World War III. Imagine frequent attacks using weapons of mass destruction and nuclear bombs. Imagine a large-scale nuclear war that would send over 150 million tons of smoke into the atmosphere, blocking the sun and causing an eternity of cold and darkness. The final ramification? The end of life as we know it. Robert S. Norris defines a nuclear weapon as: “a device designed to release energy in an explosive manner as a result of nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or a combination of the two processes” (Norris). Robert Lamb explains that the first successful test of a nuclear weapon occurred on July 16th, 1945 by the Manhattan Project. The project director, J. Robert Oppenheimer, quoted Bhagavad Gita: “Now I am become death, the destroyer …show more content…
Daryll Kimball explains that the NPT currently has 190 states as signatories. The states are broken down into two groups: nuclear-weapon states (NWS)- consisting of the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom- and non-nuclear weapon states (NNWS). In the treaty, the NWS agree to “pursue general and complete disarmament,” and the NNWS agree to “forgo developing or acquiring nuclear weapons.” Articles I and II make it clear that the “NWS agree not to help the NNWS develop or acquire nuclear weapons, and the NNWS permanently forswear the pursuit of such weapons.” Article III gives the International Atomic Energy Agency the duty of inspecting the non-nuclear-weapon states’ nuclear facilities. This Article also establishes guidelines to ensure safe transfer of fissionable materials between NWS and NNWS. Article IV makes sure that the NNWS continue to obtain the “inalienable right” to search, develop, and use nuclear materials for purposes other than weapons. Article V allows both NWS and NNWS to research and develop data surrounding the “benefits of nuclear explosions conducted for peaceful purposes.” This clause has become more irrelevant as time continues. Article VI allows the NWS to “pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an …show more content…
Jennifer Weeks explains that a prime example of a treaty not working would be when Iran made the news for building a secret underground plutonium plant less than 24 hours after the disarmament resolution by the Security Council. Obama recognized the offense and responded by telling Iran that if they did not terminate their nuclear efforts, they would face “sanctions that bite.” Obama proposed economic sanctioning as a tactic to get states to turn away from nuclear proliferation efforts (Weeks 817). Mary H. Cooper recognizes President Bush’s preposition: “President Bush responded to the revelations about [above mentioned] Khan’s network with a plan to strengthen international anti-proliferation efforts, including calling on the U.N. Security Council to require all states to criminalize proliferation of components that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction” (Cooper 297). As research has shown, nuclear weapons pose an extreme threat to the world. This issue should have the foremost attention because a large-scale nuclear war could literally send humans out of existence. While issues like censorship, loss of biodiversity, mental illness, global climate change, artificial intelligence, and pandemics also pose threats to society, nuclear weapons pose the largest threat to humanity
" A weapon isn't good or bad, depends on the person who uses it." Jet Li
The end of World War Two in Europe, or V-E day made two things very clear. First, that America showed itself as a world power, and the second was that Russia had no intentions of leaving the land it had taken on its way to Berlin. With the war in the pacific still ongoing, the Americans had to turn its focus to the war on the islands and deal with Russia afterwards. Eventually in July of 1945, an end to the pacific theater of war came (V-J day) with the dropping of the two atomic bombs, little boy and fat man, on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The decision to drop the first bomb was made by new president Harry Truman, and was not only used to force Japan into an unconditional surrender, but also to intimidate the Solviet Union.
Another cause of the danger of nuclear weapons is improper storage and handling. The nuclear weapons could be accidently detonated in there silos or storage facilities. This can be a danger to the entire world. If a nuclear weapon is not stored in a safe matter many types of problems could arise. A perfect example of a nuclear accident was at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine. The Chernobyl accident was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated inadequately by non-properly trained personal. The Chernobyl explosion was a very devastating explosion and only two workers died on the night of the accident. Over the course of a few weeks after the accident 28 people were reported dead from radiation sickness.
The nuclear bomb is an interesting phenomenon that has captured the fascination of scholars, academics, politicians, and the media to bring curiosity and fear together. The first and only use of nuclear weapons occurred in 1945 during the Second World War, wiping out over 200,000 Japanese civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nuclear bombs, were now viewed as the number one threat that could potentially destroy our planet and the human race. Since 1945 nuclear weapons have since been a strong threat that has imposed a psychological anxiety for world leaders as this threat has expanded to fifty countries with the
Nuclear weapons pose a direct and constant threat to people. Not even close from keeping the peace, they breed fear and mistrust among nations. These ultimate instruments
With the start of World War II the race for the first atomic bomb started. With Germany under Hitler’s reign, the Nazis began separating uranium to form the first atomic bomb to control the world. The push for the United States build the first atomic bomb began with this knowledge. With the help of several scientists the United States succeeded in building the atomic bomb first. Two atomic bombs were used; a uranium bomb on Hiroshima and a plutonium bomb on Nagasaki. Along with the many deaths were six stages of A-bomb illness which includes acute stages, atomic bomb trauma, A-bomb radiation illness, radiation blood injury at lethal dosage, blood injuries, and secondary radiation illness. Seven unhealed scars were also an effect of the atomic bombs that includes keloids, A-bomb cataracts, leukemia, cancers, chromosome changes, exposure in utero and microcephaly, and genetic surveys. Regulations and guidance were set in place soon after the bombings to protect the people of the world based on the information that was gathered and it has changed over the years based on the new information that was learned. With the use of the atomic bombs in World War II, a lot of pain and suffering was caused, but a great deal of information was learned to help protect future generations from radiation.
