Episode 14 - NPT
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT ( don’t ask me why they dont call it NNPT) is in the spotlight with Bush’s upcoming visit to India. He’s coming over to discuss some Indo-US nucleur deal for civilian use. So we just thought about giving you some gyan about what the hell NPT is about and why is this such a big deal.
Episode Notes:
- NPT for dummies
- Good articles to catch up on India’s Tango with US about the nuke deal
- The IAEA is UN’s nuclear watch dog, well more like a puppy coz US chose to ignore their findings before going into Iraq. Here’s an article that tells us more
- It’s “constructive” says Musharraf
Yours Internetally,
Aditya
P.S : Intro & concluding music provided by Alms for Shanti
Listen Online (64 kbps) :/Episode lenght : 16 mins
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good show guys! I am glad you guys covered the NPT. Although I think you guys missed out on one of the more pressing issues of the agreement. India has vast reserves of Thorium. India is among the pioneers in the world of a next-generation of safer, cleaner nuclear reactors, called fast-breeder reactors, which run on Thorium. Thorium, being the first element among the radio active ones is the least radio active and is therefore significantly less harmful to the atmosphere. Its half-life is smaller than that of Uranium by many orders of magnitude. America is trying to bully us to give up our Thorium program ( thorium is abundant in india) and depend on them and the rest of the world for Uranium ( which among other things, is more harmful to the environment). Just thought I’d drop in my two cents!
Comment by Nishkaam — February 10, 2006 @ 2:37 pm
Hey Nishkaam,
Brilliant update! Adi and I must have spent a half jour in contemplating the reasons why USA suddenly was so interested in proposing the pact to us. I mean there had to be some comparative advantage that India had over others! We just couldn’t figure out why! Now we know!
Comment by Abhishek — February 10, 2006 @ 4:58 pm
Great topic for discussion! For a more insight on Iran, NPT, Middle East issues, and how Pakistan/India is involved, go here:
The New Brinkmanship…
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5196002
Comment by Shalin — February 10, 2006 @ 5:29 pm
Hey Shalin!
In this episode, we tried to research as much as possible so that we get the facts of this sensitive topic right and convey them in as listener frienly manner as possible. I hope we were atleast moderately successful in our intentions.
We are interested in this beautiful topic called, NPT! Please pass on more dope on the topic. We would gladly gobble up the info and learn more about this issue. There is a book by the name of, ‘Engaging India’, by Strobe Talbott which has all the possible details on India, US and the NPT; suggests one of my friends. Do let us know about more sources of information.
Your link was quite a help to help us understand the diplomatic standoff between Iran and the USA…
Abhishek
Comment by Abhishek — February 10, 2006 @ 6:28 pm
Shalin,
One of the interviews that your link too me to suggested isolation (of Iran) as one of the remedies to marginalise it from the nuclear scene.
Following is an excerpt from ‘The Economist’ on actions that the UNSC might take the next month on Iran. Please read and let us know your take on the same -
Getting to the council is one thing; getting action from it is another. A presidential statement urging Iran to comply with inspectors’ requests, and even assigning the IAEA wider investigative powers, might get through, since the point would be to strengthen the inspectors’ hands, not take Iran’s case away from them. Beyond that, other steps could include political sanctions, such as denial of visas for sporting teams or for members of Iran’s regime (similar actions are thought to have helped in the past in dealing with the recalcitrant Serb government, for example). Unlike the North Koreans, who seem not to mind their isolation, Iranians take pride in their growing contacts around the world and are keen to be accorded the status and respect they feel their ancient civilisation deserves.
Abhishek
Comment by Abhishek — February 10, 2006 @ 6:45 pm
I would really like you guys talk about our nation and sports. Here is a comment I made on my blog:
“Regarding A1 Grand Prix, I heard that India is plannig to get out of A1???
If India has no money to maintain A1 car, how the h*** they will end up building F1 track! This is really bad, but I hope that they will rethink, after all we need big motorsports to be present in India …. good for business, too, with all that market there.
BTW: One thing I don’t understand about my country is: why our nation is so poor when it comes to sports!!! There can’t be any superpower without nation being strong in sports (check China for example and their performance in Olympics, regional games, and other recent world sports) ….. where are we?
Man, except cricket we got nothing in India. Our Ministry of Sports (if there is one) has to give it a second thought and work out a strong strategy.”
Do you guys think I am right, or am I wrong.
Would like to hear (really hear a debate) on this topic.
Comment by E@zyVG — February 12, 2006 @ 10:28 pm
Guys, you know my 21 month old kid really enjoys your new background track that plays at the beginning of your podcasts. Good to see you guys back.
Comment by Chetan — February 18, 2006 @ 12:51 pm
I missed this, but I was thrilled to see her dance to the tune of a dhol (something that she has never heard before). So, I wanted to know that you have an under 5 audience as well.
Comment by Chetan — February 18, 2006 @ 12:54 pm
Chetan,
I guess, you can’t take the India out of an Indian. If she likes our intro music then you have to get her to mumbai for ganpati visarjan. Nothing like being at dadar chowpatty with the dhols blaring.
Comment by Aditya — February 18, 2006 @ 2:41 pm