INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS

The International Day Against Nuclear Tests on August 29th raises awareness and educates about the harmful effects of nuclear testing.

Nuclear weapons testing began in 1945. Since that time, nearly 2,000 nuclear tests have taken place. When nuclear testing first began, scientist knew very little about its harmful effects. Through the years, increasing concern and evidence points to the devastating impact of nuclear testing.

Over the years, there have been calls to ban nuclear test to ensure the protection of people’s lives and the environment around them. The UN approved a draft resolution in late 2009 for an international day against nuclear tests to raise public awareness about the threats and dangers of nuclear weapons.  It was also hoped that UN’s member states would move towards the idea of nuclear disarmament.

It wasn’t until 1992 that the last U.S. nuclear weapons test took place. In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. A total of 183 countries signed the treaty. However, the United States has not yet ratified the convention. As of the 21st century, the only country believed to conduct nuclear testing is North Korea.

The International Day against Nuclear Tests was declared to be annually held on August 29, which marks the closing of one of the world’s largest nuclear test sites (in Kazakhstan) in 1991. The day is devoted to enhancing public awareness and education about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions. It also promotes the need for a nuclear weapon-free world. The day’s first official observance was marked for August 29, 2010.