The Bomb: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
An Interfaith/Intercultural Call to Action
Four of the world’s leading interfaith/intercultural organizations, Parliament of the World’s Religions, Charter for Compassion, United Religions Initiative and Religions for Peace have come together for the first time with a call for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. This compelling film presentation offers a sobering look back to 1945 with archival photos and video clips and as well as the voices of survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombings. In addition, a rare moment in history in the making with former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev and former Secretary of State George Shultz (99) as they share their reflections from one of the most significant political meetings on nuclear weapons in the twentieth century, the Summit at Reykjavik, Iceland in 1986 as well as their personal statements. The first Voices Youth Award is announced and given in their names.
The film also includes speakers Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima; Tomihisa Taue, Mayor of Nagasaki; former US Senator Sam Nunn; Mohamed Elbaradei, former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Noble Laureate; and Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization; Jonathan Granoff, President Global Security Institute; Leona Morgan, Coordinator with the Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining; Beatrice Fihn, Executive Director International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN); Kehkashan Basu, President and Founder of Green Hope Foundation, Audrey Kitagawa, Chair Parliament of the World’s Religions, Azza Karam, Secretary General Religions for Peace, Bishop William E. Swing founder and President United Religions Initiative, Victor Kazanjian, Executive Director URI, Marilyn Turkovich, Executive Director of Charter for Compassion and many more.
The Hiroshima Nagasaki Accord; a joint statement issued by the four organizations is introduced, including nine actions we can all take sited in the statement. In closing, a message of love and hope is conveyed for a safer world free of nuclear weapons.
The Hiroshima/Nagasaki Accord
Press Release
San Francisco, July 15, 2020
The 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
will be commemorated on August 6, and 9, 2020 by four of the world’s leading interfaith/
intercultural organizations, with a call for the abolition of all nuclear weapons.
The appeal will be part of an hour-long online video presentation with supporting statements from
former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, former US Secretary of State George Shultz, and
other prominent voices. It will be held on August 6 and 9.
Download and read the full Press Release below.
Richard Rhodes Essay
How the Rhodes Essay came to be:
“Richard Rhodes is one the most knowledgeable writers in the world on the subject of nuclear weapons. Since we live only a few miles apart, I telephoned him, introduced myself and asked if he was willing to write something for our press release. He was most gracious - even though in the middle of writing another book - and thus we have this gem of an essay.“
– The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, Founding Member, Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons
You can download the Rhodes Essay below.