Target New York - May 1st, 2005

After buying red shower curtains, borrowing some white coats from the hospital and gathering all of our information material yesterday, we met this morning on Times Square in order to wake up New Yorkers on the issue of the nuclear threat. Right in time for lunch hour, we placed a large red ’X’ on the busy intersection and stood next to it with a map of Manhattan, showing the immediate destruction a nuclear blast would create. While IPPNW physicians were holding the informative posters, us four white-clad IPPNW medical students engaged the busy New Yorkers in discussions on the remaining danger of a nuclear strike – be it through terrorists or through an accidental launch.

Two handouts contained the most important information, such as the medical effects of a nuclear strike and links for further reading. We also made clear that a so-called missile shield or other maneuvers to outsmart the potential enemy would not be enough to protect the Uniteds States and were not the right answer. The only sure way of preventing such a nuclear attack would be international abolition of all nuclear weapons and ultimately of all fissile material.

After getting used to our new role, we were able to hold some very intense and good discussions. After each talk, we shared our thoughts on the most interesting aspects raised and exchanged tips and ideas for the next discussion.

It was a lot of fun standing on Times Square and raising awareness. Within two hours, we had already talked to about 100 people and were noticed by thousands of passing New Yorkers. It was a welcome addition to the very carefully phrased language of the diplomates in the General Assembly earlier in the week and showed that interest in the general public is indeed there and just needs to be tapped...