Nuclear Materials Security Index. Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)

Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Nuclear power Trackbacks (0)

The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) Nuclear Materials Security Index is a first-of-its-kind public benchmarking project of nuclear materials security conditions on a country-by-country basis. The NTI Index, prepared with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), was created to spark an international discussion about priorities required to strengthen security, and most importantly, encourage governments to provide assurances and take actions to reduce risks.

The project draws on NTI's nuclear expertise, the EIU’s experience in constructing indices, and the reach of the EIU’s global network of 900 analysts and contributors. NTI—working with an international panel of nuclear security experts and a number of technical advisors—focused on the framework and priorities that define effective nuclear materials security conditions. The EIU was responsible for developing the Excel-based model and gathering the data.

The NTI Index assesses the contribution of 32 states with one kilogram or more of weapons-usable nuclear materials toward improved global nuclear materials security conditions, using five categories: (a) Quantities and Sites, (b) Security and Control Measures, (c) Global Norms, (d) Domestic Commitments and Capacity, and (e) Societal Factors. An additional 144 states, with less than one kilogram of weapons-usable nuclear materials or none at all, are assessed on the last three of these categories.

+ Link to full report (PDF; 5.78 MB)

From Docubase

Nuclear Renaissance: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation And Terrorism

Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Nuclear power Trackbacks (0)
Nuclear renaissance: nuclear weapons proliferation and terrorism
This site provides free access to a report by Frank Barnaby published by the Institute for Public Policy Research in March 2009. The 12 page report discusses the security risks that might ensue if increasing dependence on nuclear energy led to a more widespread availability of access to plutonium that could potentially be used to fabricate nuclear weapons, both by countries and by terrorists. From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=650

Nuclear Marketplace; Nanjing Massacre; Arab Media And Society

China Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Arab nations Trackbacks (0)
Business of the Bomb: The Modern Nuclear Marketplace http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/nukes/
The people at American RadioWorks don't shy away from difficult or controversial topics, and one of their latest documentaries takes on the rather touchy subject of the modern nuclear marketplace. On the site dedicated to the documentary, visitors can listen to the entire program, and even follow along with a transcript. While many still imagine this marketplace run by terrorists attempting to move nuclear bombs and devices across the world, this portrait is actually inaccurate. Among the many interesting and revealing aspects of this documentary is the fact that much of the nuclear bomb business now conducted by those rather white-collar in orientation. The site also includes a number of short essays on the nuclear power renaissance and the American Atoms for Peace program. The documentary is fascinating, and it could be effectively used in a political science or international relations course. [KMG] 

 

Nanking Massacre Project
http://www.library.yale.edu/div/Nanking/
 
In December 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army invaded Nanking in China and what transpired over the following six weeks became known as the Nanking Massacre. Many people have offered their accounts of what happened during this period, and this particular collection from the Yale Divinity School Library offers the perspectives recorded by a number of Westerners who remained in Nanking after the Japanese invasion. For the most part, these Westerners were businessmen and missionaries and their letters and photographs are available on this site. Visitors can click on their names as they wish or also look through the "Documents" list to peruse each document at their leisure. Additionally, the site also includes several dozen photographs which document everything from refugee camps to military parades. [KMG] 

Arab Media & Society
http://www.arabmediasociety.com/
What's going on in the Arab world and media you might ask? It's an immensely interesting subject, and one that is tackled with persistence, aplomb, and timeliness by the staff members at the Arab Media & Society website. The website was created by a working partnership between the American University in Cairo's Kamal Adham Center for Journalism Training and Research and The Middle East Centre at Oxford. It is a bold mission, and their primary intent is to cover not just television but "all forms of media, and their interaction with society-at-large, from politics and business to culture and religion, as well as the way in which Arab media change resonates in the broader Muslin world." Visitors can view recent articles and posts by topic along the left-hand side of the site and also view featured articles that cover everything from insurgent video propaganda to an exploration of the BBC Arabic satellite channel. Additionally, visitors can view videos clips and listen to a number of audio selections. For anyone with an interest in journalism in the Arab world, this site will be simply invaluable. [KMG]

From The Scout Report

Advisory Guide To Address Nuclear Terror Threat

Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Trackbacks (0)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has released a reference manual that details how to prevent, detect, and respond to an incidence of nuclear terrorism. Combating Illicit Trafficking in Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material serves as a how-to booklet on several topics related to criminal acts involving nuclear and radioactive material. The manual is composed of four sections, containing:

  • Discussion of the nature of the threat posed by illicit acts utilizing nuclear and radioactive material, along with an outline of policy and legal frameworks currently in place to hinder such an act;
  • Review of international steps being taken to counter the threat;
  • Primer on radioactive material, the public health risks associated with exposure to radiation, and information on current applications and transport issues involving radioactive material; and
  • Advisory text on how countries can prevent, detect and confront a possible threat.    Permanent Link: Advisory Guide to Address Nuclear Terror Threat UN Pulse                                                                                                                                          
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: Webcast

    Cuba Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation United States of America Trackbacks (0)

    Webcast: 45th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis

    Recorded: October 17, 2007.

