Disarmament Day
In 1945, for the first time in human history, human ingenuity congealed to create a weapon, so powerful that it could obliterate most of life on this planet.
The weapon was proven effective on August 6 of 1945 by killing over 100,000 people with a single bomb.
New technological developments since have resulted in nuclear bombs many times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. There are now 8 nation-states with nuclear warheads and deployment systems. The doctrine of mutually assured destruction, with the apt acronym MAD had given pause to the use of these weapons in warfare.
But now, AI assisted development of smaller tactical nuclear weapons, advanced guidance systems, and even outer space deployment possibilities make the previously unimaginable notion of a first strike, more possible and much, much more likely.
Beyond nuclear weaponry, AI supercharges everything and as a result makes even “conventional” drones, and biotech technologies like Crispr of great concern. We now have the capability to create whole new categories of weapons that could threaten the existence of our species.
It is the moral imperative of our generation that we put an end to this madness.
August 6, 2030
On August 6, 2030, the 85th anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, we will make our final and unequivocal demand of all nation states that they lay down their arms and commit to world peace by ceding authority of peacekeeping on this planet to a newly established democratically constituted World Federation.
There is one, and only one way to make successful this historic event. And that is for the people of the planet in each country to demonstrate en masse, to occupy strategic places of power and to remain there until the demands have been met.
The Power of the People
Every single social movement in history has been driven by the people, often based on their desire to put an end to tyrannical rule, or their fears for the future, based on the policies and structural inadequacies of the current system.
Throughout history, monarchies and governments have been toppled by the sheer force of people demonstrating in the streets and refusing to accept no as an answer to their demands.
The Arab Spring, the Russian revolution, the French, Revolution, etc., etc.
Unfortunately, in many cases, the uprising has not been followed by a concrete set of demands to be met and/or a well-considered plan.
On disarmament day, we are not looking to topple governments, (unless absolutely necessary), but simply have current governments meet our demand of ceding authority on peacekeeping to a World Federation thereby committing to the eternal, reasonable, and achievable promise of peace on this planet.
Each year, leading up to the 2030 deadline, on August 6th, we will demonstrate and occupy strategic places of power. World leaders will receive demand letters from the organizers of the movement. Those letters will demonstrate the massive, growing support of the movement. Each year the leaders of Nations will see an exponential rise in the support for the movement and will be forced to take our demands seriously. Each year we will increase the occupation by one day such that we will occupy for one day in the first year, two days and the second, etc., and indefinitely starting on August 6, 2030, until our demands have been met.
Our demands are absolutely concrete. Lay down your arms, and cede peace-keeping power to the new World Federation. The demands include the required legal wording of an amendment for each country’s constitution, procedures, and whatever else is required of them to cede sovereignty (over war and other global existential threats).
The one thing that leaders fear, is thousands of people demonstrating in the streets. This is the power of the people manifest.
The People Know
We all know in our heart of hearts that the status quo is failing us. We know that our governments aren't doing enough. We know that the UN is failing us. We know that without enforceable global law, nation-states will continue to use war, possibly even nuclear war to settle disputes. We know that competition among nation-states and competition between big corporations will delay and defer addressing the climate crisis until it is too late. We know that the the billionaires and big tech companies will continue to pour billions of dollars into AI, without consideration of the grave dangers and without any proper global oversight.
Any one of these crises can lead to the extinction of life on this planet.
And in our heart of hearts, we know that the change has to be led by us. That is what this movement is all about - bringing the change that we need to create a peaceful, habitable, and human future. It's been done before. What happened to all the Monarchs who used to rule countries? You can be assured that they did not give up their sovereign reigns easily!
No, the citizens decided that they were no longer prepared to be ruled by a Monarch who was not adequately addressing the needs, hopes, and desires of the people. They decided that the status quo was not good for them. So they demanded change, and they got change. Today, we also know that the status quo is not good for us. In point of fact, it threatens our very existence. So we demand change.
Because the real danger is the status quo. We oppose that.
The impossible is possible with a world united.