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=== '''Help Write Articles about our World''' ===


[[Image:Logo400grbeta_small.png|center]]
Welcome to '''Citizendium''', a wiki for providing free knowledge where authors use their '''real names'''.  We regard information as a public good and welcome anyone who wants to share their knowledge on virtually any subject.  Our online community prides itself on being congenial and supportive.  Read more about <big>'''[[CZ:About|who we are]]'''</big>.


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=== The Write-a-Thon has begun!  Join us! ===
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=== The Geogra-Thon has begun!  Join us! ===
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===Welcome!===
We are an encyclopedia project, and more.


We are a [[CZ:We aren't Wikipedia|different]] sort of Web 2.0 project:
<blockquote>
* We aim at credibility and quality, not just quantity.
 
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We have added [[:Category:CZ Live|over 4,200 articles]] (and many [[:Category:Subpages|subpages]]) since November 2006.
<br>Read our <span class=plainlinks>[http://www.citizendium.org/oneyearandthriving.html first year progress report] and [[CZ:Citizendium_Press_Releases/Oct302007|press release]].


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=== Some of our finest <font size=1>[ [[CZ:Approval Process|about]] ]</font> ===
[[Image:Approved.png|35px|35px|right]]
* [[:Category:Approved Articles|Approved Articles]]
* [[:Category:Developed Articles|Developed Articles]] <font size=1>(over 700)</font>
<!-- * [[CZ:Approval_Announcements|Newly approved and newly nominated articles]] -->


=== Article of the Week <font size=1>[ [[CZ:Article of the Week|about]] ]</font> ===
'''[[Civil society]]''' is the arena of uncoerced collective action around shared interests, purposes and values. In theory, its institutional forms are distinct from those of the state, family and market, though in practice, the boundaries between state, civil society, family and market are often complex, blurred and negotiated. Civil society commonly embraces a diversity of spaces, actors and institutional forms, varying in their degree of formality, autonomy and power. Civil societies are often populated by organizations such as tax-exempt public charities, foundations, development non-governmental organizations, community and grassroots organizations, women's organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, trade unions, self-help groups, social movements, business associations, coalitions and advocacy groups.  <font size=1>[[Civil society|['''more...''']]]</font>


=== New Draft of the Week <font size=1>[ [[CZ:New Draft of the Week|about]] ]</font> ===
 
[[Image: omanhene.jpg|right|200px|Odambea: Paramount Chief in Mankessim]]
 
'''[[Odambea]]''' is a festival in Nkusukum Traditional Area in Central Region, Ghana, which is celebrated every year in the end of August. The last Saturday in August is the highlight of the festival which begins on Monday before that Saturday. Odambea reminds of the Fante migration from the Tekyiman area to Mankessim and further. The parades strengthen the role of [[Akan Chieftaincy (Ghana)]].
 
<font size=1>[[Odambea|['''more...''']]]</font>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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<h4 style="margin:0 0 0.75em; padding:0;"> '''Article counts''' </h4>
<p style="line-height:21px; padding-left:20px;">
[[:Category:Citable versions of articles|Citable Articles]] <font size=1>('''{{PAGESINCAT:Citable versions of articles}}''')</font><br />
[[:Category:Developed Articles|Developed Articles]] <font size=1>('''{{PAGESINCAT:Developed Articles}}''')</font><br />
[[:Category:Developing Articles|Developing Articles]] <font size=1>('''{{PAGESINCAT:Developing Articles}}''')</font><br />
[[:Category:Stub Articles|Stubs]] <font size=1>('''{{PAGESINCAT:Stub Articles}}''')</font><br />
<small>([[:Category:CZ Live|{{PAGESINCAT:CZ Live}} total articles]])</small>
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<h3 style="margin-top:0; padding-top:0.6em; border-top:1px dotted #e0e0e0;">
<big>[[CZ:Featured article|Featured Article]]: ''[[{{FeaturedArticleTitle}}]]''</big>
</h3>
{{CZ:Featured article/Current}}
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<div style='text-align: right;'><small>''[[{{FeaturedArticleTitle}}|Continued]]...''</small></div>

Latest revision as of 19:28, 18 February 2024

Help Write Articles about our World

Welcome to Citizendium, a wiki for providing free knowledge where authors use their real names. We regard information as a public good and welcome anyone who wants to share their knowledge on virtually any subject. Our online community prides itself on being congenial and supportive. Read more about who we are.


