The insanity of nuclear deterrence | Robert Green | TEDxChristchurch

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Published 2017-12-13
When nuclear-armed nations face off, the threat of mutually assured destruction is expected to keep the worst from happening. But is this a rational strategy? Or is it one that is doomed to failure? In this eye-opening and powerful talk, Commander Robert Green shares his experience piloting nuclear-armed aircraft -- and his shift to becoming a staunch opponent of nuclear deterrence.

Commander Robert Green served for twenty years in the British Royal Navy. As a bombardier-navigator, he flew in Buccaneer nuclear strike aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters equipped with nuclear depth-bombs. His final appointment was as Staff Officer (Intelligence) to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet during the 1982 Falklands War.

He chaired the UK affiliate of the World Court Project, which led to the International Court of Justice judgment in 1996 that the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be illegal. Co-Director of the Disarmament & Security Centre in Christchurch since 1998, he is the author of Security Without Nuclear Deterrence. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
All Comments (21)
  • @peaceandjustice4414
    “It is my firm belief that the infinite and uncontrollable fury of nuclear weapons should never be held in the hands of any mere mortal ever again, for any reason.” » Mikhail Gorbachev
  • @katferguson
    The immediate laughter after he said “when I complained” was priceless & very appropriate in relation to how easily bureaucratic decisions that could hurt others, knowing they’ll never be in their shoes.
  • @MisterMcKinney
    As Carl Sagan once said about the first nuclear detonation: “Everything has changed except our thinking.”
  • @melistentome
    Based on the comments I see here and some good arguments, the only conclusion I can draw is: We are all dead. It's just a matter of time.
  • @speedpiet887
    Real heros safe life, and don't take ehm. I think Commander Robert Green ended up being a real hero. Thank you Commander Robert Green.
  • @kazuyoyamane4705
    It was very impressive to listen to your talk and I would like to share it with my students studying Peace Studies (about 150). A photo of the International Court of Justice in 1996 including Robert and others is exhibited at the Kyoto Museum for World Peace at Ritsumeikan University in Japan. Visitors learned your great efforts for peace watching the exhibit. Please take good care of yourself.
  • @geoffharris7301
    Dear RobertMost of my peacebuilding work - with postgraduate students from across Africa - is at the small project level. Your talk has inspired me to think much more at the macro level. I too will be watching it with my students and discussing its implications
  • @Newstatejournal1
    We need more people with inside perspectives speaking what they've learned. This video should be shared!
  • @csdimitris
    Disarming countries that have these weapons of mass destruction sounds good on paper, but how can that be done, effectively, and who will police it?
  • @anthonydonovan2812
    Commander Robert Green, thank you so very deeply.   Very well done.   You not only "witnessed" 122 nations work hard this past summer to adopt finally a wonderful legal document to make the threat of these weapons illegal, but it was a honor to have you daily an active contributor and presence throughout the conference.   Your NZ Ambassador was one of the great and consistent stars of the deliberations.   NZ, your efforts to blockade our nuclear submarines in the 1970's was a huge inspiration to all of us concerned around the world.   Thank you NZ.    Thank you Comdr. Green for your dedication, your service, and your constant courage in standing up.   Thank you for your profound, greatly brave, riveting, informative book "A Thorn in Their Side".   This recent Nobel Peace Prize goes to your dear aunt Hilda, yourself, and your heroic wife Kate, and many of you in NZ who've been pushing back on this omnicidal industry. Onward, together.    Thank you TEDx Talks for this.
  • @eurekadog
    Thank you for this brilliant talk, sir! I was only six years old during the Cuba middle crisis, and that memory has been burned into my brain. I remember it as if it happened yesterday. It still provokes such extreme anxiety, and fear whenever I think of it. Such a shame this talk hasn't been seen by millions of souls.
  • @user-xg8yy7yl1d
    Every weapon that was supposed to make war "too horrible to be ever fought again" was used in the next war to devastating effect from the crossbow to the cannon to the musket to the machine gun to the conventional aircraft bomb. I dont have very much optimism that nobody will ever try to use nuclear weapons. We havent even been living with nukes for a century yet theres still plenty of time for things to go wrong.
  • @philupshuis1
    Ridiculous. Dont disarm yourself before disarming the potential threats. We only can move forward on this all together.
  • @SirThreepio
    I believe what Antares said is one of the most concised and exact description of the situation.
  • @stormtrooprgary
    I'm waiting for a proposal.... I've seen a number of these anti-nuclear weapons TED talks explain how terrible they are, but no one has proposed how we realistically give up nuclear weapons. As long as any other nation has a nuclear device, the US and Russia will maintain nuclear weapons. Deterrence is real.
  • @whosaini
    Big Applause👏actually we should be greateful for these people for making world a safe place. This is no simple task
  • @greg5011
    Looks like we already went down this road. Soviet submarine B-59 (Russian: Б-59) was a Project 641 or Foxtrot-class diesel-electric submarine of the Soviet Navy. It played a key role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, when senior officers – believing they were under attack – considered launching a T-5 nuclear torpedo.