As the United States pushes the world closer to nuclear war, stories of atomic bomb survivors continue to urge us to resist idolatry and dismantle our nuclear weapons. By Rev. John Dear Originally published at WagingNonviolence.org, August 5, 2021 Recently, a peace activist friend told me about visiting a physical therapist to help with some issues. They got to talking, one thing led to another, and the therapist told an unusual story. Years ago, she spent her junior year in college in Hiroshima, Japan. She stayed with a family near the local university to help learn the language. The family’s […]
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We Must Listen to the Voices of the Hibakusha!
This weekend people around the world are commemorating the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The historical importance of these anniversaries is of special significance because we must maintain the collective consciousness of the bombings or humankind is certainly doomed to the consequences of continuing as slaves to the myth of the necessity of nuclear weapons for our protection. Of special standing in the telling of this history are the Hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombings. Some have told their stories to be recorded to share with future generations, while some have yet to do so. As the Hibakusha […]
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Frida Berrigan, Living with World’s End in Plain Sight
GZ Editor’s Note: The following article by Frida Berrigan was originally published in TomDispatch on June 24, 2021, and provides a sobering alternative to the jingoistic revelry of July 4th. Frida lives in the shadow of General Dynamics Electric Boat, which built the first generation of Trident submarines, and is building the next generation (12 New Tridents!!!) as you read this. I have included Tom Englehardt’s introduction. If you aren’t familiar with TomDispatch, you will find truly independent journalism and hard-hitting writing about the waning days of The American Empire. Just the thing for the Fourth of July! ************ Frida Berrigan, Living […]
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Open Letter to Presidents Putin and Biden: No First Use!
At their Summit Meeting in Geneva on June 16th, US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin adopted a U.S.-Russia Presidential Joint Statement on Strategic Stability in which they reaffirmed ‘the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought’ and announced that they will embark together on an integrated bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue in the near future. ‘Through this Dialogue, we seek to lay the groundwork for future arms control and risk reduction measures.’ This agreement advances key points in an Open Letter to Presidents Biden and Putin in Advance of their June 16, […]
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Kucinich Calls for Freedom from Fear, Nuclear Weapons and War
Here’s a real gem from the Ground Zero archives. Way back on August 7, 2011 Congressman Dennis Kucinich spoke at Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action during our annual gathering to commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. His speech was timely and powerful, calling on the United States to take concrete steps to work toward a nuclear weapon’s free world. He also called on the US to forge a new doctrine of Strength through Peace. Kucinich wrapped up his speech by reminding us that it is up to we the people to “resolve that we shall become as architects of […]
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