Humanity Avoids Self-Destruction For Another Year

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Douglas

August 10 is an inadequately celebrated date in my world. It marks 76 years of humanity going without using a nuclear weapon in warfare.

Humanity avoids self-destruction for another year

By “nuclear weapon” I mean either a fission weapon or a fusion weapon. America used fission weapons against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Nations of the world have only tested fusion weapons, also called thermonuclear weapons or hydrogen bombs. No nation has tested a fusion weapon since November 1, 1952 (No, I don’t believe North Korea). My people have refrained from using our most destructive weapon for almost 69 years. We have gone almost four years since the last nuclear test (September 3, 2017 by North Korea). I have written a number of posts about this happy day here, here and here.

In the song “1999,” the American musician Prince (1958-2016) wrote the lyric:

Mom? Why does everybody have a Bomb?

When I hear this song I think “Stop. Wait. Hold up, Prince.” Everybody doesn’t have a Bomb. There are 9 nations with nuclear weapons. There are over 100 nation without nuclear weapons.

American musician Bob Dylan wrote in the song “With God On Our Side” in 1963:

I’ve learned to hate the Russians
All through my whole life
If another war comes
It’s them we must fight
To hate them and fear them
To run and to hide
And accept it all bravely
With God on my side

And yet, America and Russia have managed to negotiate a reduction in nuclear forces over the years. America and Russia have seemed to recognize the threat of their nuclear arsenals. If America and Russia can work things out, any two nations can work things out.

I take comfort that between 1945 and 1968, the danger of nuclear proliferation was recognized. Effective action was taken to reduce it. Some people say it wasn’t enough. But I shudder to think what the world would be like without the Non-Proliferation Treaty. I shudder to wonder if humanity would still exist without the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The story of this near-miss of self-destruction makes me shudder.

I take comfort that the human family recognized a threat to its survival, and rose to the occasion. Humanity avoids self-destruction for another year. Human civilization faces other threats these days. The New Message from God calls these threats “The Great Waves of Change.” Declining resources, environmental degradation, affected climate, and extraterrestrial intervention. There aren’t individuals seeking nuclear weapons. But the behavior of ordinary people seem to be making these new threats worse. Will we notice the threats? Will we respond and prepare? I don’t know. But today, I celebrate humanity’s accomplishment with some okonomiyaki, beloved street food of Hiroshima.

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We Could Evolve Instead Of Self-Destruct

Posted on August 11, 2020 by Douglas

Today, August 10, 2020, is a happy day on the Calendar of the Uniting World. It marks 75 years of humanity going without using a nuclear weapon in warfare.

We could evolve instead of self-destruct

By “nuclear weapon” I mean either a fission weapon or a fusion weapon. America used fission weapons against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Nations of the world have only tested fusion weapons, also called thermonuclear weapons or hydrogen bombs. No nation has tested a fusion weapon since November 1, 1952 (No, I don’t believe North Korea). My people have refrained from using our most destructive weapon for almost 68 years. We have gone almost three years since the last nuclear test (September 3, 2017 by North Korea). I have written a number of posts about this happy day here, here and here.

What does the New Message from God say about nuclear weapons?

I have neglected to share what the New Message from God teaches regarding nuclear weapons. I am happy for an occasion to remedy this. The first book of New Message teachings is Wisdom from the Greater Community, Book One, published in the early 1990’s. One of the chapters in that book is a revelation titled “World Evolution.” Marshall Vian Summers received this revelation in November of 1987. The next two paragraphs are a quote from that revelation.

“Nuclear arms? I know that what I am about to say will get some of you going, but there will not be nuclear disarmament completely for a long time to come because people need something to hold themselves in check. People have given a greater authority to their creations than to themselves to keep themselves from attacking their neighbors.

So, nuclear arms will be with you for awhile, but they will decrease. It is part of the evolution of your world that humanity keep itself out of major warfare until its societies can unite. The world cannot afford another major war here. There cannot even be a local war anymore. This seems strange, but you see, it is established to allow things to come together. It is not good. It is not bad. It is foolish, but it is what humanity prescribes. There will be nuclear weapons in your life for a long time to come.”

This was spoken 33 years ago, and has proved to be true. I have wondered what is meant by “the evolution of your world.” I think it means “one of the scheduled stops on the world’s journey.” I consider the possibility that the world has figured out that it cannot afford another all-out war. We’re still working on renouncing local wars. We could evolve instead of self-destruct.

Destructive power attracts scrutiny

We could evolve instead of self-destruct. The other mention of nuclear weapons is in Book One of The Allies of Humanity, published in the late 1990’s. I have written a review of this book. The following paragraph is a quote from that book.

“It is necessary for people everywhere to understand that humanity is emerging into a Greater Community of intelligent life. Your world is being “visited” by several alien races and by several different organizations of races. This has been actively going on for some time. There have been visitations throughout human history, but nothing of this magnitude. The advent of nuclear weapons [emphasis mine] and the destruction of your natural world have brought these forces to your shores.”

