Introduction
The energy released by nuclear atomic reactions is colossal, beyond one’s imagination. According to Kaitlin (2023), the weapons are based on a concept known as nuclear fission, where the nuclei of atoms split, leading to a nuclear chain reaction. It results in a huge blow, releasing massive force, causing extreme temperature and shockwaves that destructively sweep off everything. Radioactive fallout is a subsequent effect that has prolonged public health effects and other environmental impacts. The danger does not stem simply from the imminent loss of life or property, but it impacts people’s lives and ecosystems for a long time (Kaitlin, 2023). Learning about such a danger caused by nuclear weapons should be considered an alarming call for international solidarity toward making a world without such an endangering weapon. The essay seeks to pinpoint the looming catastrophes that come with these weapons and the destructive power that manifests in the form of lasting environmental and humanitarian effects, necessitating urgent international dialogue and robust agreements leading to disarmament.
Problem
Nuclear weapons pose an imminent threat to global security and the environment, as outlined in the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs article (UNODA, nd). Detonations release massive amounts of radioactive fallout, causing long-term ecological damage. UNODA ( nd) emphasizes the potential for nuclear winter, disrupting climate patterns and jeopardizing agriculture. According to ICAN (2017), the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings led to severe ground heating temperatures, which hiked up to 4000 degrees Celsius, leveling to 6.7sq km. and at the same time, radioactive rain poured down. This evidences the imminent threat to global security and the environment in that nuclear radiation does not affect a certain place specifically but also travels to other places while causing ecological damages such as high temperatures and radioactive rains. Also, it can lead to ecological disasters, as fires can be caused by high temperatures and shock waves from detonated nuclear bombs. This is evidenced by the Hiroshima bombing that razed and burnt approximately 70% of the city’s buildings (ICAN, 2017). This would cause more fires, leading to a large amount of soot, which prevents sunlight, hence a “nuclear winter” condition. Such catastrophic climatic change may give rise to a great chill world, which is not good for food and farming. This would lead to hunger as an extreme consequence that would affect the combatants and the innocent people living outside the war theatres. Therefore, nuclear bombing disrupts the ecosystems in that it turns the land into an inhabitable place, affecting ecosystems and threatening biodiversity.
Persistent radiation leads to genetic mutations, posing a severe risk to biodiversity and human health. (ICAN, 2017) this is evidenced by the nuclear bombing in Japan, where the survivors of the bomb, the “hibakusha,” suffered long-term health effects such as birth defects and cancer due to the explosion of high levels of radiation. This is evidenced by the high levels of infant deaths and miscarriages of pregnant women who were exposed to radiation. (ICAN, 2017) this states that the impact of using nuclear weapons is incomparable, and it will surpass all countries, time, and people. This shows the magnitude of the challenge in a clear light, demonstrating how serious the consequences could be after using these weapons. Long-term effects persist, even years later, with radiation remaining a deadly hazard for all humans and nature (ICAN, 2017). Radioactive fallout will last long and be responsible for a variety of cancers, birth defects, and serious diseases.
A nuclear explosion releases a huge amount of energy, damaging everything close within a few seconds. People in the targeted cities will see their cities turned into smithereens, which would trigger massive firestorms that will create a humanitarian disaster never witnessed before (UNODA, nd). This is evidenced by the bombing in Japan in Hiroshima; the bombing caused 140,000 casualties, while the bombing at Nagasaki caused approximately 74,000 people (ICAN, 2017). The large number of casualties and an extreme interruption of key services such as health, shelter, and food would surpass every capability of effective response with an insufficient provision to those affected. (ICAN, 2017) This is evidenced by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, where 90% of the nurses and physicians were killed, rendering 42 out of 45 hospitals non-functional (ICAN, 2017).
