Leaders of the world's 8 most industrialized nations continue their annual summit today in Japan. To combat the global food crisis, leaders called on nations with excess food reserves to release some of their stockpiles and lift export restrictions. Expressing "grave concern" about the violence marred elections in Zimbabwe, G8 members warned of financial repercussions against individuals behind the violence. North Korea was urged to abandon nuclear weapons programs and encouraged to move forward in dialogue with Japan regarding abductions of Japanese civilians in the 1970s and 1980s. The heads of state also urged Iran to end its uranium enrichment activities.

After refusing to sign on to the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, President Bush today joined key allies in pledging to try to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. The G8 – representing the world's eight most industrialized nations - approved a plan aimed at spurring a new worldwide treaty to limit global warming. The plan acknowledges the need for the world to cut carbon emissions by at least 50 percent and for each nation to set its own target for a nearer term. Leaders noted a growing number of countries who consider nuclear power a viable means of attaining that goal. Karl Grossman is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury. He is also the author of Cover Up – What You Are Not Supposed to Know about Nuclear Power and other books about nuclear technology. We spoke with Grossman about whether a major shift to nuclear power would greatly reduce the carbon footprint of energy production – or not.

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