The Conflict

With already serious nuclear waste problems and a very poor track record in nuclear safety, Russia has approved plans to import more spent nuclear waste from elsewhere in the world for reprocessing. Russia claims that it will use the profits to clean up its considerable nuclear waste problem, but there is worldwide skepticism about its ability to do so and fear of the consequences for the planet if its efforts are unsuccessful.

Political

•The passage of the nuclear waste law contravened both the section of the Russian constitution covering popular opposition expressed through petitions and referenda, and in the process of legislative enactment itself, with all debate in Russia's upper legislative house being bypassed.

Economic

• Every geographic...