Please join us in welcoming Dr. Hirokazu Miyazaki and Jeremy Love of Back From the Brink for a discussion of grassroots organizing around town/city council resolutions and reimaging their impact on a nuclear-free world.

Many city and town leaders around the world--mayors, city council members, and local residents--are currently deeply engaged in addressing global challenges such as climate change, migration, and pandemics. What role can they play in addressing the escalating threats and dangers posed by nuclear weapons? The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in close collaboration with hibakusha and local peace activists, have led a vigorous global campaign for nuclear disarmament since the 1980s. Likewise, numerous U.S. city councils, in coordination with local activists and nuclear frontline communities, have adopted various resolutions and ordinances related to nuclear weapons. This brief presentation, based on Dr. Miyazaki's ongoing research project on the role of cities in the politics of nuclear weapons, offers some preliminary observations on the impact of these actions by local government leaders and those they represent.

Hirokazu Miyazaki is the Kay Davis Professor of Anthropology at Northwestern University. He also serves as Professor at Hiroshima University and a Nagasaki Peace Correspondent. Miyazaki’s research has long been driven by a very simple question: how do we keep hope alive? He has studied land issues in Fiji, Tokyo financial markets, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki's global efforts for the elimination of nuclear weapons. His current research focuses on civic activism surrounding the uses of nuclear power. Miyazaki is the author or editor of several books.

Jeremy Love serves as the national field organizer for Back from the Brink and represents coalition partner NH Peace Action on the Back from the Brink Steering Committee. He is a distinguished graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Political Science and Antioch University - New England with an MS in Environmental Studies. In 2019, Jeremy spearheaded the Union of Concerned Scientists’ 2020 NH Presidential primary birddog project, resulting in 51 videos featuring responses from nearly every major Presidential candidate on nuclear weapons policy (accessible on YouTube). Currently, Jeremy is dedicated to the development and expansion of the Back from the Brink Hub network, and increasing the efficacy of BftB's organizing efforts.

Cohosted by Back From the Brink

About NHPA’s bi-weekly Zoom Peace & Justice Conversation Series: 2020’s upheavals brought us to a new moment of reckoning and possibility. How do we want to live in the world? What do we value? How can we make the changes we’ve been yearning for? NH Peace Action has been engaged in working for change for decades. We’d like to bring you into these conversations about issues and options for the future.  There is no charge to attend, but your contributions in any amount are greatly appreciated.