International Day against Nuclear Tests 2022 will be celebrated on August 29. This annual observance was initiated by the United Nations General Assembly, and as the name suggests, it discourages the running of nuclear tests across the world. Since nuclear weapons testing began on July 16, 1945, over 2,000 have taken place to date. The main reason behind the observance of International Day against Nuclear Tests is to raise awareness about the effects of nuclear testing and the devastating outcomes that it can result in. As we prepare to observe International Day against Nuclear Tests 2022, here is everything you need to know about this day, the history of International Day against Nuclear Tests and how to celebrate it. Kazakhstan Takes Lead in Making Central Asia Nuclear Weapon-free Zone.

When is International Day against Nuclear Tests 2022?

International Day against Nuclear Tests 2022 will be marked on August 29. The decision to have an annual International Day against Nuclear Tests was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in its 64th session - on December 2, 2009. The first International Day against Nuclear Tests was, in turn, commemorated on August 29, 2010. The reason that the celebration is marked on August 29 every year is to serve as a reminder of the day that marks the permanent closure of the Semipalatinsk test site by Kazakhstan on August 29 1991. The selection of that date in 1991, in turn, was made because this was when the Soviet Union conducted its first nuclear test at the site in 1949.

Significance of International Day against Nuclear Tests

International Day against Nuclear Tests celebration is important as it raises awareness about the need to ban any nuclear power in the world. While nuclear energy can be beneficial in various fields like electricity generation, the effects that one mishap can cause are devastating. This has been witnessed time and again in nuclear tests that have failed or malfunctioned. Shockingly there were more than 2000 nuclear tests that were done since 1945, and in the initial phase of this, little to no attention was given to how it may impact the environment. The commemoration of International Day against Nuclear Tests helps us to initiate important conversations on these topics.

In addition to this, the United Nations General Assembly also observes "International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons" on September 26 to raise awareness on why being a nuclear power can be more worrying than actually helpful. We hope that on this International Day against Nuclear Tests, we educate ourselves on why one needs to be against the use of something as groundbreaking as nuclear power for the making of weapons.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2022 07:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).