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
