Dear Friend,

ICAN’s research and expertise on dealing with the problem of nuclear weapons is making headlines across the globe.  Last week we saw two great examples of our work reach top-tier media, and I wanted to share the pieces - and the story behind them. 

First, you may have seen ICAN make global headlines with our new numbers on global nuclear weapons spending. Since publishing the report last week, over 1400 pieces (and counting) have covered our findings, including major media in nearly all of the nuclear-armed states which is a crucial way to build up public pressure against these weapons. One piece that stands out is this Deutsche Welle interview with our Programme Coordinator and report co-author Susi Snyder.

In 5 minutes, this interview highlights not only the absurdity of this expensive new arms race, but also what it is costing the world to see these funds allocated to weapons of mass destruction instead of solutions to the many crises we face.  In the UK, The Guardian carried this messaging prominently. While in France, the influential conservative daily Le Figaro also asked what opportunities were missed by spending public resources like this. 

The second piece I wanted to share is a powerful interactive longread published in the New York Times Opinion section last week. This visually engaging piece focused on activism and the quest for justice among communities of nuclear testing survivors.

This piece was made possible by the testimonies of Adiya Akhmer, Aigerim Seitenova, Aigerim Yelgeldy,  Benetick Kabua Maddison, Ereti Tekabaia,  Hinamoeura Morgant-Cross, Kairo Langrus, Karina Lester, Matthew John, Mere Tuilau, Raygon Jacklick and Tamatoa Tepuhiarii. The interviews were filmed when the survivors gathered in New York last year for the second meeting of States Parties of the TPNW and the Nuclear Survivor's Forum convened by ICAN. The piece is a reflection of their efforts to share their experiences and demands with the governments meeting at the UN, with each other, and with the wider world. We can only express our gratitude to all those who were willing to share their personal stories, so that this topic could reach such an influential outlet, and invite you to read it and share it widely.  

So why does this matter?  For years, much of the mainstream media accepted unquestioningly that the deterrence doctrine has prevented nuclear catastrophe, and framed nuclear weapons in the abstract, as a geopolitical game between states, rather than as bombs governments choose to invest in, so they may inflict massive, indiscriminate harm.  For years ICAN and the wider disarmament community have been providing journalists the facts, resources and the connections to new stories to do so, and these pieces show a slow but meaningful shift in the way the media talks about nuclear weapons. 

Journalists and media outlets can make critical information available to people in states that spend money on nuclear weapons or have communities affected by testing, and empower them to speak out. The tide is slowly shifting, but there is much work still to be done. Will you help us make that happen? 

With the new numbers on nuclear weapons spending, citizens can challenge existing arsenals and elected officials at all levels can push for a redirection of resources to deal with other urgent needs. Like Irish President Michael D Higgins, who issued a bold statement in response to our nuclear weapons spending report, reminding the world of his country’s responsible leadership on nuclear issues, including joining the ban treaty, and calling on all countries to join without delay.  

We hope to see (and help make) many more news stories like this in the future. 

Thank you,

Alistair Burnett
Head of Media
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)