Australia breaches South Pacific Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty in selling uranium to India
Uranium sale to India breach nuclear treaty http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/uranium_sale_to_india_breach_nuclear_btS3KzxSBE8YNw55mbQAOK Dave Sweeney, 8 Sept 14, When it comes to uranium sales it is a case of let both the buyer and seller beware. Tony Abbott’s plan to sell Australian uranium to nuclear-armed India is irresponsible and risky.India is a nuclear-armed nation that is expanding its nuclear weapons program amid a high-stakes standoff with its neighbour and rival Pakistan. India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and is not subject to full international or independent scrutiny.
Supplying uranium in this context breaches Australia’s obligations under the South Pacific Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty.
Mr Abbott’s plan also ignores the serious and unresolved safety and security problems facing India’s nuclear industry. These were highlighted two years ago when the Indian Auditor-General warned of “a Fukushima or Chernobyl-like disaster if the nuclear safety issue is not addressed”.
Antinuclear 
The Indian civil reactor fleet has always been linked with the country’s weapons program; it is even governed by closely associated individuals and institutions. The chiefs of both programs fom Homi Bhabha on confirm this linkage: it’s very much a single program. As far as energy is concerned, all of the technologies mentioned are as hazardous as they are expensive – and unnecessary. India would be far better advised to cut back its by definition antiquated nuclear energy program in favour of a fully renewable infrastructure – resilient, income producing and advanced. And in order to live up to its full potential Australia needs to urgently end its role as global purveyor of addictive and dangerous substances: fossil and nuclear fuels. This will be a a sign of true leadership.
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