    Presenters: Prof. Graham T. Allison Jr., The Hon. Jim Leach, Mr. Theodore C. Sorensen Cold War, Cuba, History/Democracy, National Security, Nuclear Weapons, Soviet Union

    Audio Only: MP3
    Audio Only: WMV
    Quicktime Video

    Source: Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

    Docuticker

    Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962, And The Aftermath

    Cuba Russia, including the Soviet Union Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation United States of America Trackbacks (0)
    JFK in History: Cuban Missile Crisis

    This presentation looks at the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which started when, in "October 1962, a U.S. spy plane secretly photographed nuclear missile sites being built by the Soviet Union on the island of Cuba." Text and recordings provide history of the conflict, which could have resulted in nuclear war, and its resolution and aftermath. Includes a link to a related exhibit. From the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

    http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/JFK+in+History/Cuban+Missile+Crisis.htm

    LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24681 

    Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961-1963: Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath
    This volume of the federal government publication "Foreign Relations of the United States" contains the text of meeting summaries, briefing records, memoranda, and other material about the 1962-63 Cuban Missile Crisis and aftermath. Most documents are from U.S. agencies; includes some correspondence received from the Soviet Union during this conflict. Provides abbreviations and a list of people involved. From the U.S. Department of State.
    http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/history/frusXI/index.html
    LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24682  

    Annotations copyright LII.ORG 

    Time Magazine: North Korea

    Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Korea (North and South) Trackbacks (0)
    North Korean nukes: Time magazine collection Free access to a collection of of articles and reviews from Time Magazine. These cover issues relating to North Korea published from approximately 1993 to the present day. They offer insight into American attitudes and foreign policy towards North Korea. Topics covered include the rule of Kim Yong, the Korean nuclear weapons programme and international security. Copyright information is displayed on the website. From Intute.ac.uk
    http://www.time.com/time/archive/collections/0,21428,c_north_korean_nukes,00.sht

    SIPRI Yearbook 2007

    Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Violence Security Trackbacks (0)

     Armaments, Disarmament and International Security

    The Yearbook is SIPRI's annual compendium of data and analysis of developments in security and conflicts, military spending and armaments and non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament.

    [Chapter Summaries available.]

     The 38th edition of the SIPRI Yearbook analyses developments in 2006 in

    • Security and conflicts
    • Military spending and armaments
    • Non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament

    with extensive annexes on arms control and disarmament agreements and a chronology of security- and arms control-related events.

    Special studies in this volume:

    Docuticker

    Securing The Bomb: 2007

    Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Trackbacks (0)

    Securing the Bomb: 2007
    Full Text 187 pages; PDF.

    See Also: Executive Summary (12 pages; PDF)

    Source: Nuclear Threat Inititative and
    Project On Managing The Atom
    Belfer Center For Science And International Affairs
    John F. Kennedy School Of Government
    Harvard University

    Docuticker

    Iran's Nuclear Weapons Programme

    Iran Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Trackbacks (0)

    Managing the Atom Iran news

    ...It provides free access to blog style entries, news, analysis and comment representing a variety of viewpoints on Iran's nuclear weapons programme... (More)

    Keeping Memories Alive: Peace Archives

    Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Peace and Peacekeeping Trackbacks (0)
    This site created in 2005 (60 years after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945) describes "numerous radio and TV programs relating to the atomic bombings and peace ever since those tragedies occurred. Approximately 400 of such programs are stored in the NHK Archives." Also includes selected video clips. In English and Japanese. From NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). Note is copyright 2007 by Librarians' Internet Index.
    URL: http://www.nhk.or.jp/peace/english/
    LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/24192

    Countries Of Nuclear Strategic Concern

    Web sites Atomic weapons, including nuclear proliferation Trackbacks (0)

    - Index

    - South Africa

     (More)