The Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security, with support from MAPA, is excited to release Human Beings and Nuclear Weapons Cannot Co-Exist.
Watch the trailer for the film below.
The full video can be viewed here.
Supervising producer Terry Kay Rockefeller notes that the video “provides a concise overview of the horrors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the dangers of nuclear testing, and the environmental devastation caused by uranium mining. Then, drawing inspiration from the Hibakusha, the Japanese survivors of atomic bombing, it offers concrete actions that everyone can take to rid the world of nuclear weapons.”
Finding the right balance between despair and hope was perhaps the most complex aspect of producing the video. As Joseph Gerson, President of CPDCS, states in the documentary: “The world is much more dangerous than people know.” Creating this video spurred the question: How can we address the reality that humanity teeters on the brink of annihilation without succumbing to resignation and even nihilism?
This dynamic is especially important in addressing the younger generation of activists who are bombarded with daily reminders of a bleak future. Genocides continue in Palestine, Sudan, and Congo while our ruling class refuses to bat an eye. Climate catastrophe accelerates beyond dire predictions. Out-of-control Artificial Intelligence is the latest existential threat looming on the horizon. And the youth bear witness to all of this while living through rising authoritarianism at home.
The antidote to these overwhelming realities is to offer hope and provide a clear course of action. Fortunately, the Hibakusha have shown us the way. The testimony of their lived experiences has put a face to the human toll of the otherwise incomprehensible destruction of atomic weapons. Their tireless advocacy has yielded tangible results, most notably in helping create the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017, which provides a clear framework for abolition.
And so, while addressing the dire need for immediate action, the video ultimately centers on the work of the Hibakusha and offers a hopeful path forward. Founder of Students for Nuclear Disarmament, Rishi Gurudevan, promises that “together, we can inspire my generation and take concrete steps towards preserving a world in which our children can grow up.” The video offers such steps for American activists to take, including support for the Back From the Brink Campaign.
Above all, we must heed the Hibakusha’s message, avoid the temptation to give in to cynicism, and remain firm in our commitment to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. Accepting a world in which annihilation is the push of a button away simply cannot be normalized.
This brief documentary provides an honest look at the state of the nuclear abolition movement, urging us to see a world free of nuclear weapons as both a necessity for our survival and an achievable outcome within our lifetimes.
We ask our partner organizations to share this video and promote its message.
By Randy Wurster