Report by Mr. Thomas Hajnoczi, Executive Advisor of Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation
Recently the world has become a more dangerous place with heightened tensions in many regions such as the Middle East, East Asia and Europe. We increasingly hear a false narrative that nuclear weapons can provide security. The whole concept of nuclear deterrence is based on the will to destroy the world. Without this determination, an opponent would not be deterred. The other precondition for the theory of nuclear deterrence is rational behaviour. Are we convinced that the present leaders act always rationally? What happens when a nuclear armed state would test the resolve of his opponent to use nuclear weapons, potentially triggering “ mutually assured destruction“, rightly abbreviated to MAD?
As long as many people are in favour of nuclear weapons to – as they are told – „protect“ them, we will not achieve nuclear disarmament and continue to live under an existential threat to our civilization. Moreover, nuclear weapons programs will syphon much-needed, huge sums for welfare away for building and maintaining ever more deadly and quicker nuclear weapons systems. Nuclear weapons cannot bring security, but only death and devastation as seen 80 years ago in Hiroshima and Nagasaki – even worldwide, when we think of nuclear winter.
But does the young generation learn about the effects and risks of nuclear weapons? Disarmament education should have a particular place in education.
In many countries, local authorities play lead roles and have therefore a huge responsibility in educating children and youth. Does the curriculum also address disarmament issues like the effects and risks of nuclear weapons? Mayors of Peace offers a global forum to exchange information on the activities of municipalities and we certainly can learn from each other also with regard to disarmament education.