Reducing the risks of nuclear war; the role of health professionals

Abstract

According to the United Nations, the risk of nuclear weapons use is higher than at any time since the Cold War: "The Russian Federation’s recent announcement of plans to station non-strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus represents the first 'nuclear sharing' agreement made since the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons entered into force in 1970." At this moment of extreme danger, we are preparing to distribute an editorial on the role of health professionals in reducing nuclear danger. We hope to time the announcement of the release of this editorial to the August 6 anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima to underline the very real danger that nuclear weapons may be used again. The editorial was co-authored by the group of journal editors and other supporters of the Nobel-prizewinning International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War listed below. All of the authors’ journals will be publishing the editorial. Having so many respected journals around the world publishing the editorial should attract political and media attention. We hope that giving health professionals a more prominent voice in this debate will encourage profound changes in the system of nuclear arms control that has resulted in the current dangerous situation that threatens the health of people and the planet.