Society has, for better and for worse, been irreversibly changed by the advent of nuclear weapons. The reflective documentary The Bomb and Us uses a both-sides approach to determine whether we truly need this weaponry, and the impact it has had on our culture today.
The film covers a lot of ground in only seventy minutes and ultimately lets viewers decide whether there is truly a need for such destruction. We are taken to the headquarters of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in Geneva, where figures like consultants Arielle Denis and Magnus Lovold discuss how since Hiroshima and Nagasaki there has been massive civil pushback on the use of nuclear arms. Mass protests are shown demanding disarmament, all around the globe.
We travel to Paris, where former political figures discuss how many are unwilling to act on nuclear issues, as they are too complicated to parse and a transparent take would be too much for some citizens to bear. One striking (and some may say downright naïve) take comes from the UK Former Defense Minister Nick Harvey, who says “I’m not entirely convinced a nuclear weapon is currently deterring anybody because I’m not entirely convinced we currently have a nuclear adversary.” He then explains how current UK policy has relegated the threat of nuclear attack to “a second-tier threat.”
Some of Harvey’s words echo throughout modern times: that those with nuclear arms must have “intent and capability” to use them to be seen as a threat. In our age today, many countries clearly have both, yet the issue the documentary tackles is more along the lines of whether we need these bombs at all. The hard-hitting documentary would work well in academic libraries for those studying 20th-century history, international relations students, political science students, and those studying foreign policy.
About the Film
The Bomb and Us is a 70-minute look at the present and future of the military use of nuclear energy, going beyond clichés. The individuals interviewed come from very different backgrounds: soldiers, scientists, historians, activists and politicians. Like any good documentary, the viewer gets both sides of the story, interspersed with historical references from the earliest secret desert tests during WWII to the most recent issues concerning North Korea. As a truly international film, the thoughts and attitudes presented come from Japanese, Korean, German, French, English, Dutch and American participants. Some are in favor of disarmament while some are against. Both sides of the issue help us to better understand what the H-bomb and its stakes are today, and what they could be tomorrow.
Teaching About the Dangers of Nuclear Proliferation
There are a number of ways to educate people about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Some of the most effective methods include:
- Teaching about the history of nuclear weapons and the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. This can help people to understand the destructive power of nuclear weapons and the importance of preventing their use.
- Showing documentaries and films about the dangers of nuclear weapons. This can help people to see the human cost of nuclear war and the environmental damage that can be caused by nuclear weapons.
- Holding discussions and debates about the dangers of nuclear weapons. This can help people to learn more about the issue and to share their views on how to reduce the risk of nuclear war.
- Creating educational materials about the dangers of nuclear weapons. This can include books, websites, and other resources that can be used to educate people about the issue.
It is important to educate people about the dangers of nuclear weapons so that they can make informed decisions about how to reduce the risk of nuclear war.