“Brazil has joined the select group of countries with the capability of enriching uranium as a means of generating energy.” Over the last couple of years, the nuclear debate has become quite heated. With North Korea’s withdrawl from the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to Iran’s resumption of a uranium enrichment program, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has certainly had its hands full.

The nuclear debate certainly is complex, encompassing a range of issues. While environmental concerns have been the more public face of the debate, especially with the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster this year (check out this great link), greater political overtones are being seen. Permanent membership in the UN Security Council is an increasingly recurring topic of debate.

To date there are five permanent members – the US, Britain, France, China and Russia – who, not surprisingly, are the only countries allowed to have nuclear weapons under the NPT. Germany, India, Brazil and Japan are lobbying for permanent spots. India is most interesting given current negotiations of a deal with the US regarding exchanges of nuclear technologies and fuel for peaceful purposes under the condition no weapons tests are performed. Doesn’t it matter that India isn’t a signatory of the NPT?

While fuel enrichment is required for power stations, it is also the first step to creating weapons grade material – the crux of the Iran debate right now. Given India’s past programme and Pakistan’s suspected weapons arsenal, one can appreciate international concern over Iran. Should Iran remove itself from the NTP, what are the chances we would see a repeat of North Korea two years ago, when IAEA inspectors were barred from entering the country?

Still to date, Israel’s unconfirmed weapons stockpile has largely gone unchecked while economic sanctions placed on North Korea, and faced by Iran, are nowhere to be seen. Guess it helps when you’re great mates with the US. One thing is for certain: if nuclear programmes remain unchecked and unrestricted, we face an increasingly uncertain future.