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The world changed – for the worse – after it witnessed nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during the World War II.

72 years later, the situation isn’t any better. With more than 15,000 nuclear weapons in the world, the human race is at an alarming risk of extinction even if a few of them were to be ever launched.

These weapons, if not launched by intent, are at a risk of being launched by accident or miscalculation. To raise awareness and teach citizens about this imminent danger at hand, Global Zero India organized ‘Teach–Ins’  in Delhi and Bangalore on the 72nd anniversary of Hiroshima bombing on 6th August, 2017.

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These ‘Teach-Ins’ started with a short introduction by Vibhana Kanwar, a Grassroots Team Leader with Global Zero, about the kind of threat and dangers a nuclear war across Indian and Pakistani borders can bring to the table.

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Since India and Pakistan are two nuclear-armed countries sharing the same border, the threat of a nuclear war is a very likely possibility. Dr. Reshmi Kazi pointed out later that if Pakistan were to declare a ‘No First Use’ policy, then India, China, and Pakistan could this way form a club – hence, taking the first step towards disarmament.

The day witnessed the presence of many keen Indian activists and participants attending the event, from making origami cranes denoting peace to paying homage to Sadako Sasaki, a victim of the atomic bombings in Japan.

According to Rashi Jauhri, the South Asian Field Organiser with Global Zero, “The existence of nuclear weapons poses an existential threat not only to India and Pakistan but to human civilisation as we know it.”

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The participants engaged in public dialogue about the growing risks of nuclear weapons usage, the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of such use, and the ethical importance of the elimination of these weapons of mass destruction.

At the end of the three-hour event, the participants tweeted the pictures of their handmade origami cranes to PM Modi, using the hashtag #NoNukes.

The origami cranes along with a rakhi were then delivered to the Prime Minister’s office on the 8th August by Rashi Jauhri and Vibhana Kanwar to commemorate Sadako’s life.

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“On the occasion of Rakshabandhan and the tragic anniversary of the atomic bombings, we’re asking the Prime Minister to do everything in his power to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again. The only way to do that is to eliminate them once and for all,” said Jauhri.

 

Global Zero is the international movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons. It is led by more than 300 eminent world leaders and backed by half a million citizens worldwide. For more information, please visit www.globalzero.org.

 

 

Image Credits: Raghav Juneja and Sahil Chauhan for DU Beat

 

Sahil Chauhan

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Marking the International Human Rights day, over a hundred Global Zero activists in India and Pakistan came together in cities across both countries asking PM Modi and PM Sharif to commit to never pressing the nuclear red button. Activists took to the streets in New Delhi, Lahore, Bangalore, Karachi and Islamabad, releasing hundreds of red balloons symbolic to the red button of a nuclear weapon, in a strong move showcasing solidarity between the two nations.

The very existence of nuclear weapons threatens fundamental human rights- and Prime Minister Modi in India and Prime Minister Sharif in Pakistan control the fate of over 200 nuclear warheads. “A nuclear war between India and Pakistan would produce so much smoke that global temperatures would fall below those of the last Ice Age, shortening the growing season around the world and threatening the global food supply,” says Rashi Jauhri, South Asia Field Organiser for Global Zero India.

“One “average” nuke dropped on a major city would vaporise everything within a kilometre radius, and kill around 12 lakh people in the first 24 hours, with significantly more deaths from radiation exposure and injuries in the follow weeks. Any nuclear explosion would jeopardise the basic human rights of clean water, food and safety for generations to come,” she added. Nine world leaders across the world have the power to kill thousands of people at a moment’s notice with the push of a button – immediately launching a nuclear strike. The consolidation of power into the hands of so few raises the threat of a nuclear war- by intent, by miscalculation, or by accident.

