Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
September 26, 2025 Peace and security
There are currently enough nuclear weapons on the planet to destroy humanity many times over. This was stated by 81-year-old Satoshi Tanaka, a member of the Executive Council of the Japan Confederation of Atomic Bomb and Hydrogen Bomb Victims' Organizations, at UN Headquarters. Satoshi is a hibakusha, the Japanese word for victims of the nuclear bombings of Hirashima and Nagasaki.
He recalled that in the 80 years since the tragedy, humanity has only increased its nuclear potential. The number of countries possessing nuclear weapons has almost reached double digits.
"The nuclear arms race continues. Humanity stands on the brink of extinction," Satoshi said.
"Young people often worry that we hibakusha might not be around in ten years. I always respond, 'Before you worry about how long we have left, consider how short your own life might be,'" he added.
Satoshi spoke at an event held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, which is celebrated on September 26.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in a statement delivered on his behalf by his Chief of Staff, Earl Courtenay Rattray, said that every day since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the hibakusha have turned their suffering into a cry for peace.
“And yet, every day we see new and increasingly dangerous weapons,” the UN chief stressed.
In July of this year, the Secretary-General announced the establishment of an independent scientific panel of experts tasked with studying the physical effects and social consequences of nuclear war at the local, regional and global levels.
The UN was created not only for multilateral cooperation, but also as a "defense against our most destructive instincts," said UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock.
Every day we see new and increasingly dangerous weapons.
Theoretically, the world recognizes that a nuclear war cannot be started and cannot be won, the diplomat noted.
“However, this has not stopped countries from building ever larger arsenals, and some have even found themselves on the brink of using them on multiple occasions,” Baerbock noted.
She recalled that during the Cold War, false alarms or misinterpreted signals nearly led to disasters, the most famous of which was the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Today, the situation is more complex, and the risk of miscalculation is much higher, Baerbock emphasized. "What if terrorists acquire these weapons? What if artificial intelligence accelerates decision-making, leaving no room for human oversight?"
“Security is not based on ever-growing arsenals, but on disarmament, non-proliferation and – one day – the abolition of nuclear weapons,” the General Assembly President said.
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