Wow! Clinton, Lavrov Agree to Destroy Tons of Plutonium

[babylonsister]

http://washingtonindependent.com/82125/clinton-lavrov-agree-to-destroy-tons-of-plutonium

Clinton, Lavrov Agree to Destroy Tons of Plutonium
By Spencer Ackerman 4/13/10 4:47 PM


A nice way to cap off the Washington Nuclear Security Summit from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton:

Under the agreement we are about to sign, the United States and Russia will each irreversibly and transparently dispose of no less than 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium. Together, that is enough material for nearly 17,000 nuclear weapons. And we will put in place the framework and infrastructure needed to dispose of even more plutonium from defense programs in the future.

The agreement provides for monitoring and inspections that will ensure that this material will never again be used for weapons or any other military purpose. By using civil nuclear reactors to dispose of the plutonium, we gain an added benefit – to produce electricity for our people, even as we remove a potential serious danger.

[Kdillard]

1. That rocks my world. k and r.

[FirstLight]

2. I have to say it...

she is really kicking ASS as SOS! :cheer:

I am so glad that she has embraced this position and made it work for her and the rest of us. She knows how to squeeze balls *and* rub elbows ;)

This is an awesome legacy for her as SOS...
(now can she do anything to help get us out of pakistan/afganistan any faster?)

[Ikonoklast]

3. One of the most toxic substances on this planet.

Turn it all into lead.

[scubadude]

4. Ummm, short of it decaying by itself, how does one destroy it? nt

[vaberella]

7. Burning it. They just said at the Nuclear Security summitt.

They will burn it. Further more there are laws in place to say that nations can't reprocess that material in order to recreate the plutonium that was burnt---apparently they can reconstitute it, however the laws within the agreement says they can't. A woman named Nicole (I think) at the summit just mentioned it. And they will have people checking to make sure that the plutonium is processed, or burnt in a manner where it can't later be used for anything else or again nuclear materials.

The summit is currently over, but it was here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/live

[Dr Morbius]

10. Well, as I understand it, the process of plutonium reactors...

produces radioactive waste which is not nearly as toxic as plutonium, but lasts a long time.

So there is no destroying the stuff. But we can reduce the toxicity. Pretty much all plutonium in the world is man-made, I think. I'm just excited about the change of direction. Try to imagine this in a Bush Presidency; not possible.

[vaberella]

5. I'm currently listening to the nuclear summit where they are currently speaking on it. n/t

[Cha]

6. It's priceless to have intelligent caring

people running things now.

[ClarkUSA]

8. The Nobel Peace Prize Committee's choice of President Obama is no longer in dispute.

Kudos to President Obama and President Medvedev for making this happen. No one but President Obama could have achieved this far-reaching result with a nation that only a couple of years ago was on the outs with the United States.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Among thinking people, no.

Among Repugs -- there's no hope.

[Clio the Leo]

11. Shall we get a pool going as to how soon we will have forgotten this?

I say by NEXT Tuesday.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

12. Weird headline... wouldn't the term be "use" rather than destroy

Aren't we talking about diverting military stockpiles to power plants?

Fine move, but not what the headline suggests.

I vow to destroy the eight gallons of gasoline in my car's tank!