Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth.

One alone can destroy an entire city, kill millions of people indiscriminately and compromise the environment and the lives of future generations through its long-lasting effects.

Although nuclear weapons have only been used twice in warfare—in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945—22,000 nuclear weapons reportedly remain in the world today. Their very existence threatens international peace, and disarmament of all nuclear weapons is the only way to ensure global safety from their use.

In May 2010, a conference was held at the United Nations in New York to review the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). This is the most comprehensive nuclear weapons treaty that encourages countries to reduce their weapon stores. The treaty, as it stands, is only a partial step to success, as the pace of disarmament is vulnerable to debate and a lack of clear timelines allows nations to delay and defer.

The Campaign

This timely event gave us a unique position to bring a message of peace and disarmament to our customers. In partnership with Lush Japan, our New York-area shops and lushusa.com hosted a petition by Peace Action, the nation’s largest grassroots peace network, urging US president Obama to lead the world in negotiating an international agreement to abolish nuclear weapons in our lifetime.

The Outcome

Our New York-area staff and visitors from Lush Japan participated in the Peace March on May 2, 2010 along with thousands of other participants. They marched from Times Square to the United Nations, carrying a message for a world without nuclear weapons. Among them was Emi Akiyama, Lush Japan’s Ethics Manager. She wore a dress made from 1000 origami peace cranes to symbolize Lush’s wish for a nuclear-free world.

Lush customers and staff signed the Peace Action petition, which was presented to the United Nations and the White House by Peace Action representatives.