This month, the world collectively commemorated the anniversaries of the atomic blasts that caused unimaginable destruction to the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The recent release of the film Oppenheimer highlights how the creation and use of nuclear weapons have left an undeniable mark on history.
FCNL stands in unity with the scientists, healthcare professionals, and interfaith leaders who continue to emphasize the urgent need for nuclear disarmament.
Months after the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, Robert Oppenheimer told then-President Truman, “Mr. President, I feel I have blood on my hands.” Unfortunately, Oppenheimer could not persuade President Truman to avoid a nuclear arms race, and the world continues to face the existential risk of nuclear war.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation stands in unity with the scientists, healthcare professionals, and interfaith leaders who continue to emphasize the urgent need for nuclear disarmament.
As we reflect on these tragedies, we cannot help but draw parallels with another overlooked chapter of our nuclear history—the harm caused to numerous Americans by domestic nuclear testing and uranium mining.
In the shadow of the detonations in Japan, a tragic episode unfolded on American soil. The “downwinders”—communities living near nuclear test sites—were involuntarily exposed to dangerous radiation levels. For many, the fallout led to radiation-induced illnesses, cancer, and lifelong health complications.
In 1990, Congress established the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to address these grievous harms. The program provided lifesaving healthcare and financial compensation to affected communities. While RECA was a commendable first step, it was not comprehensive. Many affected communities have been unfairly sidelined from the compensation process. These “downwinders” have been waiting, in some cases for decades, for their pain and suffering to be acknowledged and addressed.
Repairing the damage of the past is a positive step in our collective journey toward a more peaceful and nuclear-free future.
Today, we have a unique opportunity to right these wrongs. The Senate recently adopted an amendment to the annual military policy bill, which seeks to expand RECA. If passed into law, the amendment would extend RECA for an additional 19 years and allow previously excluded communities to access the compensation they rightly deserve.
Our Quaker teachings emphasize peace, justice, and healing. As the world reflects on the impacts of nuclear weapons, Congress has a profound opportunity to manifest these teachings. Repairing the damage of the past is a positive step in our collective journey toward a more peaceful and nuclear-free future.
