Plutonium Production

The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Thursday that it will resume its production of the radioactive fuel, plutonium-238, that powers NASA's deep space probe missions, a choice that came as a result of the National Research Council's announcement that the U.S. was running out of the fuel.

The Energy Department also requested a $30 million capital to start the plutonium-making process and pointed out that America's success of deep space missions depends on the ability to use radioisotope power systems.

As it has been nearly 20 years since the end of the Cold War and plutonium production, the NASA is estimated to run out of the radioactive metal by 2020. This means that there is only enough plutonium for a Mars Science Laboratory and an outer planet mission to Jupiter's moons.

Of course, the Obama administration is quite unsure with the public pressure and fear of terrorism, but I strongly believe that the government should go through with this because the rewards far outweigh the risks.

With the probability of terrorism low, NASA should be able to access a decent supply of plutonium. The deep space and Mars missions are helping us to understand space, which can be considered the ultimate resource ever to exist.

Original article: Los Angeles Times, May 8, 2009

Afghan "Civilian Casualties"

With the trilateral summit, convened by US. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in Washington on Wednesday, an important matter will be the topic of "civilian" casualties. With Afghan President Hamid Karzai angry over the recent death of Afghan civilians on a U.S. air attack Monday, Washington has deeply regretted it.

"We don't know all of the circumstances or causes...and there will be a joint investigation...but any loss of life, any loss of innocent life, is particularly painful," Clinton told Mr. Karzai and Pakistan President Ali Zardari.

President Zardari has clearly stated that he is greatly committed to the fight against terrorism and Islamic extremism-induced violence, noting that it is a common enemy of all three nations, and that the summit leaders must cooperate in order to find a solution, as the burden is shared.

U.S. President Barack Obama must be actively involved in this conflict if he is to have any hope of eliminating the problem. I hope that President Obama will make a firm statement against Mr. Karzai's accusations, with the question being were these "civilians" killed by a U.S. error of operation?

Original article: VOA News, May 6, 2009

Pakistani Help Needed To Fight Taliban

The United States special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, implored a Congressional hearing in Washington to put more pressure on Islamabad to help aid attempts against the Taliban. Holbrooke stated clearly that "we need to put the most heavy possible pressure on our friends in Pakistan to join us in the fight against the Taliban and its allies."

Holbrooke suggested that the US must give its undivided effort to help stabilize Pakistan and develop as a democratic entity. Also that Islamabad itself must be committed to drive out any illicit extremists including both al-Qaeda and the Taliban, both of which have been welcomed too long in the unscrupulous regions of the Pakistani border.

Pakistani President Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and President Barack Obama intend to meet in a summit on Wednesday. At the summit, the talks will include the delicate subject of civilian death prevention, the recent uprising of Taliban activity, and easing the tensions between the two conflictual countries.

Holbrooke is simply trying to create a front against the elusive Taliban. If anything is to be accomplished from the summit on Wednesday, Obama, Karzai, and Zardari must openly confront the Taliban that wreak terror among the two countries, and deal with it slowly, as would be done with any other problem.

We need to make the message very clear to the terrorists that threaten society: total control is over; it is time for justice.

Original article: BBC News, May 5, 2009

Clinton Denounces Pyongyang's Actions

The United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated openly that, “[The U.S. has] absolutely no interest and no willingness…to give [North Korea] any economic aid at all,” and that they are “digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole” through its latest actions, including refusing nuclear activity verification.

Clinton firmly stated that she had no support for the $100 million U.S. economic aid request for North Korea, based on its actions during the previous several months, which include threatening the U.N Security Council, boycotting the disarmament conference, and extracting plutonium at its nuclear arms plant.

She also said that the North Korean actions are absolutely unacceptable both on a national and international scale, and she is absolutely right. North Korea should not be allowed to get away with actions like these.

If North Korea doesn’t dig itself of the hole it got itself into during the next several months, it is our right and it is our duty to denounce North Korea’s decisions and take action against it, by whatever means.

North Korea is a threat right now to millions of people. If the U.S. does not step in and take action soon, the threat level will grow to billions of people. The U.S. can start by demonstrating that it will not permit actions such as those demonstrated to persist. We should not, cannot and will not tolerate actions as unacceptable as these.

Original article: Reuters, April 30, 2009

U.S. Economy Slumping, But Slower

The United States’ economic recession showed little progress during the first quarter of this year, with many businesses having to cut back on spending and stocks, which also influenced the GDP, stated by the Commerce Department to have decreased at an annual rate of 6.1% from January through March.

