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The participants at the international seminar ”Against the Bomb: for Peace, Health and Development”  expressed deep concern at the ongoing violence around the globe. Even ‘low intensity conflicts’ involving nuclear weapons powers as in South Asia and Northeast Asia can pose a threat of escalation which could lead to the actual use of nuclear weapons. The seminar was organized by Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) and Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP), India on 14-15 March 2020 at India International Centre, New Delhi.  The seminar was attended by 65 participants from 13 states, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Telengana, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and J & K.  The Co President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), Dr Tilman Ruff sent a very effective video message for the seminar. Former President of IPPNW, Dr.Vappu Taipale and Ilka Taipale also sent their video messages.

The subjects discussed at the seminar included Abolition of Nuclear Weapons – the Way Forward, Building Peace Movement in the subcontinent, Arms Race in South Asia – Imminent Dangers and the Way Ahead, Militarization, Nuclearization and Climate Change – A Threat to Future Generations, Organised Violence - Challenge for Health (in reference to violence in Delhi), Climate Protection - Renewable vs Nuclear energy and the Health Scenario in India.

Prominent speakers include Dr Arun Mitra – Co President IPPNW, Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman – General Secretary IDPD, Maj Gen. (Retd.) Vinod Saighal, Achin Vanaik  - CNDP, Anil Chaudhary - CNDP, Dr Dinesh Varshney, Dr Satyajit Kumar Singh, Dr Ajay Mishra, Dr Dori Lall, Dr Sonali, Dr Vaishali Patil, Dr Nara Singh, Dr Manglem Singh, Dr Yudhisthir Dass, Dr Asis Debbarma, Dr J.K.Ghosh, Dr Dharmendra Kumar, Ms.Amarjeet Kaur, Ms.Wahida Ismail, N.D. Jayprakash, Dr Sadanandam, Dr Bibha Singh, Dr Akhilesh Aggarwal. 

The session on dialogue with youth and students was chaired by Dr Chetna Hans. Others who participated in the discussion in this session included Dr Gaganpreet Singh, Dr Hemant Rathore, Dr Suraj Dhillon, Mr.Vicky Mahesri, Dr.Bharti Sharma.   

The seminar decided to strengthen the peace movement and took the following decisions:

1. To plan a delegation to Bangladesh to discuss with the government what steps it could take to promote greater nuclear sanity regionally and globally.
2. To follow up with the Nepal Government on its need to ratify the TPNW.
3. To prepare a document on the violence in Delhi as part of an outreach to promote social harmony. For this to organize interactive sessions with students in particular in the colleges.
4. To educate the people on health impact of uranium mining.
5. To prepare a questionnaire of FAQs on the effect of nuclear power plants on health.
6. To prepare a ‘climate change’ training material.
7. Increase the use of social media for spreading the message.
8. To integrate the issues of war and violence with local issues.
9. To make progressive films and cultural festivals.
10. IDPD, CNDP , NAAM and PMANE have agreed to jointly promote a campaign “From Hiroshima to Fukushima “  in this the 75th Year since Hiroshima/Nagasaki .