Today, it is known everywhere that if a nuclear war is waged, it could mean the destruction of our world as we know it. Nuclear weapons were used to end World War II, and they could very well be used if WWIII occurred, it may end also using nuclear weapons, which could destroy us. Albert Einstein once said, “I know not what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones” (“I know not…”Einstein, Albert). Einstein was implying that WWIII would set humanity to the Stone Age. Our country and the rest of the countries with nuclear weapons need to get rid of them before one of us start a war.
The use of the atomic bomb in world war 2 is probably one of the most controversial and infamous act of war that humanity has committed in its history. The weapon is so deadly that it hasn't been used in any war since. The nuclear weapon has caused so many problems after its creation and use. It has caused a nuclear scare which reached its pinnacle in the cuban missile crisis. Although the sacre is still prevalent today with America's recent involvement in the Syrian crisis. Some countries have even got rid of their nukes and encourage other countries to get rid of theirs to get rid of the fear. Nuclear deterrence is sucha big deal that countries are afraid of nukes, but don't want to get rid of theirs. These nukes can have devastating effects
Even though the Manhattan project was officially started in 1939, it wasn’t until 1942 when the project was activated. Since its activation, day and night, scientists worked for 3 years in a man-made town called Los Alamos to develop the nuclear warheads that were used to erase Hiroshima and Nagasaki off the planet. The moment “Little Boy” (the first nuclear warhead) was launched, the world was given a demonstration of the amazing power of this weapon. The tremendous force of the atoms ripping apart inside the bomb literally wiped Hiroshima off of the face of the planet. The use of the A-Bombs alerted many world leaders to the
The intention to disarm is alarming because no logical superpower, like the United States, will dismantle their warheads knowing Soviet Union has theirs, to the extent that they are asking. There is no way to enforce this because the superpowers involved in making the treaty are also the ones with the stockpile of nuclear weaponry along with no agency to enforce these rules. They claim that their intention is to "facilitate the cessation of the manufacture of nuclear weapons, the liquidation of all their existing stockpiles, and the elimination from national arsenals of nuclear weapons and the means of their delivery... And complete disarmament under strict and effective international control"(Treaty). One logical explanation to this statement would be that it serves the purpose of deceiving the public into thinking that this is happening , but in reality every superpower that signs has not been dismantling their weapons entirely. Although the bulk of this agreement has reached its goals and drastically limited the amount of nuclear weapons and is also responsible for preventing a nuclear war, it has also allowed states to ignore its guidelines. "The nuclear club has added a few members who defied the treaty's restrictions (including South Africa, India, Pakistan, and now North Korea, and unofficially Israel) (Bunn, 2003). The distrust leads to more nuclear weapons being built in fear of becoming overpowered by a state that may be hiding thousands of
Nuclear weapons around the world should be a topic of worry due to them being a security, but should not be made more of. Nuclear weapons are increasing world security just as much as
“The atom bomb was no “Great Decision.” It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness” said Harry S. Truman. The atomic bomb is considered a weapon of mass destruction because of the insurmountable damage and causalities such attack can cause. The United States resorted to the creation of such incredible weapon as a means to annihilate or alter the Axis powers. However, this all began due to the September 1, 1939, German attack to Poland and the Pearl Harbor bombings by Japan. These actions by the Axis powers would result in one of the deadliest global wars in human history. World War II involved the vast majority of the world’s nations. An estimated 50 million to 85 million died in the events that occurred in World War II. The origin and development of the atomic bomb during World War II changed forever the direction of the war and posed the United States as a champion in military strategies; this endeavor also known as the Manhattan Project served as catalyst in WWII.
In the 1950’s tension was rising in the cold war, having successfully tested a nuclear bomb the U.S decided to enter the “New look” which caused America to depend on Atomic weapons more, and the U.S. was willing to supply allies with atomic weapons. Records show that in February of 1958 the U.S said that it would prefer that japan use an appropriate amount of atomic weapons for self-defense purposes under the arrangement similar to the NATO’S ”nuclear sharing” deal. This discovery was found by Akira Kurosaki who is an associate professor at Fukushima University. He uncovered this document at the U.S. National Archives in Maryland which was never reviled to the public. Japan wanted to know exactly how the atomic weapons would be used but the
The United States' atomic weapons complex is basic and befuddled. The working environments joined into moving parts of atomic weapons issues blend the Departments of Energy, Defense, State, Commerce, and Homeland Security. The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration is the key U.S. Government partnership responsible for the design, change and upkeep of U.S. atomic weapons. The Department of Energy got commitment concerning all atomic giant related matters beginning now allotted to the Atomic Energy Commission set up after World War II.
The atomic bomb was the brain child of Robert Oppenheimer. The first nuclear bomb was also the first used in combat. Dropped by the United States military on Hiroshima, August 5 1945, the city was leveled and left Japan devastated. After this attack, the world was at a race to see who could perfect the weapon. Countries across the world had nuclear weaponry tests. One of these countries, was the United States of America. Many of the United States’ nuclear tests took place in and around the Bikini Atoll in the 1940’s, 1950’s, and 1980’s. These tests changed the lives of both the native people, wildlife, and the once beautiful ecosystem which flourished on those Bikini Atoll islands. (http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/)