Jon Letman

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/...

……😕 ‘stellar statesmanship.’

Tell me again, who is the greatest bully and threat to peace in the world?

🧵 80 years since nuclear weapons were invented and first used, in #NewMexico, #Hiroshima, #Nagasaki, and tested in places like the #MarshallIslands, #Kazakhstan, and #Algeria. Watch this powerful cross-generational message and don’t stop there.

📹Find the full film: youtu.be/8cxVXh9gr4E?...

Really smart, worthwhile conversation. #Iran #Israel

From the westernmost protest point in the 🇺🇸, Puhi, Kauai #NoKings #NOTRUMP 🌺🌈🌴 #NoWars

Report: Global Nuclear Weapons Spending Surpassed $100 Billion Last Year That’s enough money to feed 345 million people facing hunger and starvation for two years.

Writing for @truthout.org, I take a closer look at the rise in nuclear weapons spending (over $100 billion last year) as detailed in a newly published @nuclearban.bsky.social report. With context and input from experts at @nti.org and @nukesofhazard.bsky.social truthout.org/articles/rep...

Just got this on my phone. Is this another all of #Hawaii thing? Brings back unpleasant memories of 2018.

Okinawa was the bloodiest battle of the Pacific war. 80 years on, are the dead being betrayed? A quarter of Okinawan civilians died during the US invasion, some after being told to kill themselves. But today the legacy of the war dead is being complicated by the presence of tens of thousands of...

Guardian photographer David Levene and I travelled to Okinawa a couple of months ago to make this video/text/photography package to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa. A real team effort that would not have been possible without colleagues in Okinawa, London and Sydney.

No Time for Nuclear War Doomsday "Scenario" illustrates the speed of events in a nuclear attack.

Underappreciated is just how fast a nuclear war would likely spin out of control and how quickly our world would unravel. I spoke with author Annie Jacobsen about her powerful book Nuclear War: A Scenario for @inkstickmedia.com inkstickmedia.com/no-time-for-...

Today we are closer to the end of trump’s presidency than yesterday. Tomorrow we’ll be even closer. Every minute of every day the end of his term draws nearer.