On December 10, 2024, the Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its unwavering commitment to ridding the world of nuclear weapons. Nagasaki bombing survivor, Terumi Tanaka, who is 92-years old, called for an end to nuclear weapons.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The Hibakusha, who were the people who survived the atomic bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, have joined together to form Nihon Hidankyo, which is an organized entity. Between the 6th and 9th of August in 1945, these heinous events took place, and they were responsible for the deaths of more than two hundred thousand individuals as well as it was considered to be the conclusion of World War II. The young Tanaka, who was only 13 when the attack occurred, was able to report the simple scene: a blinding white light and total stillness all around.
The threat of nuclear weapons
During his acceptance speech, Tanaka was disappointed and furious with the nuclear threats coming back. He pointed out countries such as Russia, possessing the largest nuclear power, as well as North Korea now launching more ballistic missiles.
The Role of Nihon Hidankyo
The activities of Nihon Hidankyo and their role are as follows: Today, Nihon Hidankyo continues to build a society of Hibakusha and the proliferation of nuclear weapons and instead promote nuclear disarmament. The organisation has been instrumental in condemning the world policy that frowns at the use of atomic weapons. Despite the dwindling number of hibakusha, with an average age of 85, their stories continue to resonate and inspire action.
The Call for Global Action
Speaking at a press conference Mr Tanaka called on all governments to implement measures towards the abolition of nuclear weapons. He urged the members to approach the problem as a common issue, insisting that the problem of nuclear weapons is for everyone. Tanaka's message was clear: they have a responsibility to carry forward the struggle against nuclear weapons and to advance the work of hibakusha.
The Path Forward
As the world grapples with the on-going nuclear threats, the Nobel Peace Prize serves as a reminder of the importance of disarmament and the need for global solidarity. The acknowledgment of Nihon Hidankyo is a testimony to the fact that individual struggle coupled with community initiatives can bring change too. There is still a long and brutal way to the attainment of the objective to make the world nuclear weapon free, but a worthy goal should never be abandoned.
Why Nuclear Weapons Are Regarded As A Threat
Nuclear weapons are one of the biggest threats at the present day security, peace, and human existence. The use of these weapons in the conduct of war has far reaching impacts on the interaction of states in the international system and the nature of warfare itself. There remain many nuclear arsenals today even while many treaties have been signed and attempts made to reduce their number, they remained a threat. Here are several key reasons why nuclear weapons are considered a profound threat:
Unsurpassed-destructiveness
The major rationale why nuclear weapons are considered to be dangerous is because they contain megalithic killing power. A single nuclear bomb contains the risk of inflicting severe effects over large regions, and the first effect will be the loss of potentially hundreds of thousands of lives. Nuclear bombings during World War II especially those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki showed just how powerful they were, as they killed thousands and left a trail of destruction, with radiation effects being felt even today. Nuclear weapons of the post-1945 world are much more deadly than those employed in 1945, which enhances the risk.
Environmental and Health Effects
Nuclear explosions cause not only primary massive destruction but also secondary adverse effects on the environment and people. Radiation emitted from it can harm the people who live nearby and radiation can poison air, water and topsoil, in a way that the affected territory becomes inhabitable for long periods of time. Prolonged exposure to radiation can cause specific short term diseases, and also long-term diseases like cancers, genetic changes, and in pregnancies, potential birth abnormalities. Nuclear explosions’ effects on the environment are destructive to the ecosystem, agriculture and eventually food security and economic growth.
Possible accidental or unauthorized use
They also argued that since there is nuclear arsenal, there is always possibility of armed conflict could be by accident or intentionally by unauthorized individual. Technical failure, human mistake, or a cyber-attack might result in an unauthorized launch of nuclear weapons. Thus we find during the cold war period that there were numerous instances where accidents had come perilously close to provoking a full scale nuclear reactions. The possibility of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of non-state actors or rogue nations further exacerbates the threat, as they may lack the stringent safeguards and command-and-control structures of established nuclear powers.
