Working for a nuclear-free world

President Barack Obama believes in a nuclear free world!

On April 5, President Barack Obama gave an inspirational speech in the Czech Republic about his vision of a nuclear-free world. It was a stirring call to action addressed to all the official nuclear powers (Russia, China, Great Britain, France and the U.S.A.), urging for further reductions in their nuclear arsenal. He said that “the existence of nuclear weapons is the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War.”

I commend Obama for not forgetting this global concern in the midst of the global recession, but many worry about the feasibility of this goal.

Though he did acknowledge that “getting to zero” nuclear weapons in the world wouldn’t happen in his lifetime, his speech wasn’t received well around the world. Just hours before Obama’s speech, North Korea launched a nuclear capable missile under the guise of initiating a space program. Anticipating a harsh global response, people around the world were disappointed when the UN Security Council acknowledged North Korea’s right to a space program.

But is “getting to zero” a goal we should be striving for as a global community?

Critics would say that nuclear weapons have saved the world from the devastating impact that wars like World War II have had on the world. They act as a deterrent to states that wish to wage war because the threat of a nuclear response is too scary. But do the bombs really save the world from wars? Every day, I see reports of war-affected families that are forced out of their homes and become stateless refugees in foreign camps. If nothing has deterred their leaders from fighting other countries, then how can we expect nuclear weapons to?

Obama is right: a nuclear-free world is something worth striving towards. Placing our hope in creating world peace cannot start with a faith in nuclear weapons, the most destructive force ever created. This is work that will take decades to achieve, but it is something that needs to happen. In 1999, a bill called Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty was rejected and Obama is committed to resubmitting it. He is also dedicated to supporting negotiations on a treaty to end production of nuclear weapons for military use.

However, Obama cannot bring the world to zero on his own. The world, not just America, has to change their ways and give up their bombs.

To find out more about what you can do to create a nuclear free world, visit the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation at www.wagingpeace.org.

Dylan Powers
International Youth Coordinator

Free The Children is the largest network of children helping children through education in the world, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has an established track-record of success, with three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and partnerships with the United Nations and Oprah’s Angel Network.