Nuclear Bombs

      Nuclear development has the power to change our world.  The first atomic bomb (atom or A-bomb) devastated Hiroshima in an instant, with fall out continuing for years. A reporter named Yamamoto was a few miles away when the bomb dropped.  His son was closer, in Hiroshima and suffered extreme facial damage.  He brought him home, and the young man passed away after a few hours. 

 “Mr. Yamamoto later described one of the last conversations he had with his son. "It was around 11 that night. 'Is there really a Pure Land?' My son asked this strange question, breathing faintly ... 'Is there jellied bean paste there?' My wife finally choked out an answer. 'Yes, there's jellied bean paste and everything there.' Then he said, 'Then I think I'll die.'” (Miyazaki, 2015)    

One can only imagine the internal damage that his son was suffering through during those few hours.  

     The atom bomb was developed in 1945. Immediately after seeing the test explosion J. Robert Oppenheimer said he “remembered the line from the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad-Gita,” he said. “‘Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.’” (Little, 2017)  Oppenheimer, called the father of the A-bomb, later opposed the H-bomb and worked to prevent further chance of nuclear war.  He lost his job and professional respect for his resistance to nuclear bombs. (Little, 2017) 

    Today, nuclear energy is promoted as a clean energy resource.  (U. S. Energy Information Administration, 2019)  Yet, people who live near nuclear power plants have psychological effects due to awareness of possibility of radiation exposure in the event of leaks, melt down or compromise of the facility.  I remember when I first saw a nuclear power plant, and didn't know what it was. Once I discovered what it was, I purposely avoided that highway for many years.  

     In the early 2000’s Iran was found to have concealed and lied about nuclear development.  Today, Iran continues to practice Uranium conversion with barely even half-hearted claims that they are using it to develop energy.  North Korea has, as of 2017, a nuclear bomb that dwarfs what was dropped on Hiroshima.  (History Channel, 2018)  Both North Korea and Iran have demonstrated that they have little inclination to work with world leaders to reduce the chance of nuclear war. In fact, they have made the opposite statement through their behavior.  (History Channel, 2018)

     Any technology can be used to harm.  Cell phones, guns, knives and cars all have good uses, but in the hands of people bent on destruction and violence will be used for those purposes. Nuclear weapons, though, have potentially devastating consequences for humanity.  Is there anyway to turn around now?   As Billy Graham stated in a 1998 Ted Talk, “The problem is not technology, but it is the person or persons using it.” (Graham, 1998)  We cannot be simplistic and believe what Iran, North Korea, or even Russia tell us they are doing, or not doing.  We need to act responsibly and expect verifiable proof.  When certain politicians tell you that we need to avert conflict primarily through conversation, it is a very naive thing to say.  Of course we want to keep lines of communication open, and we also need to confirm that all parties are doing as they say.  This is a reasonable expectation.   

For more information: 

History Channel. (2018). North Korea: Dark Secrets [Motion Picture].

Little, B. (2017, August 10). “Father of the Atomic Bomb” Was Blacklisted for Opposing H-Bomb. Retrieved from https://www.history.com: https://www.history.com/news/father-of-the-atomic-bomb-was-blacklisted-for-opposing-h-bomb

Miyazaki, T. (2015, September). The view from under the mushroom cloud: The Chugoku Shimbun newspaper and the Hiroshima Peace Media Center. International Review of the Red Cross, 97(899).

Graham, Billy. (1998). Ted Talks.  Retrieved from  https://www.ted.com/talks/billy_graham_on_technology_faith_and_suffering [Motion Picture].

U. S. Energy Information Administration. (2019, June 29). Energy explained. Retrieved from https://www.eia.gov: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=nuclear_environment