The Dangers of Nuclear Weapons Part 1

At the start of September, members of the G20 gathered in India to discuss a variety of issues. One of those issues that was mentioned was nuclear weapons and an updated treaty. We sat down with Dr Johanna Garnett, a lecturer at UNE and co-convenor of Peace Studies here to discuss the dangers of nuclear weapons.

In part one of this two part episode, Johanna Garnett explains the concept of ‘positive peace’ and how nuclear weapons threaten that. Johanna explains that it’s not just the danger that nuclear weapons pose, but also the economic capital that goes into them.

“If we were to look at nuclear weapons and the proliferation of weapons, we could look at the cost of these weapons to begin with, the material investment and the human resources investment in the proliferation of nuclear weapons.”

“If we think immediately there in a sort of framework of development and peace, think of the money that’s being invested. Trillions and trillions of dollars that could be utilised on the ground literally to address the issues that[…]so many people are arguing that we need a war for.”

Find part two, where we talk with the Director of ICAN Australia, Gem Romuld, here.

Photo by Vladyslav Cherkasenko on Unsplash