27 Aug 2011

UN / DAY AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS ADVANCER

In advance of the International Day against Nuclear Tests (29 Aug), head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Tibor Tóth said “we are closing the door on nuclear weapons tests” adding that “we are creating a no test law and order and we are implementing that law and order.” CTBTO

Posted at: August 27, 2011 12:01 am

Duration: 03:00

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / DAY AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS ADVANCER  
TRT: 3:00
SOURCE: CTBTO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 23 AUGUST 2011, CTBTO HEADQUARTERS, VIENNA, AUSTRIA / FILE / RECENT

SHOTLIST:

RECENT - VIENNA, AUSTRIA

1. Various shots, CTBTO headquarters

23 AUGUST 2011, CTBTO HEADQUARTERS, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Tibor Tóth, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization:
"Twenty years ago on that day, the former Soviet Union test site was closed down.  That test site, Semipalatinsk, carried nearly one fourth of all nuclear weapons tests.  It was an early example and it was a message:  the message that the discontinuation of nuclear weapons tests is possible, discontinuation of a test site is possible or, going even further, discontinuation of nuclear weapons arsenals is possible. Later on, in 1992, this early step was followed by moratoria by nuclear weapons states.  In 1996, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty itself was concluded. So this is the context within which we should look upon this example as a forerunner of the right steps."

FILE - 16 JULY 1945, NEW MEXICO

3. Various shots, Trinity test, the first nuclear weapons test, conducted by the United States

23 AUGUST 2011, CTBTO HEADQUARTERS, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tibor Tóth, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization:
"Each and every one of us will have to ask the question, did I do my best for the safety of my beloved and my family? We have to ask the question, did we do our best to ensure our safety?  And we have to ask the question, is our safety well regulated? If I use certain analogies, if I take the financial meltdown, the answer to these questions is no. In hindsight, if I take the Fukushima meltdown, the answer to this question is no. In hindsight, on nuclear weapons, there is no hindsight."

FILE - UNKNOWN

5. Wide shot, unknown nuclear test explosion

23 AUGUST 2011, CTBTO HEADQUARTERS, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Tibor Tóth, Executive Secretary, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization:
"For decades four to five hundred nuclear weapons tests took place during the last 50 years.  During the last 10 years there were two.  Two too many, I would say.   But we are closing the door on nuclear weapons tests.  We are creating a no test law and order, and we are implementing that law and order."

FILE / DATE UNKNOWN / VIENNA, AUSTRIA

7. Med shot, satellites on the roof of the Vienna International Centre
8. Wide shot, satellites on the roof of the Vienna International Centre
9. Wide shot, view to the city of Vienna, including the building of the Vienna International Centre
10. Med shot, the CTBTO sign in a glass door, in which is written "Office of the Executive Secretary"
11. Med shot, man on the roof of the Vienna International Centre places filter on a large round radionuclide test station
12. Close shot, the man's hands places filter on a large round radionuclide test station
13. Various shots, man continues to work with the round radionuclide test station
14. Med shot, behind a glass door, in which is written "control room", a man is working on a computer 
15. Med close, man working in the computer room, where several screens show colourful graphs and information coming from the stations

STORYLINE:

In advance of the International Day against Nuclear Tests (29 Aug), head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Tibor Tóth said "we are closing the door on nuclear weapons tests" adding that "we are creating a no test law and order, and we are implementing that law and order."

This year's observance of the International Day marks the twentieth anniversary of the closure of the nuclear weapons test site at Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan. Over the course of the cold war, hundreds of nuclear weapon tests left behind a devastating legacy for local citizens and their natural environment. 
 
Tóth said the closing of the site sent a clear message that "the discontinuation of nuclear weapons tests is possible, discontinuation of a test site is possible or, going even further, discontinuation of nuclear weapons arsenals is possible."

Tóth's organization promotes the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and the build-up of the verification regime so that it is operational when the Treaty enters into force.

The CTBT has been signed by 182 States and ratified by 153, but to become international law 44 States that were significant nuclear technology holders at the time it opened for signature in 1996 must ratify. Currently 35 have done so. Nine remain. These are China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Indonesia Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States.