#CranesForOurFuture

A world without nuclear weapons looks to me like a more just world. It is where marginalized communities affected by nuclear testing receive reparations; where world leaders stop dangling total destruction over our collective heads — it is a world where we choose peace and security over the possibility of an intentional or accidental end to our world.

A future without nuclear weapons, is, to me, a future where the nuclear disasters of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are stories from the past. It’s a future where atomic bomb relics are fitted in a glass case, to be examined in history class but never to be repeated again. A future without nuclear weapons is one with clear preventative mechanisms that mitigate the worst of war, as we make strides towards limiting the harm caused by conflict to bodies and nature. A future without nuclear weapons is a future with one less catastrophe to worry about. When we have a multitude of natural disasters exacerbated or caused by human-made ones, from the climate crisis to poverty to inequality, removing nuclear weapons from the equation seems a necessary step to focus both public and private sector work into other urgent crises.

Real international collaboration and billions of dollars for housing, hunger, universal healthcare and more.

A better world. “Imagine all the people Livin' life in peace You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one.” John Lennon

A world without nuclear weapons would be one where lawmakers finally have the guts to prioritize the health of our planet and those who call it home. It looks like a society that values common sense over deeply entrenched nonsense. One that is brave enough, creative enough, and intersectional enough to break down ineffective systems, roll up its sleeves, and build a better future.

A world where the money NOT spent on nuclear or other weapons is put to good use for the people, the environment, the planet. A world where everyone helps others and maybe where there is no longer a worry about food, jobs, housing, education and war is no more.

A future without nuclear weapons would be a future where people are valued above profits, where the U.S. has a commitment to ending white supremacy and focusing on decolonization, the environment, and justice. It would be a future without the nail-biting anxiety of a single person’s sole authority.

To me, a world free of nuclear weapons means a world where we fund the people, and vital social programs before we fund weapons of war. It is a world where those impacted by the weight of these weapons get the restorative and transformative justice that they deserve. It is a world where the U.S. President doesn’t have sole authority over U.S. nuclear arsenals, and can’t launch a nuclear weapon on a whim, harming countless lives. It is a world where we’ve moved beyond the bomb, and truly put the future of our world first, combating all of the issues that intersect with nuclear weapons- the climate crisis, racism, sexism, and countless other social issues. It is a world in solidarity, that centers justice above all. On the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagaski, it is imperative that we fight for this world, and ensure that nuclear weapons can never harm innocent civilian lives again.

A world free of nuclear weapons helps bring about intergenerational healing where witnesses and survivors of its sheer destructive force and their children and grandchildren no longer live in traumatic fear. It is where historically oppressed communities, chosen to bear the burden of producing and storing radioactive material may have their clean air, water, land, resources, culture, and rights restored to them.

For me, a future without nuclear weapons suggests hope for humanity and a more compassionate future. Nuclear weapons allowed the U.S. to commit horrific atrocities in its supposed defense of freedom. I think it’s time that we create a new idea of what being free really means.

A world where we can tackle all of the other social issues we face, without the threat of nuclear war hanging over our head.

A world free of nuclear weapons is a world that recognizes all human life is sacred, no matter of nationality, religion, or race. Nations become collaborators instead of competitors, prioritizing peace and healing as a global community.

The unshakable stress of knowing we could destroy this beautiful planet any minute will be gone. Resources, time and energy will be put to doing good for the planet and all the life forms here.

It looks like a world without war and where people live in peace and human dignity.

A world without nuclear weapons to me is the only way forward. We cannot continue to commit such horrible violence in the name of war and expect that to solve problems. I want future wars to be settled diplomatically, without dramatic and horrific shows of power. Without the threat of nuclear weapons overhead, future generations could work together to defeat pressing issues on all of humanity, and not make more. We could settle differences and become a more united world to fight for justice and survival together.

A world without Nuclear weapons is a world with trust, humanity and common motive to live in a thriving future.

To me, a world without nuclear weapons means a world that centers justice above all.

In a world without nuclear weapons, mutually assured distraction wouldn't be the only thing keeping the peace and maybe we could all celebrate our differences and similarities as human beings

To me, a world without nuclear weapons is one where the concern is actually safety of all citizens. It’s a world where the catastrophic power to destroy lives isn’t held by one person, and we can hold genuine hope for tomorrow.

Put simply, a future without nuclear weapons is a more peaceful future. But a future without nuclear weapons is so much more than that. A future without nuclear weapons is a future where no one lives in fear of losing their life, their home, their community, their peace at the push of a button. It is a future where no single person has the power to destroy whole cities in the blink of an eye. A future without nuclear weapons is a future where plants grow and water runs clear, where people talk and listen instead of yell and interrupt. A future without nuclear weapons is a future where tolerance and communication and negotiation are valued over anger and fear and aggression. A future without nuclear weapons is a future in which we honor the legacy of the over 200,000 lives lost when the first atomic bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is a future in which we never again see images of a toxic, burning, destructive cloud, billowing into a clear blue sky. A future without nuclear weapons is a better future, a safer future, a future in which humanity supersedes power and hope supplants despair.

When I picture a future without nuclear weapons, I feel peace for my family in South Asia and the Middle East. The fight against nuclear weapons is a fight against imperialism and its consequences. Nuclear weapons illustrate the power hunger that comes from capitalism and the need to demonstrate authority as a world leader, yet they’re disguised as a means of protection. As we’ve seen with Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear weapons do not show the cruelty of humans, but instead, the cruelty of the economic and social systems we have in place.

A world without nuclear weapons is a world in which long lasting positive peace can be established. It is a world in which communities across the world will not have to fear for their long term safety due to nuclear weapons or arms races. It is a world in which climate change and its impacts across the globe can actually be dealt with in full, because there will be no more competitions on who can get the most expensive, violent weapons available. It is a world future generations will be able to value and thrive in, rather than living with the knowledge that imminent destruction is always just a push of a button away.

A world without nuclear weapons is a world without the threat of mutually assured destruction and long term damage to a planet we already need to be doing more to protect. A world that cannot be threatened with destruction due to human frailty and emotion.

A future without nuclear weapons looks like intersectional justice. Most importantly, environmental justice. Without a habitable planet, we cannot live.

A world without nuclear weapons is one that uplifts historically marginalized communities, asserts these communities’ stakes in the national security agendas, recognizes the interconnectedness of the world, and prioritizes transparency and diplomacy rather than buzzwords and corporate interests.

A world without nuclear weapons means a world that treasures human life and dignity, a world that seeks to achieve international peace and collective security, and a world that respects and cherishes the environment and livelihoods of all. Let us commemorate the 76th anniversary of the horrific atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by coming together to honor the lives lost and share our hope for a safer, brighter, and more sustainable future for us and generations to come. #CranesForOurFuture

A future without nuclear weapons looks like a world where we hold our leaders to a higher human standard and where we do not permit the unforgivable no matter the case. It is a future where we hold onto our humanity and it looks like lasting peace.

76 years is far too long for humanity to have gone without solving the crisis that is nuclear weapons. I stand in solidarity with the Hibakusha and all victims of nuclear violence.

A world without nuclear weapons looks like more welfare spending, less environmental pollution, and most importantly, an acknowledgment of the destruction caused by nuclear weapons.

On first thought, it seems like a world without nuclear weapons wouldn’t actually be that different. Really, how big of role do these weapons play in our daily lives? That slight gnawing existential fear erased, only to live in the history books. But, then again, why should we have to live with that burden? The majority of humans that have ever existed didn’t have to worry about the bomb dropping and ending it all, and frankly, I’m envious.

To me, a world without nuclear weapons is a world where we are free to live and advocate for justice without a constant threat to our existence, a threat that is on hair trigger and frankly unnecessary and one that jeopardizes our global progress.

A future free of nuclear weapons means a future where my children and grandchildren will learn about the atrocities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as atrocities of our past, not events that could continue to occur in their lifetimes once again. It means that we won’t normalize this fate, we won’t normalize this human rights violation, we won’t normalize the most horrific act we could possibly impose on ourselves or another nation. A future free of nuclear weapons would be a future in which I can sleep a little more soundly and it is a future I will fight for.

A beautiful and secure world for my future children and for every child of Earth.