Ploughshares Stories

These are hard times for individuals and organizations seeking to reduce the risk of a nuclear confrontation.   The dangers of a nuclear conflict are increasing, but public awareness of the risks we face is at a low ebb. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday clock, an annual expert assessment of the risk of a…

In the early hours of July 16, 1945, the United States detonated the first atomic bomb—known as the Trinity test—in the Jornada del Muerto desert of New Mexico, marking the dawn of the nuclear age, altering the course of history, and unleashing radioactive fallout across unsuspecting communities. Hispanic and Indigenous residents of downwind towns, like…

In a historic and hard-fought victory for communities harmed by U.S. nuclear weapons testing, waste, and uranium exposure, Congress has passed the largest expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) since its original enactment in 1990. RECA provided compensation to individuals with serious illnesses resulting from radiation exposure from nuclear testing and uranium work.…

Nuclear disarmament is a topic not widely discussed among people my age. I am in my mid twenties, and I am typically met with surprise when I bring up nuclear-related issues with my peers. My particular story as a Tularosa Basin Downwinder is often new information to the average person I talk to in America. …

Growing up as an Iranian American, the fact that the United States could go to war against Iran always cast a shadow in the background of my life. We had close calls during the Bush era, most famously epitomized in 2007 by the late Senator John McCain chanting to the beat of a popular Beach…

In the second zine for the Atomic Alchemy series, Jasmine Owens explores the parallels between rage and hope in the pursuit of liberation from injustice. Atomic Alchemy Zine #2: “Let It Burn: On Anger, Hope, and The Eternal Flames of Liberation” Author Jasmine Owens Jasmine Owens is a nuclear weapons abolitionist, writer, educator, organizer, and…

In 2020, ICAN published its first report on global nuclear weapons spending, and we continue to publish this research annually. In our most recent report released Friday, June 13, ICAN estimated that the nine nuclear-armed states spent over $100 billion on their nuclear arsenals in 2024—a new record and an increase of nearly $10 billion…

Israel’s massive strike on Iran has set in motion a dangerous escalatory spiral. Coming at a moment when diplomatic efforts toward a new nuclear agreement between the US and Iran were gaining traction, the strike undermined fragile momentum and threatens to derail progress. The attacks risk further escalation and immense human suffering, including for US…

Today, June 10, 2025, marks one year since the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) expired. To raise awareness for this anniversary, we’ve gathered information from advocates and partners to share what RECA is, why it matters, and the impacts of RECA’s expiration.  What is RECA?  The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), established in 1990, provides…