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.
It’s never been more important. Given the multiple international hot points of conflict it deserves a place in all the chatter that’s going on. Ironically the distraction of American political reality at the moment will likely mute it.
Please persevere for the sake of your generation and the next.
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.
It’s never been more important. Given the multiple international hot points of conflict it deserves a place in all the chatter that’s going on. Ironically the distraction of American political reality at the moment will likely mute it.
Please persevere for the sake of your generation and the next.
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'm 26 and writing a book on denuclearization, if that counts.
It does. VERY much so. As a fellow human being on this planet you are incredibly important.
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