Are people truly aware of the issue of nuclear weapons?

After recently reading John McPhee’s The Curve of Binding Energy, my eyes were opened to an issue I, like many others, seem to overlook. It introduced readers to the reality of nuclear weapons and nuclear materials. Ted Taylor, the main character, spoke about his concern for the capability of anyone to get hold of nuclear materials and construct a homemade bomb. This message left me thinking even after I finished reading the book. Is what Taylor was saying really true? Are people unaware of what is out there in a world some conceive to be as “perfect”?

Most people are unaware of the seriousness of the nuclear world. They do not realize what goes on and how easy nuclear material could be obtained. To most, this is not a topic of interest. I know for me learning about nuclear bombs in school was something I didn’t care to pay too much attention to. People are unaware of the issue of safeguards and how important they truly are. Safeguards are a “series of frames around the nuclear industry.” They are a way to look after and protect the material that could eventually be turned into a bomb, whether it means alarms, vaults, fences, guards, etc. This alone shows that there must be a strict watch on nuclear materials. Sometimes it is hard to grasp the concept that although nuclear bombs are not blowing up under our feet they still exist and are affecting other parts of the world. In correlation to the war in Iraq, while everyone “knows” what is going on do they really “know” what is going on?

For those that are aware and familiar with the issue, it is hard to know if they really care enough to do something about helping protect the nuclear field. They read about what goes on and how important the issue is, but after reading this information do they close the book or want to contribute something to help? McPhee really hits the point of warning the general public of what used to be such a “secretive” topic. Through his book we see how the information is out there and the leniency on expressing details about the world of nuclear weapons. We are also put in a position to worry that people reading this book will use it to their advantage to help in the construction of a bomb.

I believe that people aren’t fully as aware of the issue of nuclear weapons as they should be. I feel people know about the issue and when they hear the word “nuclear” can relate it to previous knowledge they hold on the issue but do not know the danger of what could happen if people get hold of nuclear materials. I feel that as long as people don’t personally experience nuclear bombs they tend to disregard the issue. “If it doesn’t happen to me, it doesn’t exist,” a common motive people live by. This doesn’t wipe away the reality of how dangerous nuclear weapons are and I feel there should be a greater emphasis on the topic. It is not something to sit back on and watch happen before our eyes, regretting the lackadaisical approach to try and secure these nuclear materials.