Possible Solution
There are about nine countries that have nuclear weapons; thus, there is a need for domestic policy changes in all those countries, as well as cooperation and verifiable agreements between them, to ensure that the risk of nuclear war is managed. International agreements and diplomatic efforts form the basis for avoiding the nuclear weapon menace. Through the development of strong international treaties, countries worldwide provide the basis for treaties that limit proliferation and promote a secure global environment. For example, the treaties provide a means of communication, cooperation, and verification for responsible state-level nuclear behavior (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2023). Diplomacy remains the most important tool for defusing tensions, leading to mutual understanding, and the prevention of conflicts that may lead to nuclear warfare. Proliferation can be reduced through diplomacy, strengthening existing agreements, and establishing new agreements, and a peaceful atmosphere can be created. Countries should also understand the need to engage in dialogue instead of confrontation and adopt these diplomatic measures for a better, nuclear-free world. Although there are few incidents of using nuclear weapons, such as the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings in 1945, they are associated with danger and adverse consequences. For example, in Japan, they caused the death of about 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 74,000 individuals in Nagasaki (United Nations, 2023). This insinuates that nations lack international agreements and diplomatic efforts that would have been applied in this scenario to mitigate the negative consequences.
Therefore, extending or creating new treaties with strong verification processes will enhance transparency and responsibility, minimizing the likelihood of miscalculating or war. China has shown that it is possible to achieve international agreements and diplomatic efforts through its willingness to pursue arms control treaties rather than bilateral agreements. It is ready to cooperate with the US government to enforce the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and to negotiate a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty. All this would lead to more security both for the United States and the world. Also, the efficiency of diplomacy is evident in cooperation, dialogue, and the signing of various treaties and agreements like the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty to reduce US and Soviet arsenals from over 64,000 warheads in the 1980s to about 8000 (ICAN, 2017). Also, The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enacted in 2017 after decades of seeking a world free of nuclear weapons is perceived to be vital for the Hibakusha. Kyodo News surveyed 6000 victims of the nuclear bombing in Hiroshima and found that the majority of them prefer Japan to join the UN treaty banning nuclear weapons (ICAN, 2017). this proves that that international agreements have the potential to assist nations in controlling the social problem of nuclear weapons. It is a wake-up call for all nations to cooperate in controlling nuclear weapon stockpiles. Nations can make way to disarmament by pursuing persuasive diplomatic efforts and strict international agreements, leading to a world that no longer encounters nuclear destruction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this essay has pinpointed that the looming catastrophes that come with nuclear weapons are destructive power and manifest in the form of lasting environmental as well as humanitarian effects necessitating urgent international dialogue and robust agreements leading to disarmament. The dangers posed by nuclear weapons are immense, and urgent solutions are imperative. The colossal energy released in atomic reactions has devastating consequences, affecting ecosystems, climate, and human health for generations. The international community must prioritize diplomacy, fostering cooperation, and establishing verifiable agreements to mitigate the risk of nuclear war. Learning from past tragedies like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nations should actively engage in dialogue, strengthen existing treaties, and pursue new agreements to ensure a world free from the catastrophic impact of nuclear weapons. The situation’s urgency demands global solidarity in dismantling this dangerous threat for the sake of humanity and our planet’s well-being.
References
ICAN (2017) Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, ICAN. Available at: https://www.icanw.org/hiroshima_and_nagasaki_bombings
ICAN (2017) What happens if nuclear weapons are used?ICAN. Available at: https://www.icanw.org/catastrophic_harm
Kaitlin, C. (2023) Curious kids: What does a nuclear bomb do? The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-what-does-a-nuclear-bomb-actually-do-208475
UNODA (no date) Nuclear weapons, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Available at: https://disarmament.unoda.org/wmd/nuclear/
ICAN (2017) Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, ICAN. Available at: https://www.icanw.org/hiroshima_and_nagasaki_bombings
Union of Concerned Scientists (2023) Nuclear weapons worldwide, Union of Concerned Scientists. Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-weapons/worldwide
Union of Concerned Scientists (2023) Nuclear weapons solutions, Union of Concerned Scientists. Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-weapons/solutions
United Nations (2023) Nuclear weapons, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Available at: https://disarmament.unoda.org/wmd/nuclear
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