Head of UN nuclear test ban group says he wants children to be taught the dangers of weapons testing
- Lassina Zerbo, speaking at the UN General Assembly, says he hopes talks between US president and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could yield positive results
The head of the U.N.’s nuclear test ban treaty organisation says that in his “wild dreams,” very young children around the world will be taught that nuclear testing is not good – and that the world should be free of nuclear weapons.
In an interview on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, Lassina Zerbo said he started a nine-member youth group three years ago with that aim. It has grown to 780 today, and they come from all over.
“Fortunately, we started before Greta Thunberg,” he said, laughing, referring to the 16-year-old Swedish activist who has become the world’s best-known campaigner against climate change. He said even very young children should be brought into the anti-nuclear campaign.
“In my wild dreams,” Zerbo said Thursday, “we have to take kids when they start talking and then put in their mouth, in their brain, that nuclear testing isn’t good, and that we want a world free of nuclear weapons.”
Zerbo said more “innovative ways” are also needed to get the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, or CTBT, to enter into force.