Protecting the Future
Yesterday marked the 78th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 — a pivotal event in world history. Those who lived in those days and all who followed, up to with today's younger generations, are today learning about the clash of the humanistic and scientific worlds – as they watch the new block-buster film “Oppenheimer.”
The first ever atomic bomb and the one that followed three days later at Nanasaki, undoubtedly resulted in bringing an end to World War II virtually immediately – on September 2. Some argue that as many as 30 million lives were spared in bringing WWII to a rapid end with Japan’s sudden surrender.
The future of human history was changed in an instant when death and destruction of innocent civilians were ushered in launching the Atomic Age. The development of the atomic bomb, has had major implications in international relations and arms controls ever since.
The bombings in Japan had a devastating humanitarian impact, killing an estimated 140,000 people in Hiroshima and another 60,000 with the bombing of Nagasaki. Many more were injured and the long-term effects of radiation exposure caused countless more deaths and health problems in subsequent years.
Heightened tensions launched the Cold War with the Soviet Union, a nation that tested its first nuclear bomb 4 years after the Hisoshima bombing, which led to the Arms Race and the 44 year-long Cold War with the USSR/Russia. Thankfully, wise leaders from various countries began negotiations to limit nuclear weapons via the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968 – to be overseen at the UN.
But of great concern, today’s nuclear weapons are 80 times more powerful than that very first bomb. And today there are nine nuclear states possessing a total of around 14,000 nuclear weapons. The better news, from which we must always seek comfort, is that through negotiations the total number of weapons has been reduced from a total of 70,000 in 1986 to today's estimated count of 14,000. Even more hopeful is the fact that there has never been a nuclear weapon detonated in war since Hiroshima/Nagasaki – 78 years ago. Of course the devastating destructive powers of nuclear weapons continues to be a major concern for all.
In Adam in Taoland, our hero fled from his native Novana centuries after a nuclear holocaust. In the disastrous aftermath of nuclear devastation checks and controls over artificial intelligence were recklessly abandoned, as the desolate humans who had survived nuclear annihilation had no choice but to accept AI assistance and ‘free things’ from humanoid robots, which ended human purpose.
In our sequel, Homeland Rescued, Adam and Taraiana explore the challenges of leading totally dependent Novanians in a bloodless revolution – begging the question: Can humans who become addicted to ‘free stuff’ provided by AI, choose liberty and the hard work and responsibilities that come with individual freedoms, and restore human dignity and purpose?” This is the very same question we humans on Planet Earth must address in the decades ahead just as we’ve held off destruction by nuclear annihilation, we must prevent a far more insidious destruction by AI.
“We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent . . .” and now . . . “the peoples of the world must unite or they will perish!”
J Robert Oppenheimer
