Wherever nuclear business has been done, the result is high rates of cancer and pollution followed by official government denial. I came away realizing that real change would have to occur from the bottom up, through people power, rather than from governments that are tied to vested interests. The major powers in the world are also the ones that supply the world with weapons, thereby fueling the 30-40 wars that occur on a regular basis. It also seems to me that having large established militaries in nation-states with their national interests will never result in world peace. As long as governments prepare for war, there is likely to be war.
War is also profitable.
Arms manufacturers and dealers always win while children mainly lose. Just preparing for war significantly degrades the environment. We need to imagine peace and actively prepare for it the same way we prepare for war. Leo R. Sandy is on the faculty of the School of Education at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire.