Jon Letman

Join me this Thursday for a virtual panel on the state of play on US scientific research, along with Obama Administration Science Advisor John Holdren and @thebulletin.org President and CEO Alex Bell.

Kazakh Activists Shine a Light on Nuclear Fallout As the world marks the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Kazakhstan’s youth and civil society lead the fight for justice and awareness.

As the world marks the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Kazakhstan’s youth and civil society lead the fight for justice and awareness.

inkstickmedia.com/kazakh-activ...

Listening to heads of state from Slovakia, Senegal, Kiribati, Comoros, Namibia, and elsewhere address #UNGA makes it all the more clear what a shameful outlier (and liar) the president of the #USA is. #UNGA80

Banking on Pollen When seed saving doesn’t work, pollen may be the answer to preserving botanical heritage.

Banking on Pollen

When seed saving doesn’t work, pollen may be the answer to preserving botanical heritage.

by @toughcitywriter.bsky.social

www.biographic.com/banking-on-p...

A graphic of three color photographs, the largest of which is dated September 6, 1979, and shows a soldier pouring the final section of concrete atop the Runit Dome, as many other soldiers, all wearing basic face masks, look on. A smaller one shows that the final section has been inscribed with the date. The caption reads, “The final section of concrete is poured atop a concrete dome on Runit Island at Enewetak Atoll to entomb plutonium and radioactive material and soil resulting from 43 atmospheric weapons tests conducted at the atoll between 1948 and 1958." Image courtesy of Steve Strom, USAF (retired).

A large color photograph showing the completed Runit Dome, behind which is the open crater filled with blue-green seawater created by the 40-kiloton LACROSSE test on May 4, 1956. The caption reads, “Concrete covered Runit Dome (aka Cactus dome or Atomic Dome) on Runit Island. Enewetak Atoll contains 2.48 million cubic feet of radiologically contaminated material and soil along with plutonium from the 43 nuclear weapons tests conducted at Einwetak Atoll between 1948 and 1958. The crater created by the detonation of the 18 kiloton CACTUS device on May 5, 1958 (inset) was filled with contaminated material and covered with 18-inch thick concrete panels between 1977 and 1979 involving over 4,000 military personnel. The crater behind the dome was created by the 40-kiloton LACROSSE detonation on May 4, 1956.”

A color graphic prepared by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory showing an “exploded” view of the structure of the Runit Dome, from the crater at the bottom, to the concrete wall constructed around its rim, to the contaminated soil mixed with cement and larger debris filling the interior, to the concrete panel cap on top.

Today in 1979, the massive concrete dome on Runit Island at Enewetak Atoll was completed, entombing 4,700 cubic meters of radioactive debris and more than 83,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil scraped off neighboring islands—the dangerous residue of 43 US nuclear tests from 1948-58.

Marshall Islands picks up the pieces after fire destroys its ‘heart of democracy’ The slow process to rebuild parliament, the Nitijela, begins as the Pacific nation confronts the loss of a vital cultural landmark

Marshall Islands picks up the pieces after fire destroys its ‘heart of democracy’

Opinion | The Most Environmentally Imaginative Country on Earth Is Under Assault

The Most Environmentally Imaginative Country on Earth Is Under Assault www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/o... #Ecuador #biodiversity

Korea’s Nuclear Landscape: Past and Present Some in South Korea are considering the development of nuclear weapons, but Koreans have already experienced the horrors of nuclear war.

The atomic bombings of #Hiroshima and #Nagasaki killed and injured tens of thousands of Koreans who continue to fight for justice, recognition and an apology. thediplomat.com/2025/06/kore...

Opinion | She Was 19 When the Atomic Bomb Dropped (Published 2023)

She Was 19 When the Atomic Bomb Dropped

Akiko Takakura survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This is her story, in her words. www.nytimes.com/2023/04/04/o...

VIDEO: Poetry helps Omanis preserve an ancient language.

Against the backdrop of southern Oman's lush mountains, men in traditional attire chant poems in an ancient language used by just 2% of the population. The majority of Omanis speak Arabic, but in region of Dhofar, people speak Jibbali

I see lots of op-eds, articles, etc. explaining why nuclear weapons are so horrific and the threat so grave. I do not see nuclear weapons proponents telling us why these weapons are so important that we must invest trillions of $$ and put all life at risk. Why so silent nuclear weapons supporters?

Threat of Nuclear War Is Rising, But Scientists Say the Public Can Change That Scientists and others are calling on civil society to heed growing nuclear dangers and revive the anti-nuclear movement.

Even a “small” nuclear weapon could precipitate the use of a gigaton’s worth of nuclear arsenal being used, causing the collapse of civilization. “The public needs to be focused on asking our respective governments to lower the risk of nuclear war.”

On the 80th Anniversary of the World's First Atomic Attack, Hiroshima’s Youngest Survivors Call for Disarmament On the 80th Anniversary of the World's First Atomic Attack, Hiroshima’s Youngest Survivors Call for Disarmament

Speaking at the UN, Hamasumi Jiro invokes the humanitarian cost of nuclear weapons — and the fading voices of survivors — as global powers continue to ignore the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

inkstickmedia.com/on-the-80th-...

@nukestrat.bsky.social breaking down the unimaginable destructive power of today’s nuclear arsenals at the 3rd meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the UN 🇺🇳 last March. #bantreaty

We’ve seen the horror of #Hiroshima and #Nagasaki yet we allow ourselves to be held hostage by nine nuclear armed nations who have the equivalent of 146,605 Hiroshima-sized bombs (nearly 90% belong to 🇺🇸& 🇷🇺). Learn more at @banmonitor.bsky.social and @scientistsorg.bsky.social

The world urgently needs both Russia and the United States to take concrete steps to prevent a war of words from spiraling into actual conflict between two nuclear-armed countries. The stakes could not be higher.

www.nti.org/news/stateme...

Trump orders nuclear submarines moved near Russia U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in regions near Russia in response to threats from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Trump’s announcement that he has ordered “two nuclear submarines” into position in response to Medvedev’s equally stupid statement is deeply irresponsible and reckless. It is unnecessary, escalates the situation, and shows Trump is unfit to be president. www.reuters.com/world/trump-...

Intentionally (or unintentionally) starving people or actually targeting people trying to feed their families is one of the cruelest and most sadistic things I can think of. Yes, I am talking about you Netanyahu and enablers. This policy is bad for #Israel, much worse for #Palestine.

#Hawaii #TsunamiWarning 29 July, 2025

Nobel laureates and nuclear experts gather at University of Chicago on Trinity anniversary, press world leaders for action on nuclear dangers A first-hand report from the site of the Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War.

A first-hand report from the site of the Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War, from Bulletin editor-in-chief @meckdevil.bsky.social.

'Heed our warnings': Nobel laureates plea for diplomacy to prevent nuclear war Top nuclear experts gathered in Chicago to offer world leaders a playbook for reducing the risk of nuclear war.

The risk of nuclear war is increasing. #Nuclearweapons spending is rising and arsenals are being modernized and expanded. But this group of experts and Nobel laureates has a plan to reduce risks (and there is a role for the public): www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

“Civil society” means all of us. You, me, your family and friends. We need to turn up the pressure on policy makers.

“…we call on scientists, academics, civil society, and communities of faith to help create the necessary pressure on global leaders to implement nuclear risk reduction measures.”

This is a person who shouldn’t be trusted with a water pistol or a slingshot. The fact that he has the ability to launch a nuclear attack at any time for any reason is terrifying beyond words.

It Isn't Easy Keeping Up With the Dalai Lama - Honolulu Civil Beat

On the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday week, I am resharing this article I wrote in 2012 when he visited #Hawaii. This piece looks at what it's like to be an interpreter for the #DalaiLama. Interesting, his 2012 comments on succession are proving just as he said. www.civilbeat.org/2013/10/2015...

Trump announces 25% tariffs on goods from Japan and South Korea beginning Aug. 1 Trump has been talking for a while about ending trade negotiations and sending out letters informing countries about their tariff rates.

President Trump placed a 25% tax on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, citing persistent trade imbalances with the two crucial U.S. allies in Asia. Trump provided notice of the tariffs by posting letters on Truth Social that were addressed to the leaders of both countries.

A reminder to all you smaht buggas in #Hawaii who think its a good idea to go crazy with illegal (or even legal) fireworks: you probably don't want to end up heavily sedated in a burn unit or the city morgue. Give us all a break this year youtu.be/JWF1DMtliF0?... #Happy4thofJuly

Opinion | What’s making some countries daydream about nukes again? With or without Iran, the number of nuclear states could double, raising the risk of catastrophe.

🚨Our @scientistsorg.bsky.social team's latest piece is out in our Next Nuclear Age series with @postopinions.bsky.social:🚨

@jonatomic.bsky.social, @nukestrat.bsky.social, and @mattkorda.bsky.social discuss the uncertain and worrisome future of nuclear proliferation in this phenomenal piece:

Bill Moyers, eminence of public affairs broadcasting, dies at 91 He was White House press secretary under Lyndon B. Johnson and Newsday publisher before becoming an acclaimed television journalist, mostly for PBS.

A huge loss, but an even bigger legacy. #journalism legend: www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...

As #SouthKorea debates developing its own nuclear weapon, there's a group of #Koreans who know the horrors of nuclear war firsthand. For South Korea's 원폭치해자 (atomic bomb victims) nuclear weapons represent a painful history. My latest for @thediplomat.com thediplomat.com/2025/06/kore... #Korea

Projected Costs of U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2025 to 2034 NotesNotes All years referred to are federal fiscal years, which run from October 1 to September 30 and are designated by the calendar year in which they end. All costs are in nominal dollars (in othe...

If carried out, DoD’s and DOE’s plans to operate, sustain, and modernize current US nuclear forces and purchase new forces would cost a total of $946 billion over the 2025–2034 period, or an average of about $95 billion a year. SOURCE: CBO www.cbo.gov/publication/...