In our world, any demonstration of strength by a nation draws the scrutiny of other nations. It is now common knowledge that the Soviet Union successfully infiltrated the Manhattan Project. But most people think from a purely human perspective. They haven’t yet considered the possibility of scrutiny and intervention from alien races or collectives.

A lot is said in not too many words

We could evolve instead of self-destruct. I find it remarkable that the New Message from God has said so little about something that concerns so many people. It has given me a frame for efforts at nuclear disarmament. Just because it seems difficult doesn’t make it a less worthy effort. If you are concerned about nuclear weapons, work on world unity.

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How Many Times Must The Warheads Be Dropped?

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Douglas

“Yes, ’n’ how many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind” – Bob Dylan, Blowin’ In The Wind

How many times must the warheads be dropped?

I wish to confess my neglect, and offer remediation. What have I neglected? On August 10, 2017, the human family observed 72 years without using a nuclear weapon in warfare. I have had an annual custom of observing this happy occasion here, here and here. I did not observe this in either 2016 or in August of 2017. But humanity has gone 72 years, 3 months and 10 days without using a nuclear weapon in warfare. By “nuclear weapon” I mean either a fission weapon or a fusion weapon. America used fission weapons against Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nations of the world have only tested fusion weapons, also called thermonuclear weapons or hydrogen bombs. No nation has used a fusion weapons in warfare since November 1, 1952. My people have refrained from using our most destructive weapon for almost 65 years.

How many times must the warheads be dropped? I regret to inform you that the human race has only gone one month and sixteen days since the last nuclear test, conducted by North Korea. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, has recently been decertified by President Trump. I confess to not knowing whether or not this is a good thing. I feel that all I can do is keep watching.

How many times must the warheads be dropped? I am pleased to share with you the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Coalition to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). ICAN’s efforts resulted in a treaty banning nuclear weapons. Yes, I understand that nations with nuclear weapons opposed this treaty. Yes, I understand that the treaty isn’t technically in force, as it requires ratification by 50 nations. We’re currently at 3. Yes, I’m aware that it is unclear who is going to enforce the provisions of this treaty. But we have to start somewhere.

“The man or woman of Knowledge is watching—watching without coming to fixed conclusions, watching without condemning the world, watching without losing hope, watching without becoming jaded or cynical, watching without blaming leaders or individuals or nations, watching the changing landscapes of the world, looking for the signs that the world is giving to indicate how, where and when the Great Waves [of Change] will strike.”

How many times must the warheads be dropped? Hopefully two.

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I Prefer To Think We’re Getting Better

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Douglas

While the world has been recalling the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, I prefer to celebrate a different anniversary. Monday, August 10, 2015, marks 70 years without humanity using a nuclear weapon in warfare. Furthermore, humanity has gone 2 years, 5 months and 28 days without a nuclear test. The last confirmed test was conducted by North Korea in February 2013. The Hiroshima Carp baseball team are playing a game in Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium in the above picture. The Clover Garden of Nagasaki is in the picture below.

I prefer to think we’re getting better

There is yet another positive development I wish to consider. The United States tested a hydrogen bomb on November 1, 1952. A hydrogen bomb or a thermonuclear weapon, uses the energy from a primary nuclear fission reaction to compress and ignite a secondary nuclear fusion reaction. The result is greatly increased explosive power when compared to single-stage fission weapons. Therefore, one could refer to atomic bombs as fission weapons, and hydrogen bombs as fusion weapons. A Russian hydrogen bomb tested in 1961 had roughly 1,350–1,570 times the combined power of the bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

I prefer to think we’re getting better. Russia tested a fusion weapon in 1955. The UK tested a hydrogen bomb in 1957. China tested a fusion bomb in 1967. France tested a hydrogen bomb in 1968. Therefore, humanity has gone 47 years without a nation developing a fusion weapon. Therefore, each of the above nations has gone a number of years without using their most destructive weapon. I consider this to represent a certain evolution on the part of both humanity. Perhaps I shall celebrate the non-use of fusion bombs by these nations in the future.

I prefer to think we’re getting better. There is a certain concern in my world that certain nations with fission weapons (Pakistan and North Korea) will not refrain from using them. There is a certain concern in my world that certain nations (Iran and Saudi Arabia) will acquire fission weapons in the not-too-distant future. What am I going to do about this? Shall I cry out in protest? Shall I advocate certain political positions and policies? Shall I engage and confront certain individuals and organizations?

I prefer to think we’re getting better. I am working on becoming a stronger and better human being. I am taking the Steps to Knowledge. Knowledge is described as “the deeper intelligence that the Creator of all life has placed within each person to guide them, to protect them and to lead them to their greater accomplishments in life.” I am not in denial. I am not simply trying to project a preferred outcome. I am seeing what is transpiring, and I am altering my conclusions regularly as the situation changes. I seek to contribute strength of character and strength of faculties of mind. I am watching—watching without coming to fixed conclusions, watching without condemning the world, watching without losing hope, watching without becoming jaded or cynical, watching without blaming leaders or individuals or nations, watching the changing landscapes of the world.

