Tag Archives: nuclear weapons

Schell: Complete Disarmament is the Only Sane Path

The Power of Nonviolence: Writings by Advocates of PeaceThe excerpt from Jonathan Schell‘s  1982 book The Fate of the Earth is the nineteenth chapter of The Power of Nonviolence: Writings by Advocates of Peace .  This dialogue continues the Post-Vietnam to the Present (1975-  ) section of the book.  The essay centers on Schell’s lifelong quest to abolish nuclear weapons.  The Fate of the Earth is based on a series of essays that Schell wrote for The New Yorker in the early 1980s.  It won the Los Angeles Times Book prize.

Sadly, despite the fall of the Soviet Union, Schell’s arguments for the only path to a safe world still hold.  He sees nuclear weapons as the greatest “predicament” that mankind has faced. With the benefit of current knowledge, I would argue that global climate change has overtaken nuclear weapons as humankind’s worst self-imposed threat.  Yet even at number two, the abolition of nuclear weapons must be accomplished for our survival.  I would also argue that the two are intertwined under former US President Eisenhower’s “military-industrial complex.”  Continue reading Schell: Complete Disarmament is the Only Sane Path

Be careful with our earth: Peace Song for 11/5/2011

What Have They Done To The Rain?”  by Malvina Reynolds is the Peace Song of the Day for November 5th. I discovered it in a library book called A Folksong History of America by Samuel L. Forcucci. And, there the song was, in my Rise Up Singing songbook, on page 39.

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More about this choice: Continue reading Be careful with our earth: Peace Song for 11/5/2011

Morning Dew and Nuclear War: Peace Song of the Day for Friday 8/19/2011

Morning Dew by Bonnie Dobson is the Royal Peace Song of the Day for Friday 8/19/11.  The song describes the world after a nuclear apocalypse. The Grateful Dead cover of the song is, of course, the best known version. A close friend of Duke Augustus introduce him to the song, and explained the meaning. The same friend has brought many good things into Duke Augustus’ life, including getting him to go to the Vance Gilbert concert where the Duke met the Duchess. This is just one of a multitude of videos of the Grateful Dead playing the song. What is your favorite video of this song?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr_zYS2ZzF4]

Continue reading Morning Dew and Nuclear War: Peace Song of the Day for Friday 8/19/2011

Little children and nuclear energy: Peace Song of the Day for 8/8/2011

This weekend marked the anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Here on Long Island, South Country Peace Group and the peace community held an event in Bellport.

The Royal Song of the Day for 8/8/2011 is “I Come and Stand”, which is also sometimes known as “Dead Little Girl of Hiroshima”. The lyrics can be found in the Rise Up Singing songbook on page 160.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vZ0KgLifjI] Continue reading Little children and nuclear energy: Peace Song of the Day for 8/8/2011