This week marks 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, two catastrophic events that caused irreversible human and environmental devastation.
To honor the victims, survivors, and legacy of this anniversary, the Nobel Peace Center hosted its annual Nobel Peace Conference in Oslo on August 6. Held under the title “A Message to Humanity”, the event brought together Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including the 2024 laureate Nihon Hidankyo, international experts, decision-makers, grassroots activists, and civil society leaders.
On this occasion, Emma Pike, Programme Manager at Lex International, our hosted fund, was invited to speak in the “Solutions” session, where she addressed the urgent need to renew the way we talk about nuclear weapons, particularly through platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which have become primary sources of information for younger generations and are increasingly influential across all age groups.
In her presentation, Emma emphasized that nuclear disarmament is not solely a technical or political issue, it is fundamentally a human one. She highlighted how the complexity of the language often used in disarmament conversations can create barriers to understanding and engagement. Instead, she called for messaging that is accessible, emotionally resonant, and inclusive.
“Words shape our beliefs,” she said, and beliefs shape what people can imagine, resist, what they can accept, and what they can act on.
You can watch the full conference recording here and join the conversation on how we can build a future free from the threat of nuclear weapons.
Photo: Johannes Granseth / Nobel Peace Center
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