Joshua T Craig

Nuclear weapons are some of the most dangerous things humanity has ever come up with. Their very existence is a danger to national and global security, and they are capable of devastating entire cities in the blink of an eye. Although there is an argument that nuclear weapons can deter a war, there are far too many risks involved for any potential benefit.

Unimaginable Human Cost
Clearly, the biggest problem with nuclear weapons is simply the amount of human misery they inflict. The attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 were responsible for the deaths of more than 200,000 people, most of whom were civilians. Death left others scarred with every ailment under the sun (radiation sickness, cancer) and future generations dumbed down by genetic mutations. Today, however, nuclear weapons are many times more potent than the old Hiroshima-style bombs; a single strike would kill millions.

Environmental Devastation
At a commonsense level, we all know that nuclear explosions are bad for the environment in the long term. With temperatures hotter than the sun, nuclear blasts incinerate everything within their ring of fire and with radioactive fallout contaminate air water and soil for hundreds of years. A full-on nuclear war could result in nuclear winter—a scenario in which enormous amounts of soot and ash are hurled into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and disrupting agriculture worldwide. As such the threat of nuclear weapons is not confined to just a few targets, but extends to entire world.

Risk of Accidents and Misuse
Aside from the intentional supposition of violence, nuclear weapons can create dangers through mistakes, misperceptions, or mechanical breakdowns. Throughout history there have been many instances when human error or malfunctioning radar very nearly led to a nuclear launch. So long as any of these weapons remain, the possibility of an accidental catastrophe exists.

Escalation of Conflict
Nuclear weapons do not deter war and can actually increase the likelihood of conflict. Countries with nuclear devices have a tendency of dangerous brinkmanship and use it as the ultimate display of power. This leads to higher chances of miscalculation; a small scale conflict can become a significant one having nuclear implications.

Moral and Ethical Concerns
Shoring up nuclear weapons use is irreconcilable with humanitarian principles. They make no distinction between soldier and civilian, and their repercussions are termed felt not just on the field of battle. According to more sources and some even going as far as suggesting international law, their possession is a serious moral issue.

Conclusion
Nuclear weapons are not just instruments of war, they are instruments of mass destruction, which means their consequences may well be the end of human civilization. The dangers they present to life, the environment and global adult break down amply that, anyway in a deviation few safety valves. It is essential for the world to strive towards diminishing and ridding earth of these weapons in order to ensure our future.