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DECEMBER sees the 50th anniversary of the “atoms for peace” speech by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower to the UN general assembly. Eisenhower wanted the world to control nuclear weapons proliferation, and the UN responded by creating the International Atomic Energy Agency. The president also suggested that the means to produce electricity from nuclear reactors be shared in a way that spread peaceful uses of the atom.

The world is still struggling with proliferation of nuclear weapons. The export of nuclear technology – to the great enrichment of western corporations – has helped make India, Pakistan, North Korea and now,…

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