In a powerful display of unity and purpose, several renowned figures from the arts and entertainment world — including Joan Baez, Graham Nash, Sean Ono Lennon, and Others Sign Open Letter Addressing Escalating Nuclear Threat — have come together to raise awareness about the urgent and growing risk of nuclear warfare.
Published on Wednesday (Aug. 6) in The New York Times and Variety, the open letter is titled “No More Hiroshimas, No More Nagasakis: Cultural Leaders for a Future Without Nuclear Weapons.” It serves as a stark warning and passionate plea from creatives who recognize the responsibility they carry as storytellers and public voices.
“Eighty years ago, atomic bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killed hundreds of thousands of people, and changed the course of history. … Today, experts believe the risk that a nuclear weapon will be used again—by accident or on purpose—is as high as it has ever been,” the letter reads. “Conflicts are raging in regions with nuclear weapons—even over nuclear weapons.”
The statement also points out that the last remaining treaty capping global nuclear arsenals is set to expire within six months. Coupled with the rise of artificial intelligence and emerging tech, the risks of miscalculation or error are more unpredictable than ever. The signatories stress that the world is sliding into a costly and perilous arms race, one that operates on the misguided belief that mutual destruction equates to safety.
“But the ending isn’t written yet,” the letter continues, “and the creative community has a leading role to play in pulling us back from the nuclear brink.”
Signers have pledged to use their voices, influence, platforms, and storytelling abilities to spotlight the dangers of nuclear weapons and inspire public imagination toward a safer, weapon-free future.
In addition to Joan Baez, Graham Nash, Sean Ono Lennon, and others, the letter was signed by high-profile figures such as Allison Russell, Auli’i Cravalho, and Josh Gad. The broader list includes actors, directors, and activists like Rosanna Arquette, James Cameron, Michael Douglas, Julianne Moore, Emma Thompson, George Takei, and Lily Tomlin.
Many signers have long-standing histories with nuclear disarmament efforts. Graham Nash, for example, was instrumental in organizing No Nukes: The MUSE Concerts for a Non-Nuclear Future in 1979. That same year, Michael Douglas starred in and co-produced The China Syndrome, a dramatic thriller that explored the dangers of nuclear power.
The letter also received support from key global figures, including the governors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Former U.S. Secretary of Energy and Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) CEO Ernest J. Moniz echoed the urgency, stating:
“The possibility that a nuclear weapon will be used again—by accident or on purpose—is rising. We can barrel toward catastrophe, or we can come together behind a different path that eliminates the nuclear threat.”
This rallying cry from some of the world’s most respected cultural voices serves as a reminder: while the nuclear threat is real and growing, collective action and awareness can still change the future.
