The world was changed after the alarming event. Japan soon surrendered. World War II had ended but the attitude towards nuclear weapons circled thoughts. As the rest of the world feared that it only takes a bomb to end existence, American public did not automatically view nuclear weapons and atomic energy as dangerous. This was partly because the U.S government engaged in a concerted public affairs campaign to make nuclear power seem safe and positive, so that the public would not object to having a nuclear power plant built in their backyard. The public was introduced to such movies called “Our friend the atom”. Not everyone in this world dreaded the atomic weapons; some was taking the advantage from it. The nuclear power certainly influenced culture at that time. Atomic energy and bombs symbolized power and strength and businesses sought to take advantage of this reputation. By 1947 there were more than 100 businesses registered that used the word “atomic” in their name, including one for underwear. In 1946 bikini was invented. A French bathing suit designer adopted the name “bikini”, the island where two American atom bombs were tested that year, for his new two-piece bathing suit; he thought that the name connoted the explosive effect that the suit would have on men.
But while many people tried to capitalize on the image of power and energy evoked by the nuclear bombs, no amount of government propaganda or pop culture could obscure the fact that atomic bombs were dangerous. This fact became all the more apparent when the Soviet Union detonated its first atom bomb in1949 and various magazines began reporting on the effects that the atom would have on cities all over the world. Various group of scientist formed anti-nuclear organization. In 1950 an influential magazine titled The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists adopted a “Doomsday Clock” that they intended to symbolize the world’s proximity to self-destruction. Newspapers regularly reported the movement of the clock’s minute hand. In the same year, when the world was uptight with the whole issue of doomsday, president Truman decided that America should produce the hydrogen bomb. Other nations thought that he was a sick man. It was 750 times more powerful than the bomb that blasted Hiroshima. The tensions between the 2 superpowers grew but no bomb was exploded between the two during the cold war. Some countries consider nuclear weapons were a way to threaten other countries from invading them; they were seen as a protection. In 1957, England successfully tested their H-bomb. The following year the French tested their atomic bomb. When the cold war ended, it wasn’t the end of the nuclear age. In 1996 China had their first nuclear test and during 1998 and 1999 the dispute between India and Pakistan lead both countries to produce nuclear weapons to threat each other.
Now, 2003, there are 8 countries with active nuclear weapons program. After many treaties and pact signed there is no indication that the number of weapons is decreasing. The public has different opinions about them till this day. The anxiety of atomic and nuclear weapons today has lessened. There’s a new form of threat to the population now, terrorism. Since the world trade centre collapsed on September 11th 2000, the world was changed like it did when the first atomic bomb exploded. This time Islamic extremist group such as Al-Qaeda was the fear of many.
Most people in this world blame America for inventing the atomic bomb. If America didn’t have nuclear and atomic weapons in the first place then no other country would feel the need to have any either. Try for a worldwide disarmament at the same time. Not at one time but a fraction of total weapons at a time. Then we can see what America feels like having weapons inspector crawling over their country.
“The world is like a lifeboat. If we start punching holes in each other’s side of the boat, we’re all going to drown.”
Aninda Haryono
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Ninda Haryono 11c
English factual writing coursework
1st
