real Protocol called for the nations of the world to stop the production of among other things, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants. Because of her severe cash flow problems Russia has not been able to keep up with the global plan. However the United Nations along with the World Bank have pledged to help the Russians come up to speed. The World Bank spent $25 million to buy the Russian CFC facilities. They are scheduled for closure later this year (Science, 9/18/98, Vol. 281 Issue 5384, p 1778).The clean up of the Cold War will cost almost as much as the actual stand off, billions. While Russia was making her nuclear bombs she paid little attention to the effects of her nuclear technology on the environment. One of the main Soviet bases was located on the Kola Peninsula close to Russia's border with Norway. At this base are many nuclear facilities and submarines. Their disarmament poses serious threats to the safety of the environment if not handled properly. Norway has pledged to help Russia with the clean up process and the United States has pledged money to help with the effort. By 2010 it is planned to have 25 submarines decommissioned and to have the waste safely disposed of. For now, however, the people involved are most concerned about preventing contamination and safeguarding the weapons. No one wants another Chernobyl (Peace Research Abstracts Journal, Feb 99, Vol. 36 Issue 1, p48).Of course these are not the only problems. The Soviets were unconcerned about the safety of waste from not only nuclear facilities but also chemical plants and all sectors of industry which causes problems with water sanitation and food production.PoliticsIt has been argued that it is easier to characterize what Russia is transforming from than what it is transforming to (Social Research, Summer 1996, Vol. 63 Issue 2, p403). When Communism fell in Russia it was decided to move the state to a democratic form of government. After almos...
