In Lieu of Flowers
Dear NAPF Community,
A couple of months ago, I received a Google alert in my inbox, letting me know that the Mercury News had published an article that mentioned the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Previously, I’d received such alerts when an article of mine had appeared online, or NAPF was mentioned in a news article covering developments at the UN or our events. The article was an obituary of Jean T. Barrick, whose name I didn’t recognize. Losing myself in her fascinating life story (she lived to be 98!), I had almost forgotten why I was reading the obituary. And then it came, “In lieu of flowers, she requested donations to the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.“
The simple inclusion of NAPF in some of Jean Barrick’s final wishes touched me deeply. It made me realize that there are so many people out there whom I may never meet, but who nevertheless appreciate the work that we do and make an effort to help us in our quest for a better world. There are many ways to help, including speaking about peace and disarmament with other people, contacting your elected representatives and letting them know that these issues matter to you, coming to our events, and supporting our work. If you have made a donation to us this year, we are deeply grateful. Thank you! If you have not, please consider lending us a hand so that we can start 2025, which will mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, on a strong footing.
As usual, please see below for recent updates, including articles in The Nation, The Hill, and Common Dreams, my November trip to the Vatican, and much more. Please also save the dates for our upcoming events on March 12 and 13: the 20th Frank K. Kelly Lecture on Humanity’s Future, which will be given by Annie Jacobsen, the author of Nuclear War: A Scenario, and the Choose Hope Symposium, which we are organizing with Soka Gakkai International to honor David Krieger and Daisaku Ikeda and chart a path forward for a world free of nuclear weapons. The events will take place at the Music Academy in Santa Barbara. For an overview of 2024, please also find below the links to the other five President’s Letters from earlier this year.
We wish you and yours peace and love during the holiday season. May 2025 bring peace and love to all who yearn for them.
Ivana N. Hughes
President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Latest
Jubilee 2025: Fraternal Economy Session at the Vatican
Dr. Ivana Hughes spoke at a meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, sharing insights on the human toll of nuclear weapons and lasting radiation impacts.
See HERE for photos, program, and event summary.
UN General Assembly Overwhelmingly Adopts Nuclear Justice Resolution
The UN General Assembly voted 174-4-6 in favor of a resolution on nuclear justice. Learn more about the resolution HERE.
Commemorating the Ikeda-Krieger Dialogue at Soka University
Dr. Ivana Hughes and Christian Ciobanu participated in an event at Soka University honoring Daisaku Ikeda and David Krieger’s legacies. The discussion focused on the relevance of their “Choose Hope” dialogue.
Click HERE for Dr. Hughes’s remarks, photos, and the event recording.
Publications
Dr. Hughes and Prof. Peter Kuznick celebrate Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Peace Prize, while highlighting the urgent need for nuclear disarmament to honor the message of the Hibakusha. Read HERE.
Dr. Hughes and Prof. Peter Kuznick discuss the dangers of nuclear deterrence and urge President-elect Trump to prioritize nuclear disarmament. Read HERE.
Dr. Hughes and Christian Ciobanu highlight the push for nuclear justice at the U.N., stressing the need for nuclear weapon states to take responsibility. Read HERE.
Upcoming
Save the date for our upcoming events!
20th Frank K. Kelly Lecture on Humanity’s Future by Annie Jacobsen
MAR 12, 2025
Annie Jacobsen will share insights on her book Nuclear War: A Scenario, followed by a panel of experts discussing current challenges and opportunities in nuclear disarmament.
Choose Hope Symposium
MAR 12-13, 2025
NAPF and Soka Gakkai International (SGI) will host the Choose Hope Symposium. The event will honor the legacies of the NAPF Co-Founder and President Emeritus, David Krieger, and the SGI Founder and President, Daisaku Ikeda, while also focusing on the future of nuclear abolition.
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