On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, advocates for nuclear disarmament are reflecting on the ongoing threat posed by nuclear weapons and the work still required to achieve a world free from them. Despite some significant milestones, such as the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which garnered substantial support from the Vatican, many activists express concern over the limited progress made in abolishing nuclear arms.
Mary T. Yelenick, a representative of Pax Christi International, highlights the absurdity of nuclear weapon modernization efforts, questioning why resources are spent on such endeavors when the potential fallout could lead to global devastation. Meanwhile, Sister Carol Gilbert, a noted anti-nuclear activist among U.S. Catholic sisters, remains hopeful for a revival of activism, recognizing past achievements like the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). She emphasizes the lack of a cohesive national peace movement on the nuclear issue, calling attention to the cultural and political disengagement surrounding it over the past few decades.
For many peace activists, a major hurdle lies in a fragmented media landscape that complicates public discourse on critical topics like nuclear arms. In contrast to the Cold War era, when anti-nuclear sentiments mobilized masses—like the nearly one million attendees at the 1982 nuclear freeze rally in Central Park—today’s challenges seem overshadowed by various global issues, making it harder to inspire collective action.
Nonetheless, there are signs of hope. Young people are beginning to engage with the issue, as illustrated by planned pilgrimages from U.S. Catholic universities to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, aiming to remember the impact of the bombings and advocate for disarmament. Additionally, there’s a recognition among activists that as they age, the responsibility to educate younger generations about the nuclear threat becomes even more pressing.
Sister Shizue Hirota, based in Japan, underscores the necessity of listening to survivors of the bombings (Hibakusha) to keep their stories alive, while also acknowledging Japan’s complex historical narrative as both victim and aggressor during World War II. Similarly, Sister Kathleen Kanet raises alarm over modern nuclear policies that could increase risks rather than mitigate them.
Fr. John Pawlikowski comments on the urgent need for new international treaties to restrict and eliminate nuclear weapons, pointing out that the void left by expired agreements poses a significant threat to global safety. The interplay between climate change and nuclear armament is an emerging area of concern among younger activists who traditionally focused more on environmental issues.
While frustrations remain about the slow pace of disarmament and the limited public acknowledgment of nuclear dangers, activists, especially women religious, continue their advocacy work, believing that meaningful change is possible. Their commitment and actions reflect a sustained belief that a world free from nuclear threat can still be realized, which leaves room for optimism despite ongoing challenges.