Escalation of Conflicts
Second, nuclear weapons threaten to advance confrontations to the worst possible level. In the current world where conflicts between nations are occasioned by the states’ leadership or the ruling system, use or even the mere uttering of nuclear weapons has a domino effect that bring about massive destruction. MAD which developed during the cold war presupposes that a nuclear conflict effects a total destruction of the assembler and the defender. This doctrine on the one hand, is aimed at preventing nuclear war but, on the other hand, points at instability or the danger of nuclear.
Proliferation and Arms Race
When more countries go nuclear, the chances of a nuclear war break out rise as well hence the need to adhere to the ban. The problem becomes even more profound as more countries develop nuclear power thus increasing the likelihood of regional proliferation and related tensions. They may be forced to build or further extend on their nuclear playable in order to counter threats posed by fellow nations, hence the formation of an undesirable cycle of production know as arms race. Measures to keep nuclear weapons from spreading have not been very successful, for example, the NPT is not signed by certain countries or those that are members do it in an unofficial manner and also try to develop nuclear technology in secret ways.
Humanitarian and ethical consideration
The application of nuclear weapons is considered to have significantly high humanitarian and ethical implications. Like in conventional air bombarding which targets civilians, infrastructure and environment, the nuclear impacts do the same. The humanitarian consequences of a nuclear attack, including the post-attack horrific conditions of survivors, loss of population’s shelter and homes, and further health risks, are unjustifiable. The different International Humanitarian Law and various movements in the world engross for complete elimination of Nuclear weapons so as to avoid such humanitarian calamities.
The Benefits of controlled nuclear energy utilization
Used properly and efficiently nuclear energy has several advantages that make it very important in the energy market basket. This part posits that nuclear energy is an option due to the increasing global energy demands and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effect climate change. Here we will look at the aspects in respect to which nuclear energy is advantageous given the fact that it can only be advantageous if it is well harnessed.
Renewable Energy source
The important utility that comes with utilizing nuclear power is that nuclear energy is immensely efficient. Modern nuclear power plants generate significant levels of electrical energy from small amounts of fuel as compared to other common power plants. The energy contained in a single uranium fuel pellet, which is about the size of an eraser, is equivalent to that of one ton of coal, one hundred and forty nine gallons of oil, and seventeen thousand cubic feet of natural gas. The giving nuclear power plants high energy density of the fuel making it possible for nuclear power Plant to supply base load electricity since it has a constant and stable supply.
Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions
It is important to say that nuclear energy is practically an environmentally friendly energy source, thus it is important in terms of combating climate change. Like traditional power plants that use fossil fuels, nuclear reactors when operating they do not release CO2. If nuclear energy is to substitute coal, oil, and natural gas power plant we will be able to lower down the global warning mass and delay the rates of greenhouse accumulation.
Energy Security and Self Sufficiency
Cooperation in the nuclear energy area can also contribute to energy security by diversifying away from fossil fuels which are still unpredictable in terms of price and political situation. Those countries that lack adequate, easily accessible fossil fuel resources stand to benefit from an enhanced nuclear energy system. It can stabilize the energy markets because with oil and gas prices fluctuating this diversification will provide a safer energy supply.
Small Land Footprint
In terms of land space utilization nuclear power plants are not as expansive as most other forms of energy production. For instance, the space required to set a nuclear power station is much lesser than the land required for the same capacity windmill farms or solar farms. Due to this compactness of development, natural landscape can be conserved and impacts on the bio-diversity minimised. Additionally, nuclear power plants can be located close to urban areas, reducing the need for extensive transmission infrastructure.
Advancement in Safety and Technology
The improvement of the nuclear technology and the safety measures has put the today’s nuclear power plants safer than ever. Generation III and III+ reactors feature innovations in safety including the passive cooling systems that do not require electric power for cooling the reactor. Also, the generation of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have a future investment potential in nuclear power. Due to their inherent safety and cost-effectiveness, SMRs are targeted for the provision of power in both conventional and new paradigms, like rural and industrial use.
Solution for Waste Management
Nuclear waste disposal is still also a problem though much progress has been achieved towards finding safe methods for managing it. Today’s disposal techniques of waste involve deep disposal in geological repositories and long-lived radians can be categorized as suitable for encapsulation for thousands of years. Moreover, development of other types of nuclear systems including fast breeder reactors and thorium reactors may significantly decrease the basic and hazardous components of nuclear waste through reprocessing of used nuclear material.