There's More Than Duck and Cover

Nuclear bombs are demons of demolition and many countries around the world have followed the path of the United States in developing them. Only two have been dropped, but at this point in history the bombs have more detonation, so there is no chance of survival. Or is there? Are Bert the Turtle’s actions of duck and cover enough, or will we have to go further to protect ourselves from the deadly blast and the radiation that follows? A TED talk by Irwin Redlener, explains the status of nuclear bombs throughout history and today, and what can be done to survive one today.

This video makes you worried about the capabilities of an atomic bomb, but I am more worried that the wacko communists and terrorist might detonate a bomb that could end the human race. There have always been speculations of a World War III, but we can’t have it happen. Redlener says, “These weapons can destroy the Earth over and over again.” Even though our role in the Middle East has gotten old, we need to keep an eye on them so their blueprints don’t have the two words “nuclear” and “bomb” on them.  It is scary enough that our enemies have thousands of atomic bombs, but the fact that ANYONE with access to a computer can find directions to create an atomic bomb. Although a true American citizen hopefully wouldn’t build an atomic bomb and detonate it, there might be someone in another country that will.  Although the tension of nuclear war has decreased, there is still a slight worry in peoples’ minds of the possibility of a fatal nuclear war. As Redlener says, “We survived an apocalypse during the Cold War,” but I don’t think we can survive another one. The tension might not seem as great as it did during the fourteen days of October in the Sixties, but one blast is all it takes to set the world on fire.
Irwin Redlener had an effective style, it wasn’t as humorous as Sir Ken Robinson’s, but he kept it clean and stayed to the facts. Redlener used a PowerPoint to deliver his presentation because he probably wanted people to see and read the important information. The visual concepts were useful because more right-brained people tend to comprehend this type of information more effectively. He also showed “Duck and Cover” which was a video produced in the fifties, showing children how to protect themselves from a nuclear explosion. Since I watched the video in history class, I predicted that Redlener would have included it in his presentation because you just can’t have a topic about atomic bombs and not include it. “Duck and Cover” couldn’t elude a few laughs from the crowd because of how ridiculous it sounds when explaining how a student’s desk will protect them from a nuclear blast. To demonstrate the sizes and differences between the two bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Redlener used a cabbage and a pack of Coke. This was a very important because many people have only seen pictures of the bomb. He also showed a simulation and process of how New York could be attacked by a ten kiloton nuclear bomb (slightly smaller than the one dropped on Hiroshima). Someone could build a bomb using the internet or even a book, and rent a truck and easily drive it to the city. If they detonated the bomb it would destroy almost all of New York and the rest that wasn’t affected, could be at risk of radiation. This was important because we need to be aware of threat and power nuclear bombs pose.

Redlener describes how powerful these bombs are but there are ways to survive the blast. The temperature inside the center of the blast is tens of millions of degrees and people right near the bomb would be instantly vaporized. Also if a person looks at the blast when they are within a close distance they will be blinded temporarily or permanently. From one-half to eight miles from the blast there is a chance of dying. If you are far enough away from the bomb you only need to evacuate one mile away. The best way to survive is to evacuate to a shelter, it is suggested that you need to stay for 48-72 hours minimum or wait until you are called to exit. After reading Hiroshima, I have an idea of the pain and horror a nuclear bomb brings. I don’t want to go through the pain that the people of Japan did. I don’t think they would want anyone to go through the pain they did. Even if I survived a nuclear bomb the trauma behind it all would never leave me. My friends and family could have turned the wrong corner and I would never see them again. In a time during the Cold War when a detonation seemed likely, it was best that they told children to duck and cover because it made them feel safe, it took some of the thought of nuclear bombs off their minds. Today I think it is best that adults and teenager know the truth about bombs and the ways we can protect ourselves. Children should be isolated from the horrifying descriptions, but educated through games or activities how to protect themselves. Then, once they are old enough to deal with the scare, they should be told the truth. In today’s world, nuclear bombs are a threat; even in 1985 there were 65,000 nuclear warheads. That might not seem like a lot, but when that’s compared to the number of nuclear bombs dropped, it is astronomical. Today the number of bombs is 70,000, but it could only take one to end the world. The biggest fears are North Korea and the terrorists, since the terrorist’s have attacked our country, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they did it at another time with an even bigger impact. North Korea has threatened us with a nuclear bomb, even though they are significantly smaller, they are very dogmatic and they might be serious. In case war does break out, always remember…duck and cover!