Peace with Oppenheimer: context is everything.

The film, the person, the US Government, atomic energy, “The Bomb,” progressive politics, communism, international relations and peace.

13 September, 2023: 7 pm EDT

Participants

Moderator: Marcus Breen (MAPA/No Cold War)

Norman Markowitz: history of US Communist Party, peace, atomic history

Susan Mirsky: peace advocacy during the  Cold War

Jenny Hocking: Government secrets in Australia and the UK – the long shadow of secrecy

Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer offers a popular cinematic assessment of  the science and political economy of the creation of the atomic bomb in the Los Alamos research project led by J. Robert Oppenheimer. The film has a unique perspective about the US politics of the era, including the efforts by peace activists to comprehend the development and use of weapons used for the mass killing of civilians. The morality of the use of atomic bombs in Japan has been debated ever since the end of World War 2. The film offers a political education about Oppenheimer as an ethical scientist in the circle of immigrant European scientists who contributed to the effort to defeat fascism. Attacks against his integrity by the US Government continue to inform peace advocacy against proponents of the US war industry. Several philosophical dilemmas are raised by this impressive Hollywood film. The discussion will include perspectives from the US, and Australia. There will be a Q&A for participants.