Climate change is not the only catastrophe the world has created for itself through selfish and irresponsible actions. The possession of nuclear weapons is more devastating and apocalyptic. The United States former President Ronald Reagan, widely regarded as one of the most respected leaders of the now degenerating Republican Party, has said a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. The only value in some nations possessing nuclear weapons is to make sure they will never be used. But then would it not be better to do away with them entirely? The prophetic Pope Francis has repeatedly told the United Nations that nuclear disarmament needs to be a priority issue and the Pontiff is having a regular dialogue with world religious leaders to achieve this goal.  But as the Holy Scriptures say, most world leaders have eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot listen.

Tomorrow the United Nations marks the International Day for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. In a statement, the UN says achieving global nuclear disarmament is one of the oldest goals of the world body. It was the subject of the General Assembly’s first resolution which established the atomic energy commissionin 1946 but it was dissolved in 1952, with a mandate to make specific proposals for the control of nuclear energy and the elimination of atomic weapons and all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction. 

The UN says it has been at the forefront of many major diplomatic efforts to advance nuclear disarmament. In 1959, the General Assembly endorsed the objective of general and complete disarmament. In 1978, the first special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament further recognised that nuclear disarmament should be the priority objective in the field of disarmament. Every UN Secretary-General has actively promoted this goal. 

According to the UN, today around 13,080 nuclear weapons remain. Countries possessing such weapons have well-funded, long-term plans to modernize their nuclear arsenals. More than half of the world’s population still lives in countries that either have such weapons or are members of nuclear alliances. While the number of deployed nuclear weapons has appreciably declined since the height of the Cold War, not one nuclear weapon has been physically destroyed pursuant to a treaty. In addition, no nuclear disarmament talks are now underway.

Meanwhile, the doctrine of nuclear deterrence persists as an element in the security policies of all possessor-states and many of their allies. The international arms-control framework that contributed to international security since the Cold War, acted as a brake on the use of nuclear weapons and advanced nuclear disarmament, has come under increasing strain. On August 2, 2019, the US withdrawal spelt the end of the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty, though the US and Russia had previously committed to eliminating an entire class of nuclear missiles. On the other hand, the extension of the treaty between the USand the Russia on measures for the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms until February 2026 has been welcomed by Member States and the UN Secretary-General.This extension provides an opportunity for the possessors of the two largest nuclear arsenals to agree to further arms control measures.

Frustration has been growing among Member States regarding what is perceived as the slow pace of nuclear disarmament. This frustration has been put into sharper focus with growing concerns about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the use of even a single nuclear weapon, let alone a regional or global nuclear war. 

According to the UN, this day provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority. It provides an opportunity to educate the people and their leaders about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them. Commemorating this day at the UN is especially important, given its universal membership and its long experience in grappling with nuclear disarmament issues. It is the right place to address one of humanity’s greatest challenges; achieving the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.

In a message UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says, as a global family, we can no longer allow the cloud of nuclear conflict to shadow our work to spur development, achieve the sustainable development goals and end the COVID-19 pandemic. Now is the time to lift this cloud for good, eliminate nuclear weapons from our world, and usher in a new era of dialogue, trust and peace for all people. Famous scientist Albert Einstein, whose name is often linked to atomic power has warned, “The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we thus drift toward unparalleled catastrophe”.