 

Global Zero is the international movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons. It is led by more than 300 eminent world leaders and backed by half a million citizens worldwide. For more information, please visit www.globalzero.org

In the wake of rising tensions between the two colonial twins-India and Pakistan – and several tough statements being delivered by members of the political establishment of both the countries, it seems like that both the countries are headed for a tumultuous time. Some students of India and Pakistan have urged the Prime Ministers of both the countries to not turn to nuclear weapons. A campaign which was conducted by Global Zero, an international movement for eliminating all the nuclear weapons in the world, featured numerous students from both the countries who sent their messages in a unique and powerful photo series campaign. In this campaign, students clicked their photos with messages displayed on placards. The campaign was supported by over a hundred students and activists in the cities of Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Gwalior, Guwahati, Dehradun, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Mumbai and Bangalore in India.

Students against Nuclear War
Students against Nuclear War

The catastrophe that a nuclear war comes along with the capacity to do massive damage to the huge populations of both countries. Global Zero is on a mission to urge the political leaders to settle their disputes through dialogues and discussions rather than war.

Through this unique photo series where students from New Delhi to Islamabad, Bangalore to Karachi, and Amritsar to Lahore came together with the message ‘Say No to the Red button’, the bigger message that Global Zero tried to convey was that the youth of this country are not at all supportive of the new found chauvinistic patriotism and want a future which is devoid of nuclear weapons.

Pictures via the Global Zero campaign

Srivedant Kar

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It was in August of 1945 that the U.S dropped ‘’little boy’’ and ‘’fat man’’ on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It remains till date the only known use of nuclear bombs in warfare. The privilege of being nuclear powers was in the hands of a few back then.

Nowadays, with rapid development, technology and the arms race, nation after nation is bent on becoming nuclear. Some powers have pledged disarmament but still have to deliver on their promises. And since nobody is willing to drop arms first, everybody wants to get enough for deterrence, or at least we hope it is for that. So with new powers and developing or existing (Indo-Pak anyone?)  tensions between States, the threat of nuclear warfare becomes more and more imminent.

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12 cyclists from Global Zero, at Raisina Hill.

With this huge doubt looming over us, nations and international organizations have decided to start movements for disarmament. The U.S. based group Global Zero (GZ) is one such organization. Launched in 2008 and with a participation of over 300 world leaders, this group works towards the eradication of nuclear weapons from the world.

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Global Zero cycling team at India Gate.

On the 71st anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings thousands of Global Zero activists participated in a global day of action calling for an end to the nuclear threat. Activists took to the streets, riding cycles or walking in Kolkata, Bangalore, and New Delhi, tracing the blast of a “small” nuclear weapon and highlighting the zone of devastation in which most injuries would be fatal, overwhelming any possible humanitarian relief efforts. Including India, grassroots activists were joining hands in 24 cities around the world.

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The Global Zero team marching outside Akshara theater.

In New Delhi, on the 6th of August, the Global Zero team began their 3rd annual “Bike Around The Bomb’’.  12 cyclists started from Patiala House, crossing Raisina Hill, the House of Parliament, Akshara  theatre and coming back to Patiala House completing a full circle. This was an effort to create awareness by marking the circumference of the blast radius, should a bomb be dropped at India Gate. After the cyclist completed their route, the group went on to march from Akshara theatre till Bangla Sahib while shouting slogans of “ Eliminate Nukes” and “We demand Zero”. Back at the theatre afterwards, everyone put their hand prints on paper to show support for the cause. A short musical performance by  Dhruv Gautam and Kanchana Jaishankar from the Hindu music society lightened the mood after Rashi Jauhri and Akshit Mago from GZ wrapped up the session and spoke about the organization and the day’ event. Snacks and T-shirts were given to all participants.

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The Global Zero team at Akshara theater.

It had been raining the entire day on the 6th but the ground team’s zeal to see the event through was admirable. With 15,000 nuclear warheads out there, organizations like Global Zero which can put pressure on governments are the need of the moment.

The threat may seem distant but it is there, hovering. And it is very real.

 

Image credits: Vibhana Kanwar and Arindam Goswami for DU Beat.

Arindam Goswami

[email protected]