The NFB’s 7th Academy-Award winning film. This short film is comprised of a lecture given to students by outspoken nuclear critic Dr. Helen Caldicott, president of Physicians for Social Responsibility in the USA. Her message is clear: disarmament cannot be postponed. Archival footage of the bombing of Hiroshima and images of its survivors seven months after the attack heighten the urgency of her message.
Ages 11 to 17
Study Guide - Guide 1
Civics/Citizenship - Citizen Responsibilities
Civics/Citizenship - Ideologies
History - World War II
Science - Environmental Science
Social Studies - Canada in the World Today
Social Studies - Contemporary Issues
A fact-filled introduction to a class discussion on the horrors of nuclear war and the arms race. Comment on the speaker’s use of frightening statistics. Debate whether her fears for the future are justified. It has been almost 30 years since she gave this speech. Have her predictions come to pass? Suggest as many reasons as you can. A group discussion could include suggestions as to how individuals can put pressure on politicians to ensure her predictions are never realized.