See Recent Changes—an overview of articles being worked on now.

Become a member--it's free!

Agriculture Earth Sciences Journalism Physics
Anthropology Economics Law Politics
Archaeology Education Library & Info. Sci. Psychology
Architecture Engineering Linguistics Religion
Astronomy Food Science Literature Robotics
Biology Games Mathematics Sociology
Business Geography Media Sports
Chemistry Health Sciences Military Theater
Classics History Music Topic Informant
Computers Hobbies Philosophy Visual Arts


Please help today!
Please make your donations here.
Donations go to keep our servers running. See our financial report.


New Blog Post
Why save Citizendium? My reason number 1.





















Article counts

Citable Articles (145)
Developed Articles (1,149)
Developing Articles (8,131)
Stubs (8,038)
(17,583 total articles)

Writing is easy. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.
— Red Smith
       —add a quotation about knowledge or writing

Featured Article: Nuclear proliferation

Nuclear weapons proliferation is one of the four big issues that have held back worldwide deployment of peaceful nuclear power. This article will address the proliferation questions raised in Nuclear power reconsidered.

As of 2022, countries with nuclear weapons have followed one or both of two paths in producing fissile materials for nuclear weapons: enrichment of uranium to very high fractions of U-235, or extraction of fissile plutonium (Pu-239) from irradiated uranium nuclear reactor fuel. The US forged the way on both paths during its World War II Manhattan Project. The fundamental aspects of both paths are well understood, but both are technically challenging. Even relatively poor countries can be successful if they have sufficient motivation, financial investment, and, in some cases, direct or illicit assistance from more technologically advanced countries.

The International Non-proliferation Regime

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a vigorous program to prevent additional countries from acquiring nuclear weapons. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the cornerstone arrangement under which strategic rivals can trust, by independent international verification, that their rivals are not developing a nuclear weapons threat. The large expense of weapons programs makes it very unlikely that a country would start its own nuclear weapons program, if it knows that its rivals are not so engaged. With some notable and worrying exceptions, this program has been largely successful.

Paths to the Bomb

It is frequently claimed that building a civil nuclear power program adds to the weapons proliferation risk. There is an overlap in the two distinct technologies, after all. To build a bomb, one needs Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) or weapons-grade plutonium (Pu-239). Existing reactors running on Low Enriched Uranium (LEU, under 5% U-235) or advanced reactors running on High Assay LEU (HALEU,up to 20% U-235) use the same technology that can enrich uranium to very high levels, but configured differently. Enrichment levels and centrifuge configurations can be monitored using remote cameras, on-site inspections, and installed instrumentation -- hence the value of international inspections by the IAEA. Using commercial power reactors as a weapons plutonium source is an extremely ineffective, slow, expensive, and easily detectable way to produce Pu. Besides the nuclear physics issues, refueling pressurized water reactors is both time-consuming and obvious to outside observers. That is why the US and other countries developed specialized Pu production reactors and/or uranium enrichment to produce fissile cores for nuclear weapons.

Future Threats and Barriers

Minimizing the risk of future proliferation in states that want to buy nuclear reactors or fuel might require one or more barriers:
1) Insisting on full transparency for all nuclear activities in buyer states, including monitoring and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
2) Limiting fuel processing to just a few supplier states that already have weapons or are approved by the IAEA.
3) Ensuring that fuel at any stage after initial fabrication has an isotopic composition unsuitable for weapons. "Spiking" the initial fuel with non-fissile isotopes, if necessary.
4) Limiting the types of reactors deployed to buyer states. In general, breeders are less secure than burners. Sealed reactor modules are more secure than reactors with on-site fuel processing.
5) Providing incentives and assurances for buyer states to go along with all of the above.
6) Application of diplomatic pressure, sanctions, and other economic measures to non-compliant states.
7) Agreement that any reactor declared rogue by the IAEA will be "fair game" for any state feeling threatened.

Footnotes