The Growing Danger of Nuclear War and What We Can Do About It

On April 4th, 2016, Dr. Ira Helfand held a dinner discussion with nineteen Dartmouth students, following his lecture on “The Growing Danger of Nuclear War and What We Can Do About It.” Dr. Helfand, the co-president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, was soft-spoken but incredibly passionate. He deftly addressed each question, ranging from skeptical ones—“what would happen to ‘nuclear deterrence’ strategies in the wake of disarmament?”—to practical ones—“how can college students support your cause?”—with an unwavering conviction in his stance. Though Dr. Helfand contends that nuclear weapons represent the greatest threat to our health and safety, his aim was not to shock or scare. Instead, he wanted students to leave the conversation remembering the content of his answers, and ready to prioritize this issue moving forward. “Don’t you want to be able to say one day that you helped save the world?”

Submitted by Devyn Greenberg’17, Rockefeller Center Student Program Assistant for Public Programs

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