they have be prepared in case they are attacked (MacPherson, 2017). They argue that without the weapon they are at high risk of attack. Due to this reasoning, the countries need to keep their weapons safe and therefore raising the issue of nuclear testing to define the safety measure of the weapons. There are different testing of nuclear which may include the underground and the atmospheric testing. Different tests have been recorded to have different intensities with the highest recorded to have more than 50 megatons, which was done on Soviet Union. The nuclear testing has been carried and used to define the scientific and military strength of countries. Many countries have used the nuclear testing as part of declaring their nuclear strength. The first nuclear test was carried by United States in July 16, 1945, which had approximately 20 kiloton yield of TNT (Hafemeister, 2016). The purpose of this report will be able to represent the advantage, disadvantages and ethical issues in nuclear testing. In addition, the report will analyze the different risks, which are associated with the nuclear testing. Lastly, this report will be able to present the different responses, which are able to address the different ethical issues and risks involved in the process. Thos will involve the key measures which can be taken by the stakeholders and other people in order to curb such risks and issues.

Nuclear testing is a controversial topic with many countries accused of going against the procedure of the process. Different countries are able to carry out the nuclear testing in different ways. Nevertheless, the countries have to mitigate the effects of the nuclear emissions to the environment (Federwisch, 2015). Since 1945, nuclear testing has been carried by different countries. The nuclear testing involves two or more underground nuclear explosions, which are, conducted an area defined as a test area. The area is delineated with a circle of diameter two kilometers and then conducted at a period of 0.1 second. The process of nuclear testing is meant to yield no nuclear yield and therefore is considered safe (Sokolski & Tertrais, 2013 and MacPherson, 2015). Nevertheless, the success of the nuclear testing does not happen each time the testing is done and at times, the process is unsuccessful, and leads to nuclear yield. Nuclear reaction do happen in the process of the testing and the main aim of the underground testing is to prevent the emission of the reactants to the environment. Moreover, the nuclear testing has been carried inform of parachute air drops, missile warhead, air drop underground dissemination and barging.

Different Ways of Carrying Out Nuclear Testing

The main purpose of this paper will be analyze different ethical issues, which are able to arise during the nuclear testing process. The research will focus on the need of the nuclear testing through the analysis of the cons and pros of the process. As a controversial issues, many ethical issues are able to arise and lead to different issues and risks.

The end result of the paper will be to come up with the solution to the ethical issues which are raised and analyze the way forward. In addition, the paper will look at the response, which has been provided on the issues and the risks.

Nuclear testing has its advantages and disadvantages. In terms of the cons, nuclear reaction are able to emit nuclear radiations which are deadly and able to last for long times (Mochizuki & Ollapally, 2016). The nuclear testing is able to involve such reaction and although the radiations are prevented at the testing times, they may be visible afterwards (Hsu, 2013). These radiations can lead to defects on births and other serious problems and health hazards. When used in underground testing, the pollution of the environment is another key con which is experienced. In additionally, the nuclear testing is able to have negative impacts to the environment. From the underground nuclear testing, emission of dust to the environment is able to happen. The dustand smoke which are emitted during the nuclear testing are able to affect the system. This is a negative impact to the areas which are near the areas of testing.

Nuclear testing from underground means

Nevertheless, the nuclear testing also some key advantages to the countries. Since the usage of the nuclear weapons is not allowed countries, keep the nuclear weapons as measures to ensure they are safe. Due to this, the need to have the nuclear weapons at their right state is required (Sokolski, 2014). The nuclear testing is the only method, which is done to ensure that the proper preservation method is done. The nuclear testing is able to give the armies ways to make the nuclear weapons safe as possible. The safety measures are able to ensure that the specific countries show their mighty in terms of ability to fight and defeat the enemies during the nuclear testing. The enemies are therefore able to shy away from attacking such countries when they show their mighty during the nuclear testing.

Ethical Issues Arising from Nuclear Testing

Ethical issues have been reported in different countries concerning the nuclear testing. Unsolved waste problem is one of the ethical issues, which is affecting the nuclear testing. In each test carried out, the wastes are disposed somewhere and this is able to change the ecosystem due to the chemical reactions from the nuclear reactants (Iskandrian & Garcia, 2008). Creating fear to other nations is another ethical issue, which arise from the nuclear testing. The testing is able to prove that a specific country can destroy another since they own a nuclear weapon of high margin. This is unethical approach to create military support by scaring others.

The secrecy of the nuclear testing is creating integrity issues. Some of the countries are able to go ahead with their testing without proper consideration of the health and welfare of the people on the areas. It is unethical for the countries to express the nuclear testing process without the approval of the courts and other key stakeholders. The ethics require that the agencies to involve all the parties and ensure that the proper security measures are undertaken. In addition, lack of integrity is also experienced in the dissemination of the information relating to nuclear testing (Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, 2008). Many countries provide improper information on the effects of the nuclear testing to the people and thus providing act of dishonesty.

Moreover, the nuclear testing is related with many safety issues and risks, which must be considered before the process is undertaken. The facility should be able to minimize any nuclear radiation emission to the surrounding, which can harm the people (Pilat & Busch, 2015). The radiations can be emitted through weak building firewalls and nondurable seismic pits for nuclear testing. Radiations emission is another key risks which is likely to affect the workers and the people living around.

One of the key way to prevent the safety issues and risks is through building a strong building firewalls and sprinkler systems. In addition, construction of modern and seismic durable pits must be done to ensure that the radiations do not emit to the surrounding. In addition, studies need to be carried out on the weapons dissemination and the invasive pits to ensure that the safety is adhered to before the testing (Mærli & Lodgaard, 2007). Since each testing has different magnitude, key details on designing the testing parameters need to be done to ensure that the risks arte mitigated. It is also noted that most of the risks arise due to lack of qualified personnel to do the testing. Therefore, proper training of the personnel must be adhered to before one is allowed to operate the testing.

Conclusion

Nuclear testing is a controversial issue and involves key unethical issues and risks, which must be addressed before it is carried out. The department concerned with the nuclear testing has to inform the residents and workers the hazards, which are being caused due to the nuclear testing. Due to the sensitivity of the nuclear topic and issues, the nuclear testing has to be approved and be monitored to ensure that it will not harm the people and the ecosystem. The emissions of the radiations to the surrounding are some of the cons of the nuclear testing. Nevertheless, the nuclear testing is a key indicator of ensuring safety and military strength for a country and therefore acting as a ley pro of the nuclear testing.

References

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