Towards a new way of thinking

UNESCO Courier, August, 1986 by Gennadi Gerasimov

This choice between the dictates of reason and the road to catastrophe can only be made by mutual agreement between all States, whatever their social system or level of economic development. It will have to be bold and responsible. Today we can no longer be content with piecemeal solutions which slow down the arms race in certain spheres only to accelerate it in others.

It is time to remove for ever the sword of Damocles which has been hanging over our heads since the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It would be appropriate for the Soviet Union and the United States, holders of the largest nuclear stockpiles, to make a first decisive step and for other nuclear powers to follow them.

To encourage world opinion "to think in a new way", is one of the main tasks of the International Year of Peace. If United Nations Member States, together with massed public opinion, energetically support this effort, it may help to prevent" cliocide".