LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A U.S.-based disarmament organization, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), has launched a campaign calling for a global end to nuclear weapons, seizing on the attention surrounding the Academy Awards-nominated film “Oppenheimer.” The film, directed by Christopher Nolan, tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who led the development of the first atomic bomb during World War II and later warned of the dangers of these weapons.
The campaign began with an open letter signed by celebrities and activists, posted on the website www.makenukeshistory.org. The letter, which will also be published as a full-page advertisement in the Los Angeles Times, emphasizes the urgent need to abolish nuclear weapons before they cause any further harm.
The letter draws attention to the fact that there are more than 13,000 nuclear warheads worldwide, controlled by nine countries, some of which are significantly more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The NTI and the signatories of the letter are calling for action to eliminate these weapons of mass destruction.
Celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, Viggo Mortensen, Emma Thompson, Ellen Burstyn, and Lily Tomlin, as well as musicians like Annie Lennox, Graham Nash, and Jackson Browne, have signed the letter. Bill Nye “The Science Guy” and Charles Oppenheimer, the grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer, are also among the signatories.
In addition to the letter, the campaign includes billboards in Los Angeles, videos on social media, and an art installation at a popular shopping and restaurant complex. The organizers have timed the campaign to coincide with the release of “Oppenheimer,” which received 13 Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture.
The campaign comes in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments about the risk of nuclear war, as tensions between Russia and Western countries escalate over the situation in Ukraine. The NTI, co-founded in 2001 by former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and philanthropist Ted Turner, is working to raise awareness about the continued threat posed by nuclear weapons.
This campaign aims to leverage the platform provided by the Academy Awards to draw attention to the urgent need for disarmament and to highlight the message of “Oppenheimer” about the dangers of nuclear weapons. With the support of Hollywood stars and activists, the NTI is hoping to spark conversations and inspire action to address the global nuclear threat.
As the world grapples with ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions, the call to abolish nuclear weapons is more pressing than ever. The NTI’s campaign is a reminder that the consequences of nuclear war would be catastrophic, and that concerted efforts must be made to prevent such a devastating outcome.
By harnessing the power of celebrity endorsements, social media engagement, and public art installations, the NTI is striving to make the issue of nuclear disarmament accessible and relevant to a broader audience. The goal is to catalyze public support and political will to work towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
The NTI’s campaign is a timely and necessary initiative to renew the conversation around nuclear disarmament and to push for concrete steps towards a safer and more secure world. With the support of influential voices in the entertainment industry and beyond, there is hope for progress in addressing one of the most pressing global security challenges of our time.
Through collaborative efforts and continued advocacy, the NTI and its supporters are working towards a future where the threat of nuclear weapons is eliminated, and the specter of nuclear war is no longer looming over humanity.
(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Michael Perry)
