Never Again

August 28, 2022, Letter to Editor
Asheville Citizen Times

Robert Howarth

NEVER AGAIN

“Never Again” was the past mantra after the two bombs (Little Boy/Hiroshima and Fat Man/Nagasaki) were dropped Aug.6 & 9, 1945 respectively-over 200,000 people were killed.

Are we on a suicide journey? Consider:

• We have nine nuclear weapons owners in our world, United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. In 1945 there was one, the United States.

• There are over 15,000 nuclear weapons possessed by the nine, many are on hair trigger alert and can be launched in a matter of minutes.

• Russia and the United States each have about 5,000; the remaining 5,000 are disbursed among the other owners.

• World War Two hero General Dwight Eisenhower was elected president in 1953 and served two terms. His parting words on his departure from office included “Beware of the military industrial complex” (MIC). Today (MIC) is alive and wielding significant power with Congress.

• A possible nuclear war with its known destruction & humanitarian sufferings from MIC’s reemerging nuclear arms race has provoked realization of this and of its accompanying ill effects on health, welfare, and economics worldwide. This has stimulated a four year effort by 150 countries at the United Nations producing an international law, “Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons” (TPNW). TPNW applies, like all international law to countries that have ratified it. Not surprisingly no nuclear weapon owners have ratified it, are largely ignoring it and not willing to bring it up for a fair hearing with their citizens or in their governing houses.

• Americans must find out more regarding TPNW and speak out to be heard. We seem to be unaware – we urge all to access www.psr.org and www.icanw.org and then call your Congressional representatives at 1-(202) 224-3121.

Robert F. Howarth

Member, Western NC Physicians For Social Responsibility