Partial Test Ban Treaty: Main Idea
Partial Test Ban Treaty: Main Idea
If You Play With Fire...
You can think of the PTBT as a big no-no finger wagging back and forth in protest.
The basic gist is pretty cut and dry: you have a nuclear bomb you want to test? Too bad, you can't do it. At least, not in the air, in outer space, or underwater because nuclear energy is wily and, like, super deadly.
With a force so unpredictable, the risks are great. As they say, if you play with fire, you're gonna get burned. Or maybe 21 miles of urban civilization will get burned. Regardless, it's a bad scene. The health and safety of people, animals, and the planet are at grave risk, so everyone needs to agree to behave and put the atomic measuring sticks away.
Questions
- Does the language of the treaty adequately convey the urgency of the nuclear issue? Do you think it convincingly paints a dire-enough picture of atomic dangers?
- Can you identify any sections of the treaty that specifically try to ease the diplomatic competition between the U.S. and the USSR?
- Is this treaty a document of peace? Why or why not?
- In what sections of the treaty can you identify specific examples related to the idea of responsibility and the dangers of messing with nuclear power? Try to find three.
Chew On This
The PTBT is the result of careful and deliberate diplomacy carried out by the U.S. and the USSR, which paved the way for the beginning of the end of the Cold War standoff.
The PTBT was simply another insurance policy to maintain the diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and the USSR. It is a perfect example of how MAD infiltrated every level of Western society, both domestically and internationally.
Quotes
Quote #1
Proclaiming as their principal aim the speediest possible achievement of an agreement on general and complete disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations which would put an end to the armaments race and eliminate the incentive to the production and testing of all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons [...]. (2)
Right up front, the treaty makes clear its basic intent, that the original parties want to make fast work of the reduction of weapons, especially nuclear weapons. It's a lofty claim and a big job, but you have to start somewhere.
Quote #2
Seeking to achieve the discontinuance of all test explosions of nuclear weapons for all time [...]. (3)
Continuing on from the noble promise to get hustlin' on nuclear disarmament, this line makes a point of explaining that a main goal of the treaty is to stop nuclear weapons testing completely and forever.
Quote #3
[...] desiring to put an end to the contamination of man's environment by radioactive substances [...]. (3)
Just in case there was a question about why the treaty is intent upon stopping nuclear weapons testing for all time, this bit offers some clarification. It says that the reason is because nuclear weapons are poisoning the earth and its inhabitants. (See "The Baby Tooth Survey" discussion.)
Quote #4
Each of the Parties to this Treaty undertakes to prohibit, to prevent, and not to carry out any nuclear weapon test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion, at any place under its jurisdiction or control [...]. (6)
This line provides more detail about the kinds of nuclear tests that are prohibited—because certain types fell through the cracks. (Underground testing, we're looking at you.)
Quote #5
Each of the Parties to this Treaty undertakes furthermore to refrain from causing, encouraging, or in any way participating in, the carrying out of any nuclear weapon test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion, anywhere which would take place in any of the environments described, or have the effect referred to, in paragraph 1 of this Article. (10)
Don't anybody get sneaky. Here, the original parties agree not to conduct nuclear weapons tests in the air, in outer space, and underwater, and they agree not to have anyone else do it for them, either. It really is about the original parties being on their best, most trustworthy behavior.