It’s been eight decades since the United States chose the unfortunate path of nuclear warfare, decimating the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Now, the globe has witnessed a rise in nuclear powers reaching a total of nine, many of which are locked in tense military stand-offs. It is somewhat surreal and thankfully so, that despite this, no other nuclear wars have transpired.
Some argue that the eerie silence masking the potential chaos is an indication of nuclear deterrence at play. Undeniably, this view holds some measure of validity. The terror induced by the thought of a nuclear inferno capable of wiping out civilization and potentially life itself is a powerful discouragement.
However, as tensions rise globally and the specter of a world war becomes increasingly tangible, we are left to ask how long this ‘deterrence’ can maintain equilibrium. It wouldn’t be entirely truthful to credit the lack of nuclear warfare solely to deterrence. A significant dose of good fortune has played its role in keeping the world safe from catastrophe.
One can recall the Cuban Missile Crisis which humankind barely escaped by the skin of its teeth. Such a crisis could have tipped in favor of disaster just as easily. A number of specialists speculate that the end may not come from a calculated attack but due to an unintentional launch.
This fear is further stoked by the integration of artificial intelligence with nuclear weaponry. This heralds a new era where decision-making processes are reduced to mere moments, eliminating the potential for human supervision. It has been eight decades since World War II concluded, marking the fall of Nazi tyranny.
Counting back eighty years, we remember the shocking and sorrowful liberation of emaciated prisoners from grim concentration camps by Russian and U.S troops. Echoes of ‘Never Again!’ rang across the globe in a shared vow for a future devoid of such atrocities.
We cannot discount the vital role played by nuclear arms treaties acting as metaphysical barriers preventing nuclear warfare. Nevertheless, the recent years have been witness to these barrier being torn apart by the U.S., in effect erasing potential paths toward peace.
It’s as if the safety latches have been undone with the U.S. abandoning vital nuclear arms provisions. When we search for the adults in the room, we find the room nearly empty. Especially in the U.S., where hawkish neocons, the efficient operators of power, exhibit affection for Israel but display disdain for Iran and Russia.
To say that a disaster threatening humanity can be side-stepped would be wishful thinking; it would require nothing short of a miracle and amplified activist efforts. Many population groups are dwelling in a dystopian reality already, grappling with wars, genocide, crippling poverty, famine, and an escalating climate crisis.
All these serve as painful reminders of relentless corporate gluttony and a relentless militaristic thirst. Peace proponents have an uphill journey ahead, confronting a myriad of challenges. War and militarism have proven lucrative trades, and politicians have quickly realized the benefits of endorsing wars and sustaining the machinery of conflict.
One cannot overlook the grim historical fact that between 1946 and 1958, the U.S detonated a sizable number of 67 nuclear explosives on an isolated island nation positioned in the Pacific Ocean. Recently, the historic Golden Rule peace boat set sail from its homeport in Humboldt Bay, setting course for San Francisco Bay.
Throughout the month of August, the vessel will serve an educative purpose, raising public awareness about the escalating risk of nuclear warfare and promoting the significance of the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
Operated by the Veterans for Peace, a notable organization now in its fourth decade, the Golden Rule is their national endeavor. Their mission is comprehensive, aimed at unveiling the true price of war; advocating for restraint in meddling with foreign internal affairs; and pushing fervently for a world purged of nuclear arms.
The post Eight Decades Into the Nuclear Age: The Escalating Threat of Nuclear Warfare appeared first on Real News Now.
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