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I Offer Thanks For Our Accomplishment

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Douglas

The Chinese Zen master Yunmen Wenyan (862-949) is reported to have said “Every day is a good day!” I believe he meant that every day was an opportunity to practice and to be attentive. The days before the results appear are just as important as the days after the results appear.

I offer thanks for our accomplishment

I agree with Yunmen Wenyan. However, I believe that today, August 10, 2014, is a particular day for gratitude and celebration. For what do I offer thanks? What do I celebrate today? We (and by “we” I mean “the human family”) have gone exactly 69 years without detonating a nuclear weapon in warfare. I consider that an achievement.

I realize some people might think I have low standards for accomplishment. I will add another cause for gratitude. Humanity has gone 69 years without detonating a nuclear weapon in warfare. We have also gone almost one year and six months since the last test of a nuclear weapon, conducted by North Korea in 2013. North Korea is the only nation on Earth to have conducted a nuclear test after 1998. While the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty is not technically in force, its terms generally being honored. The seven nations other than North Korea that have conducted nuclear tests, have not conducted a nuclear test since 1998.

A gentleman whom I consider to be reasonably well-informed recently asked me about the current radiation levels in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Hiroshima Peace Museum reports “Today, the background radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki is the same as the average amount of natural radiation present anywhere on Earth. It is not enough to affect human health.” There is a certain amount of naturally occurring background radiation, as this chart shows.

Please note that this chart is a logarithmic chart, which means the normal yearly background dose is roughly equivalent to 10 mammograms. This post might be helpful in explaining the significance of a sievert.

I wrote a post on this subject a year ago. There is a picture of Nagasaki in that post, which I believe is looking at Nagasaki from the opposite direction of the picture in this post. I am pleased to commemorate a year without the detonation of a nuclear weapon, either in warfare, or as a test. I offer thanks for our accomplishment.

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Obon: The Ancestors Are Coming To Visit For A Few Days

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Douglas

I recently discovered something that I didn’t know. I discovered that my city of St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, and the city of Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, are sister cities. There has been some form of communication between the two cities since 1955. Another one of these sister city activities took place yesterday, the Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival

I’ve read that the Obon (お盆) festival has just ended in Japan. It has been practiced in Japan for the past 500 years. While it has its roots in Buddhism, other belief systems have contributed to the practice. The idea is that the spirits of our ancestors come to visit us for three days. Various things are done to honor the presence of the ancestors (offerings of food, ceremonial dances), and on the third day, floating lanterns are lit to guide the ancestors back to the world of the dead.

Anything that’s been done for 500 years works for somebody. I was adopted at birth, and I don’t know my biological parents, or any of their family. But they are all there, to greater or lesser degrees, in the form of my DNA. Everyone’s ancestors were winners in passing on their genes, so maybe there’s something to this contemplation of the ancestors.

No one was killed during this festival in St. Paul, Minnesota.

I’m sure there are people reading this who reject the very premise of the Obon festival. It is my observation that just about everybody believes at least one thing that someone else, somewhere not only does not believe, but believes to be ridiculous. I consider this a corollary of Step 5 of Steps to Knowledge, “I believe what I want to believe.”

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I Prefer To Consider It This Way…

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Douglas

Many people are recalling the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan on this day in 1945. I prefer to think that humanity, my people, have successfully gone 68 years without using a nuclear weapon in warfare.

The conventional wisdom in my world is that the atomic bombing prevented the casualties and destruction which would have ensued in an invasion of the Japanese mainland. As my father experienced a unsuccessful kamikaze attack on his cargo ship off the island of Okinawa, this idea is not implausible to me. I realize there are alternate opinions, like this one by John V. Denson. Would I have made a wiser decision than President Truman? I’m not sure. I’m not sure it’s profitable for me to even contemplate such a thing.

I am pleased to report that there has only been one nuclear test that I know of in the past twelve months, the North Korean nuclear test of February 2013. That’s a positive development, considering our history of nuclear testing.

But what to do next? Like I know. Don’t we already know that wars have their seeds in covetousness, wanting something that somebody else has? Don’t we already know that covetousness has its seeds in ingratitude, having issues with what we have? Don’t we already know that good fences make good neighbors? Don’t we already know that weakness is provocative? All I know is that I need to get out more. I’m hearing a verse from the song “The Last Resort” by The Eagles in my mind’s ear:

Who will provide the grand design?
What is yours and what is mine?
‘Cause there is no more new frontier
We have got to make it here

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Mystery of Ascension

A great mystery / Is my true self that I bring / From my ancient home

Tag Archives: Nagasaki

Humanity Avoids Self-Destruction For Another Year

Humanity avoids self-destruction for another year

We Could Evolve Instead Of Self-Destruct

We could evolve instead of self-destruct

What does the New Message from God say about nuclear weapons?

Destructive power attracts scrutiny

A lot is said in not too many words

How Many Times Must The Warheads Be Dropped?

How many times must the warheads be dropped?

I Prefer To Think We’re Getting Better

I prefer to think we’re getting better

I Offer Thanks For Our Accomplishment

I offer thanks for our accomplishment

Obon: The Ancestors Are Coming To Visit For A Few Days

I Prefer To Consider It This Way…