The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Japanese anti-nuclear weapon group Nihon Hidankyo, consisting of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for their efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. The group has demonstrated through witness testimony the devastating impact of nuclear weapons and the importance of not using them again. The use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II killed an estimated 120,000 people and they remain the most destructive weapons in history. The committee expressed concern over the modernization and proliferation of nuclear arsenals among various countries, and the threats made to use them in ongoing conflicts.
Despite the fact that nuclear weapons have not been used in anger for 80 years, the taboo against their use is under pressure. Recent events such as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warning of using nuclear weapons in Ukraine and the nuclear tensions between countries like North Korea, India, China, and Pakistan, demonstrate the ongoing threat posed by these weapons. Additionally, conflicts in the Middle East, Europe, and Sudan continue to contribute to global instability.
As the world faces more active conflicts than at any time since World War II, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a group advocating for nuclear disarmament highlights the urgent need for peace and international cooperation. The situation remains fluid, with escalating tensions and ongoing conflicts requiring close monitoring and attention.
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