It is understood that the new bombs are more powerful than the old, and that, while one A-bomb could obliterate Hiroshima, one H-bomb could obliterate the largest cities, such as London, New York, and Moscow. The general public still thinks in terms of the obliteration of cities. The general public, and even many men in positions of authority, have not realized what would be involved in a war with nuclear bombs. We have to learn to ask ourselves, not what steps can be taken to give military victory to whatever group we prefer, for there no longer are such steps the question we have to ask ourselves is: what steps can be taken to prevent a military contest of which the issue must be disastrous to all parties? All, equally, are in peril, and, if the peril is understood, there is hope that they may collectively avert it. We shall try to say no single word which should appeal to one group rather than to another. The world is full of conflicts and, overshadowing all minor conflicts, the titanic struggle between Communism and anti-Communism.Īlmost everybody who is politically conscious has strong feelings about one or more of these issues but we want you, if you can, to set aside such feelings and consider yourselves only as members of a biological species which has had a remarkable history, and whose disappearance none of us can desire. We are speaking on this occasion, not as members of this or that nation, continent or creed, but as human beings, members of the species Man, whose continued existence is in doubt. In the tragic situation which confronts humanity, we feel that scientists should assemble in conference to appraise the perils that have arisen as a result of the development of weapons of mass destruction, and to discuss a resolution in the spirit of the appended draft. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
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