(Photo above by Eros Hoagland / Netflix)
Rushing out the door in the morning to get to work on time, double-checking your drive time and (Oh, no!) did you forget your lunch? The majority of the time you go about your daily life without the slightest thought about nuclear weapons.
But Katheryn Bigelow’s new film A House of Dynamite brings the reality of nuclear weapons to your doorstep. Following three vantage points, you witness the horrifying sequence of people going about their normal days only to realize their lives will never be the same as humanity hinges on whether to launch a retaliatory nuclear attack, which effectively amounts to mutually assured destruction.
The Buddhist philosopher and peace activist Daisaku Ikeda has dedicated his life to eliminating these weapons. In his 2022 peace proposal, issued annually for 40 years and read by leading thinkers, including at the United Nations, he writes:
No matter how many people strive for a better world and society, or for how long, once an exchange of nuclear forces begins, all will have been for naught. The reality of the nuclear age is that we are compelled to live in constant company with the worst—the most incomprehensible and absurd—danger imaginable.
Daisaku Ikeda
The film aptly brings this reality to light by showing how normal people going about their normal days can see their lives and cities effectively wiped out in less than 20 minutes. So, what can we do to work toward their elimination and change public opinion against nuclear weapons?
Educate yourself, spread awareness and advocate for the U.S. to lead the way in eliminating this existential threat.
Resources to learn more and take action:
- Efforts to bring awareness to the existential threat of nuclear weapons culminated in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the first legally binding international agreement to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was ratified by 122 United Nations member states in July 2017 and entered into force in January 2021. This treaty makes the development, testing, stockpile and use of nuclear weapons illegal.
- Back from the Brink is a U.S.-based coalition of individuals, elected officials and organizations (including the Soka Gakkai International-USA) that aims to push S. lawmakers to adopt policies that lead to the abolition of nuclear weapons. This coalition works to bring communities together to advocate locally in their city or town for complete nuclear disarmament. It also hosts seminars and discussions to educate the public about the danger of nuclear weapons and connect the production and testing of nuclear weapons to other key issues such as climate change, poverty and racism. This grassroots effort aims to inspire citizens to voice their opposition to the existence of nuclear weapons to their elected officials, who can in turn help shape policies that lead to the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.
Is change possible? The 1983 film The Day After depicts the collapse of society and human suffering following a nuclear strike on the U.S. The film, watched by 100 million Americans, and leaders in the U.S. and the Soviet Union, ultimately led to the 1986 Reykjavík Summit, where the leaders of both nations agreed to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles from Europe.
There are many ways to impact change and with a philosophy like Nichiren Buddhism, which teaches that the power of the universe exists in the individual. We can fight back against any powerlessness that may arise in our hearts as we make steady efforts to create a world that protects the dignity of life and where ordinary people can lead happy lives without fear of nuclear war.