I'm heartened to see the activism on this issue - I'm preparing a book for publication right now on the history of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, and I see this open letter as an extension of that 50s effort. First step is to raise consciousness around the fact that we are facing a forced choice: eliminate nuclear weaponry or eventually go extinct. There is no third option.
The very real possibility that some political calculus will be made by unstable leadership in such a possible number of countries, there’s a very real fear I have that nothing is going to be done. Too valuable a threat to relinquish? Too self destructive a path to give up? Too enjoyable a danger to remove from an arsenal?
My generation- the ones who grew up having nuclear drills at school - had an immediate and visceral response to nuclear proliferation. The young do not.
We probably need a new Bob Dylan - a young voice - to break through the distractions and simple noise surrounding kids growing up accepting the status quo. Who can that be?
Thank you for this. As a member of the maligned Boomer generation, I remember "duck and cover" from my school days. There is a disturbing video which was shown during the Ed Sullivan Show, "A Short Vision" which really upset my husband as a child. He says it was creepier in black and white. Here's where it is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNPgfE6SgYM
I'm heartened to see the activism on this issue - I'm preparing a book for publication right now on the history of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, and I see this open letter as an extension of that 50s effort. First step is to raise consciousness around the fact that we are facing a forced choice: eliminate nuclear weaponry or eventually go extinct. There is no third option.
The very real possibility that some political calculus will be made by unstable leadership in such a possible number of countries, there’s a very real fear I have that nothing is going to be done. Too valuable a threat to relinquish? Too self destructive a path to give up? Too enjoyable a danger to remove from an arsenal?
My generation- the ones who grew up having nuclear drills at school - had an immediate and visceral response to nuclear proliferation. The young do not.
We probably need a new Bob Dylan - a young voice - to break through the distractions and simple noise surrounding kids growing up accepting the status quo. Who can that be?
I love all your work about Chris Nolan's Oppenheimer.
Thank you for this. As a member of the maligned Boomer generation, I remember "duck and cover" from my school days. There is a disturbing video which was shown during the Ed Sullivan Show, "A Short Vision" which really upset my husband as a child. He says it was creepier in black and white. Here's where it is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNPgfE6SgYM