Dr. Helen Caldicott, one of the foremost peace activists of our time, is co-founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility and Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament (WAND, now Women’s Action for New Directions). She is also the author of five books, most recently The New Nuclear Danger: George W. Bush’s Military-Industrial Complex. Caldicott spoke with In These Times from Salt Lake City.… return to article
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Reader Comments (14)Page 1 of 1 pagesIt is also worth noting that the neocons are bent on developing ‘mini-nukes’ supposedly for destroying bunkers and ‘underground chemical weapons’. If this idea wasn’t a downright for the planet it would be laughable. It is frightening that these people appear to think of nuclear technology as just another actively useable weapon without considering the consequences for present and future generations. The ignorance is staggering. The prevalent attitude is who cares it is only the foreigners and ‘terrorists’ who will die. What happens when other states start making mini-nukes?
Posted by Garse on Jun 17, 2003 at 3:01 PM Technology is neutral, it is the will to use that technology, in ways that harm others, that is evil. Ignorance is no excuse, the failure to know the consequence of actions is unforgivable. Very few of us are in possitions that influence the choices to develope or use techonology.
Why are politicans (“cowboys”) so stupid and hartless? ... The rest of use, don’t choose we only have the option of which accommodations we will make to live/work within the system.
We live in a world that has been engineered by those that would control it.
Posted by angry citizen on Jun 19, 2003 at 2:31 PM Thank God someone is taking this nuclear thing seriously. I just hope that we can leave this world a safer place for future generations. Thanks for the good work and the generosity of both time and money by people who care are truly compassionate, our children and grandchildren may stand a chance for a safe future.
Posted by Nancy Weant on Jun 19, 2003 at 3:12 PM I greatly admire Dr. Caldicott and was inspiried to activistism in the late 70s by her tremendous example.
Since Bush was elected it is a full time job to fight the insanity, keep up with the lies, march, write letters, and otherwise try to be a balast against the breathtaking inhumanity.
It sometimes feels like one is wasting their precious one existence…there are so many other options. Sometimes I just cry over the horrors inflicted on innocent people all over the globe. And I think, we must be like Joan of Arc, fearless and relentless in our own way to help the planet.
Brilliant, committed torchbearers like Dr.Calidcott remind us by her actions of our collective responsibility to this beautiful globe and to all the people of the world. To save and educate is to create, and to give hope, add grace, thats an awful lot to do with one’s life.
A million blessings on Dr. Caldicott!
Sincerely,
Suzanne McIntosh
Posted by Suzanne McIntosh on Jun 20, 2003 at 2:38 AM I greatly admire Dr. Caldicott and was inspiried to activistism in the late 70s by her tremendous example.
Since Bush was elected it is a full time job to fight the insanity, keep up with the lies, march, write letters, and otherwise try to be a balast against the breathtaking inhumanity.
It sometimes feels like one is wasting their precious one existence…there are so many other options. Sometimes I just cry over the horrors inflicted on innocent people all over the globe. And I think, we must be like Joan of Arc, fearless and relentless in our own way to help the planet.
Brilliant, committed torchbearers like Dr.Calidcott remind us by her actions of our collective responsibility to this beautiful globe and to all the people of the world. To save and educate is to create, and to give hope, add grace, thats an awful lot to do with one’s life.
A million blessings on Dr. Caldicott!
Sincerely,
Suzanne McIntosh
Posted by Suzanne McIntosh on Jun 20, 2003 at 2:40 AM I greatly admire Dr. Caldicott and was inspiried to activistism in the late 70s by her tremendous example.
Since Bush was elected it is a full time job to fight the insanity, keep up with the lies, march, write letters, and otherwise try to be a balast against the breathtaking inhumanity.
It sometimes feels like one is wasting their precious one existence…there are so many other options. Sometimes I just cry over the horrors inflicted on innocent people all over the globe. And I think, we must be like Joan of Arc, fearless and relentless in our own way to help the planet.
Brilliant, committed torchbearers like Dr.Calidcott remind us by her actions of our collective responsibility to this beautiful globe and to all the people of the world. To save and educate is to create, and to give hope, add grace, thats an awful lot to do with one’s life.
A million blessings on Dr. Caldicott!
Sincerely,
Suzanne McIntosh
Posted by Suzanne McIntosh on Jun 20, 2003 at 2:40 AM Greetings from the road less travelled!!
Since the death of my father of lung cancer in 1996, I have believed that his death is attributed to the testing of nuclear weapons in the late 1940’s and 50’s. It is my belief that the airborne radioactive waste which was deposited throughout my homeland of South Carolina, because of human error, i.e., the nuclear testers forgot to measure the jet stream speed and the chance rainfall over the Appalachian Mountains on nuclear test days)...The waste fell to ground and polluted the water tables of my home town and a thousand others…
Since my father’s death in ‘96, my mother developed cancer and is literally days away from dying…
For the last 7 years I have travelled the world overland via buses and horses and bikes and on foot. In time I have found love and hope.
All along the way I have held my ear to the wind and I am sad to report that I am not all that comfortable with ëour worldí as I have found it to be these days. And yet, each time I look at my son, I must have hope…
That said, hope no longer alone will cut it…So when I read that you have dedicated your life to at least disposing from the world the nuclear weapons which man has stockpiled to date, well just maybe I have finally stumbled upon a cause that is worthy of my time, time spent for my son’s future.
Time I might add theses days is consumed with raising with my dear wife our 3 year old son downwind of a nuclear reactor in the Czech Republic, not two hundred miles away…
I am not a rich man, but one that knows the importance of taking on something you believe in to make a difference, hopefully before it’s all too late…
Please, how might I help???
Posted by Julian Monroe Fisher on Jun 20, 2003 at 4:00 PM “Free enterprise really means rich people get richer. And they have the freedom to exploit and psychologically rape their fellow human beings in the process…. Capitalism is destroying the earth. Cuba is a wonderful country. What Castro’s done is superb.”
- Helen Caldicott
Don’t come back to Australia Helen, we don’t you, you crazy bitch.
Posted by Yobbo on Jun 26, 2003 at 1:22 PM This story needs to be told in much wider media. The dedication and sacrifice that Dr.Caldicott is making on behalf of so many of us needs to findastrong echo in the so caled main stream newspapers,magazinesandTV newsmedia. Your site isdoing agreat job by making thisavailable through your web site. Thank you.
Posted by Dr.Thyagarajan on Jun 28, 2003 at 12:35 AM Dear Helen Caldicott, I vented my hopes with many letters to the editor while I taught on Guam in the early 80’s. I was known as MR ANTI-NUCLEAR. I drove my big old bomb (as old, used cars are fondly called on Guam), a gold-colored 1963 Chevy, and on the back was the sticker CHOP WOOD NOT ATOMS. I went to NY in 1982, from Guam, and recorded the entire GREAT PEACE MARCH on my new FM/Cassette player. I felt I was trying to do my small part in STOPPING THE MADNESS…but in my heart, like today, I knew that madness would never stop. I am sorry to be so cynical, but I truly think our planet is an insane asylum…BUT…as Voltaire would say…I am NOT giving up! What can I do? Thank you for being you! Love. Monty.
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