Nuclear weapons and scientific responsibility / / C.G. Weeramantry.

• VerfasserIn: Weeramantry, C. G.,
• Place / Publishing House: Ratmalana, Sri Lanka ;, Cambridge, Massachusetts ;, Dordrecht, The Netherlands : : Sarvodaya Vishva Lekha :, Kluwer Law International,, 1999.; ©1987
• Year of Publication: 1999
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource.
• Notes: Includes index.

Table of Contents

Intro -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- PREFACE TO SECOND PRINTING -- FOREWORD -- ORIGINAL PREFACE (1987) -- Table of Contents -- CHAPTER 1 The Beginnings -- CHAPTER 2 The Cold War -- CHAPTER 3 The Distinctiveness of Nuclear Weapons -- The Nuclear Winter -- a) Atmospheric Effects -- b) Agricultural Effects -- c) Medical Effects -- d) Social Effects -- CHAPTER 4 The Arsenals -- Analysis of U.S. Firepower -- Analysis of Soviet Firepower -- A Comparative Survey -- a) Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) -- b) Submarine-launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) -- c) Bombers -- d) Launch-on-Warning Systems -- e) Weapons Sites -- The Other Weapons States -- Proliferation -- CHAPTER 5 The Origins and Current Status of the International Law of War -- Does International Law Exist? -- The Sources of International Law -- The Characteristics of a Legal Prescription -- a) Policy Content -- b) Authority Signal -- c) Control Intention -- Swings toward International Law -- The Framework of the Law relating to War -- The Jus ad Bellum -- The Jus in Bello -- The Human Rights Dimension -- CHAPTER 6 Is the Use of Nuclear Weapons Illegal? -- What Principles of International Law Render the Use of Nuclear Weapons Illegal? -- 1. Causation of indiscriminate harm to combatants and non-combatants -- 2. Aggravation of pain and suffering -- 3. Violation of the laws of humanity -- 4. Contradiction of the principle of proportionality -- 5. Nullification of a return to peace -- 6. Destruction of the eco-system -- 7. The extermination of populations and the decimation of mankind -- 8. The possibility of extinction of the human race -- 9. Intergenerational damage -- 10. The express prohibition of asphyxiating gases and analogous materials -- 11. Destruction and damage to neutral states -- The Delictual Dimension -- Alleged Justifications and their Inadequacy.

1. Abrogation of international law by contrary practice -- 2. The necessities of war -- 3. Practical military strategy -- 4. The concept of a just war -- 5. Self-defence -- 6. The preservation of one's way of life -- 7. Preventing destabilization of areas of influence -- A More Humanistic Approach to International Law -- CHAPTER 7 Is the Manufacture of Nuclear Weapons Illegal? -- Deterrence -- a) The impracticality of deterrence -- b) The illegality of deterrence -- A Contained Nuclear War -- a) Theatre nuclear war -- b) Limited nuclear war -- c) Star Wars: the objections -- Other considerations -- a) The unpredictability of the outbreak of war -- b) 1he unpredictability of the course of war -- c) The uncontrollability of war -- d) Launch-on-warning capability (LOWC) -- e) The electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) -- f) The absence of a limited war concept in Soviet nuclear strategy -- g) lncentives towards a first strike strategy -- h) Scientific research as an impediment to de-escalation -- i) The increase in the likelihood of war -- The Violation of Human Rights -- CHAPTER 8 The Concept of Personal Responsibility in International Law -- CHAPTER 9 The Responsibility of the Scientist -- Conscious Involvement -- The Principle of Causation -- The Principle of Foreseeability -- Changes in Public Attitudes -- Levels of Scientific Involvement -- Scientific Involvement through Information Technology -- Alleged Justifications for Scientific Involvement -- 1. The principle of freedom of scientific research -- 2. Patriotic duty -- 3. Defence of one's political beliefs or economic interests -- 4. The "slippery slope" argument -- 5. Belief in self-defence, deterrence, or the concept of a contained nuclear war -- 6. Belief that nuclear weapons control "small wars" and prevent big ones -- 7. The futility of individual protest.

8. Culpability and responsibility lie with the decision makers -- 9. Superior orders -- 10. Lack of official position -- 11. Economic necessity -- Some Ideological Objections -- a) The nutrality of science -- b) The worthiness of the scientific endeavor -- c) The truthfulness and rationality of science -- d) The openness of science -- e) The unpredictability of scientific consequences -- f) The misapplication of science by others -- Some International Declarations on Scientific Responsibility -- Unilateral Scientific Abstention -- Current Ethical Concerns Among Scientists -- The Need for an Ethical Code for Nuclear Scientists -- CHAPTER 10 Consequences of the Thesis advanced in this Book -- Conclusion: Practical Advantages of Underlining Scientific Responsibility -- 1. Clarification of the issues for scientists -- 2. Sharpening of the scientific conscience -- 3. Creation of a climate of scientific opinion -- 4. Evolution of codes of ethical conduct for nuclear scientists -- 5. International declarations -- 6. Greater public awareness -- 7. Reinforcing of anti-nuclear moral sentiment -- 8. Strengthening the wall of resistance to the use of nuclear weaponry -- 9. Clarifying the distinction between destruction and war -- 10. Reliance on existing principles rather than future treaties -- 11. More affirmative use of the legal system -- 12. Channelling science towards peace -- APPENDIX A The Nuclear Winter according to Lord Byon, 1816 -- APPENDIX B The Fallacy of Star Wars -- APPENDIX C Einstein's Letter to Roosevelt, 1939 -- APPENDIX D Niels Bohr's Memorandum to Roosevelt, 1944 -- APPENDIX E Extract from 'Franck Report' to the Secretary of War, 1945 -- APPENDIX F The Russell-Einstein Manifesto, 1955 -- APPENDIX G Declaration of the Canadian Pugwash Group, 1982.

APPENDIX H For the Species and the Planet: A Statement in Support of the Five Continent Peace Initiative, 1985 -- APPENDIX I Resolution of Human Rights Committee on Illegality of Nuclear War -- APPENDIX J Principles Formulated by the International Law Commission -- APPENDIX K Proposed U. N. Declaration of Scientific Responsibility in Relation to Nuclear Weaponry -- APPENDIX L Three Judicial Opinions -- a) WHO Advisory Opinion -- b) New Zealand v. France -- c) General Assembly Advisory Opinion -- List of Articles -- INDEX.