President’s Letter – 250 Years and Counting
Dear NAPF Community,
The fast approaching 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence is an opportunity for reflection for all of us who live in these United States on what the country and its history mean to us, and where we find ourselves in this great experiment. I’m recalling my nearly two-day long trip at age 17, almost 32 years ago, to begin my senior year in high school as a foreign exchange student. That wide-eyed girl, hailing all the way from former Yugoslavia, could not have imagined the opportunities that would arise for her over the coming decades: from studying science at Caltech and Stanford, to building a family with my husband Emlyn, to my work at Columbia and NAPF that has given me a chance to learn and contribute in ways that are deeply meaningful to me.
Part of the reason I came here was because I wanted to study at some of the world’s best universities. But I also came because the United States to me, and so many around the world at that time, was a symbol of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. How much of that view was due to a warped understanding of history, and how much of that view has been stained since my own arrival, are both a matter of perspective and continued inquiry for us all. What I will say is that with warts and all, I love this country dearly, and I only wish that we could find a way to live up to those very ideals that brought me here in the first place. Not to mention that living up to them might just be a critical piece in ensuring that in 2276, new generations will not just be around, but will also find reasons for reflection and celebration.
I hope that as usual, you will be able to peruse some of the materials we’re sharing. Please also save the dates for our 32nd Sadako Peace Day on August 6 at La Casa de Maria and our Third Women Waging Peace Luncheon (honoring Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor and Publisher of The Nation, and Author Annie Jacobsen) on September 30 at the Canary Hotel Rooftop in Santa Barbara. See below for more details.
Happy 4th of July!
With love and gratitude,
Ivana N. Hughes
President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Highlights
🔔 Booklet of the Kelly Lecture by Prof. Richard Falk
Professor Richard Falk delivered the 21st Frank K. Kelly Lecture on April 7, 2026, entitled Crimes Against Peace & War Crimes in the Nuclear Age: Toward What Future? The lecture, including remarks from Dr. Ivana Nikolić Hughes, Dr. Mara Sweeney, and Cynthia Lazaroff is now available to read and download! See HERE.
Interviews
Dr. Ivana Nikolić Hughes joins Radhika Desai on the Geopolitical Economy Hour
Why have nuclear weapons all but disappeared from public discourse in the West? In this informative discussion, Dr. Hughes and Prof. Desai dig into the NPT’s challenges and the deeper ties between capitalism, imperialism, and the history of nuclear weapons.
See HERE for the full video.
The DEAD END of US Militarism. The World is Waking up | Prof. Richard Falk on Neutrality Studies
Richard Falk, NAPF’s Senior Vice President, talks with Pascal Lottaz on Neutrality Studies about the state of international law in 2026, US militarism, and whether law can still restrain great powers in an unstable world.
Watch the full interview HERE.
Upcoming Events
AUG 6, 2026 | Santa Barbara
Save the date! The 32nd Annual Sadako Peace Day will be held on August 6, 2026 at La Casa de Maria in Montecito, CA, honoring the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This year’s event is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Jimmy Hara (1945-2026).
For more details, visit HERE.
SEP 30, 2026 | Santa Barbara
Save the date! Celebrating our 2026 Women Waging Peace Award honorees, Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor and Publisher of The Nation, and Annie Jacobsen, bestselling author of Nuclear War: A Scenario, two extraordinary women who have lent their efforts to peace, justice, and a nuclear weapons-free world.
To reserve your tickets and explore sponsorship opportunities, visit HERE.
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