Italian version
“Man invented the atomic bomb, but no mouse in the world would build a mousetrap.” It is not certain that Albert Einstein actually said this, but his writings and positions on the use of nuclear energy for warfare give substance to the hypothesis that he may indeed have said it. It should also be noted that the entire existing atomic arsenal (approximately 12,000 warheads, mostly held by the US and Russia) is already sufficient to cause catastrophic and potentially extinction-level consequences. To continue with the mouse metaphor, not only have we invented and built a few traps, but we have produced so many that we are endangering not only the existence of ‘us mice’, but even life on the planet.

As written in the article Albert Einstein and the sacredness of life, Einstein devoted the last years of his life to fighting with all his might against the nascent spread of nuclear arsenals. In 1955, shortly before his death, he promoted the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, a declaration co-signed by other scientists of the highest caliber (including Nobel Prize winners Linus Pauling and Max Born). The manifesto was a call to scientists around the world to join forces to eliminate nuclear weapons.

A few days have passed since the 80th anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On August 5, 2025, 78 religious organizations signed and released the “Joint Interfaith Statement on the 80th Anniversary of the First Use of Nuclear Weapons.” It is a heartfelt appeal against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, available on various websites (for example, the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai and the Diocese of Treviso). I would like to share some passages from the appeal that I find particularly significant:
The difficulties are enormous, but now is the time to declare that another path is possible; a path based on solidarity, respect for human dignity, and hope. The 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings is a crucial opportunity to reconsider our priorities. For example, redirecting the approximately $100 billion spent on nuclear weapons in 2024 toward health, education, human rights, and ecological well-being could make a huge difference in achieving the goals of the UN 2030 Agenda and responding to the crises of our time.
… the explosion of an atomic bomb means the end of life as we know it. the entire nuclear weapons chain—extraction, testing, transportation, production, use, storage, and waste disposal—inflicts serious damage on people, land, water, air, and ecosystems for generations to come, particularly affecting indigenous and marginalized communities who are on the front lines of its consequences.
… Our ethics and spirituality compel us to unite for the abolition of nuclear weapons, to pay attention to the historical and current damage caused by nuclear disasters, and to devote our sincere prayers and efforts so that all countries, communities, and all living beings may live in safety, good health, and peace. … Such efforts include the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which has now been ratified by 73 States Parties and is inspiring grassroots movements and a growing number of nations and hundreds of municipalities around the world to take a stand. From large capitals such as Athens to small communities, this local support shows that meaningful change does not depend solely on nation states, but on the conscience and courage of people everywhere, and on the ability of civil society and elected representatives to influence global politics.

In this period, the winds of war are blowing fiercely, and nuclear weapons are presented to us as a guarantee of our security. At the same time, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons exists, and awareness of the absurdity of nuclear horror is spreading more and more.
Abandoning nuclear weapons will be an evolutionary necessity if we do not want to end up like a rat.

You can send your comment to info@esperienzedivalore.it, I will be happy to respond.