Although inflation was good, this decrease of the GDP was larger than both Wall Street and economist’s expectations, as it has fallen three consecutive quarters—something that hasn’t occurred in over 30 years. The housing slum, which reported a 38% decline, in addition to a shrinking GDP and a tremendous goods adjustment combined and gave the economy a good slap.

But the news isn’t all bad. Although exports dropped 30%, imports plummeted nearly 5% more, giving room for an improvement in trade. Consumer’s showed an interest in durable goods, as it rose 9.4% in January through March after the 22.1% drop during the fourth quarter of ‘08, as well as non-durables, which increased 1.3%.

Overall, the economy is starting to recover. Spending has nearly a 6% difference between fourth-quarter 2008 and first-quarter 2009, and the GDP index shot up from a 0.5% increase to 2.9% increase during the past six months. Although over $100 billion were dumped through inventories, it brought businesses balance in buying and selling goods, slowing the production plummet.

But consumers shouldn’t just wait it out. Governments can’t be expected to do everything. When citizens receive stimulus money, spend it where the economy needs it the most. It is important to remember that governments are nothing without the support of their people.

Original article: Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2009

Summit Leaders Plan Kyoto Protocol Replacement

Obama administration officials say they strongly believe that the meeting in Washington this past monday has improved the chances for a new treaty to address climate and global warming. The meeting of the world’s 16 “major emitters” and the European Union [EU] made up the conference. The new treaty will hopefully effected and replace the 1997 Kyoto protocol after the international meeting in Copenhagen in December of this year.

While President Obama has his own goals of cutting U.S. emissions by 15% by 2020, the EU has its own targets, while developing nations must find the balance between cutting emissions and reducing poverty. It is important to keep in mind the quite a few industrialized nations have not met targets set in the Kyoto agreement, which will void in 2012.

The conflict to this subject is mainly the gap between industrialized states and developing states. Developing economies such as China and India need to find ways to both cut back on emissions and decrease poverty levels, while a few European nations and the U.S. propose cuts far greater that the proposed 15%.

Although this is a rather persistent problem, it has been reported that all of the delegates in Washington are very supportive of this matter and without a doubt are willing to make the right decisions that will push the Kyoto protocol replacement treaty through the upcoming meetings in Paris, Italy, and Copenhagen.

With these upcoming conferences and further discussion of slowing climate change and global warming, we will definitely find the answers to our problems. With those answers, we will also pave the path to a more sustainable world and learn to live in balance with our environment.

Original article: VOA News, April 28, 2009

The "Major Emitters"

Sixteen nations known as “major emitters” are held accountable for over 75% of greenhouse gas emissions. These nations are dutifully taking steps to work together and slow down the pace of global warming and climate change, beginning with a conference in Washington, D.C. on Monday.

The Obama administration, like the major emitters, is hoping to develop an emission treaty and is working with China to cut back on emissions. A group of politically powerful nations including the U.S., China, Japan, and Australia, is working together for major progress in the fields of climate-changing and global warming.

Because of this, national leaders in several countries are looking to incorporate businesses in the “clean-energy quest”. This is a great way to not only help stop climate change, but also to try and stimulate the economy back into action, and I back this fully.

With the power of several politically-strong nations and hundreds of company looking forward to a deal that will limit emissions, help the environment, and promote sustainable technologies, this meeting of the major emitters is a great step forward to living in balance with out world.

Original Article: NPR, April 27, 2009

North Korea Goes Nuclear

As of last Friday, it’s been considered official: North Korea is a nuclear power, many world leaders and nuclear defense experts agree. And whether you choose to accept it or not, the fact is that they have nuclear weapons and are not afraid to use it.

During the past several years, North Korea has been testing and designing nuclear warheads. Up until recently as last year, it was thought that the weapons were too bulky to be crafted onto a missile. However, by the end of 2008, North Korea appeared next to India, China, Pakistan, and Russia on the list of Asia’s nuclear powers.

It is important to keep in mind that with these nuclear warheads, Pyongyang could literally make waste of the US bases in Japan, South Korea, and the island of Guam. Because of the design of the missiles, the long-range missiles are less of a threat than the short-range missiles, being harder to detect.

Because of the nuclear threat, it is becoming a necessity to have defenses against these types of technology, but the one thing that we do not want to do is fight weapons with weapons. The US has a strong influence in the region surrounding North Korea and it must step in and be a moderator in this race of arms.

Nuclear weapons are far too powerful to be put in the hands of a single person or entity. Wherever there are weapons there can never be the guarantee of peace, which is something, no matter what race you are, is always desirable.

Original article: Times Online, April 24, 2009