Check out our new video featuring Back from the Brink supporters: “Community Over Doom“
This past Tuesday, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists advanced its iconic Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds until midnight — a harrowing symbol of the brink the world finds itself on. A week from today, New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia, expires. And then there’s Greenland, Venezuela, Renée Good’s and Alex Pretti’s murders, ICE terrorizing our communities, and a daily barrage of other outrages stemming from the Trump administration — stretching the bounds of our worst fears of what we thought possible.
Right now, it’s easy for us to feel helpless and have our doubts about so many things, including the possibility of a world free of nuclear weapons. But just as we witness and fight against actions many thought could never happen, we can find strength and inspiration from those who made the seemingly impossible, possible.
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison and never gave up hope and was believed to have said [about ending apartheid in South Africa], “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Ida Wells-Barnett, one of the nation’s earliest and leading voices and activists for the liberation of both women and black people said, “the way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”
The truth that we are shedding light on is simple – we must abolish nuclear weapons. What’s not possible is a world that survives indefinitely with nuclear weapons. What is hard, but possible, is building the global will, public demand, and leadership needed to fundamentally change the nuclear status quo. We must replace it with an understanding among nations that nuclear weapons don’t make us safe, we do not have to accept them, and that we can choose cooperation over conflict, diplomacy over aggression, collective self interest over great power competition.
In our first email of the year, we highlighted these words and values that serve as this campaign’s guiding lights: Hope. Love. Peace. Community. Cooperation. Health. Justice. Security. Survival.
While all are important, right now it feels particularly important to nourish and sustain community. Every day, this community is growing, and we are seeing the fruits of our advocacy and actions. Two weeks ago, a group of U.S. House members gave powerful remarks about New START and why we need to get serious about reducing nuclear risks and nuclear disarmament. That happened because constituents and our community spoke up and demanded this leadership. More local and state officials are signing onto our letter to Congress in support of H. Res. 317 and S. Res 323, which we plan to release in March. These mayors, city councilors, and state representatives are signing on because they are hearing from us and their constituents and our message: nuclear weapons are a local issue.
Every action each of us takes matters and makes a difference — calls, letters, meetings, social media posts, emails to friends and neighbors, donating to Back from the Brink. Let’s keep at it. As civil rights hero John Lewis said, “if you come together with a mission, and it’s grounded with love and a sense of community, you can make the impossible possible.” Agreed.
