NUCLEAR BAN MOVIE MONTH RESOURCES:
If you missed the discussion
after the live screening of
“The Day After” on August 6 CLICK HERE
Speaker Vicki Elson, who co-founded NuclearBan.US emailed later:
"I thought of one thing I wish I'd said to those whose loved ones are feeling despair:
If you’re afraid of nuclear weapons, that’s not an irrational fear. If you don’t like to think about them, I don’t blame you.
The way I personally deal with this reality is getting together with smart changemakers and finding out what I can do about it, and doing my best, and taking breaks too. We have some reasons to celebrate right now, and to be hopeful.
But while some of us take comfort in taking action, it might be too much for some people who are really suffering. So I'd suggest, take whatever action feels most effective (contacting legislators!) but limit it to a minimal set time per day or week, and be super gentle with yourself the rest of the time! Or just support other people who are doing the work with donations, moral support, etc.
You're not crazy or wrong or weird for worrying, but your first priority has to be self-care. Take care of your own good heart.
A process:
-
Acknowledge the feelings you’re struggling with
-
Know that you're not alone
-
Just by paying attention, you're showing that you care and you want to make a difference
-
List your strengths – are you resilient, compassionate, skillful, a good communicator?
-
Do stuff (if you can)
-
Do it in community
The last two lines are ICAN's secret ingredients."
More tips here: Dealing with Nuclear Anxiety
RESOURCES:
-
Podcasts on Nuclear Weapons (please scroll down)
-
Military Industrial Complex 1961 Eisenhower speech - a must study for peace workers
-
"Pictures from a Hiroshima Schoolyard" on MD Public TV. Tells the story of how a collection of surprisingly joyful drawings created by school children living among the ruins of Hiroshima in 1947 were sent to the children of the All Souls Church in DC as a gift of thanks. In 2010, the newly restored drawings, buried for decades, were reunited with the artists and exhibited in the building where they were created. Aired: 08/01/21
Recommended books
-
The Chalice and the Blade by Dr. Riane Eisler
-
Sleepwalking to Armageddon by Helen Caldicott
Recommended films
Cautionary vs. Visionary Tales -- We need both!
-
Star Trek series and movies
-
"The Day After" -- Director Nicholas Meyer
-
''The World is My Country''-- Director Arthur Kanegis, Producer Melanie Bennett
-
"Television Event" -- Director Jeff Daniels
-
"La Belle Verte" -- Director Coline Serreau
-
"Don't Look Up" -- Director Adam McKay
-
Måna Wibron, Sweden recommended: ”Atomen i mänsklighetens tjänst?” (The Atom in the Service of Humanity?) by Maj Wechselmann Password: Atomen12345
Recommended songs
-
Imagine by John Lennon & Yoko Ono
- “Earth Passport” by Scott Stephens & Liquid Blue
-
“World Citizen” by Randy Seol, Arthur Kanegis, Garry Davis & Strawberry Alarm Clock