International Day Against Nuclear Tests | 29th August
Today we observe the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. #DayAgainstNuclearTests
Nuclear weapons testing began in 1945. Since then, nearly 2,000 tests have taken place.
At first, little was known about the harm. We now know the effects are devastating. From 1951 to 1973, radioactive fallout from tests is estimated to have caused up to 690,000 deaths in the U.S. alone.
People living near test sites were hit hardest. Radiation entered the air, soil, and water. On farms, cows drank contaminated water and their milk spread radiation far beyond the test areas. Exposure can lead to cancer, acute radiation syndrome, and heart disease. Many people exposed decades ago are still suffering today.
Progress made
The last U.S. nuclear weapons test was in 1992.
In 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed by 183 countries to stop nuclear testing.
As of now, North Korea is the only country believed to still conduct nuclear tests.
How to observe
- Learn about the impact of nuclear testing on people, animals, plants, and the environment
- Read books or watch documentaries on the nuclear era. Visit http://NukeWatch.org for recommendations
- Learn more from resources at http://nih.gov, http://justice.gov, and http://un.org
- Share awareness on social media with #DayAgainstNuclearTests
History of the Day
The UN General Assembly declared August 29th as the International Day Against Nuclear Tests in 2009. The first observance was in 2010.
The date honors the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan on August 29, 1991. Kazakhstan proposed the resolution.
Today we remember the victims, raise awareness, and call for a world free of nuclear tests.
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