Let’s Turn Oppenheimer’s Oscar Buzz
into a Moment of Justice
Win Without War

(February 4, 2024) — With 13 nominations, insiders predict that Oppenheimer will sweep a slew of awards from Best Picture to Cinematography at this year’s Oscars.

But all those sparkly statues won’t erase the film’s failure to acknowledge the full and horrific reality of Oppenheimer’s creation.

Just months after the Trinity test, the United States dropped bombs on and leveled Hiroshima and Nagasaki, instantly killing upwards of 120,000 people. That’s not all. Trinity also opened the door to an era where the U.S. government would knowingly expose tens of thousands of servicemembers, people in rural communities, Indigenous peoples, miners, and others to toxic materials and radiation in the name of nuclear testing and weapons development.

People who have directly experienced the effects of nuclear weapons testing and war deserve to have their stories of pain, loss, and resilience told — and the world deserves to hear them. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (AMPAS), which hosts the Oscars and is about to make millions of dollars off of Oppenheimer promotion, must help tell this full story.

To build a future free from the threat of nuclear war we must understand and reckon with our past. Sign now to urge the Academy to acknowledge the human costs of nuclear testing and war with a short segment during the ceremony’s broadcast.

ACTION: Add your name if you agree: With Oppenheimer taking center stage at this year’s Oscars, the Academy should honor communities impacted by nuclear testing and war during the broadcast.

Movies have the profound ability to shape our understanding of history, heroes, and villains. They can glorify or condemn, enlighten, or obscure. Since Oppenheimer’srelease last summer, millions of people have learned more about the start of U.S. nuclear weapons development.

Now it’s time to go further and ensure people know the full story: The Manhattan Project’s success meant testing and building a weapon capable of horrific violence.

Last year, nearly 19 million people watched the Oscars ceremony. Hundreds of thousands more clicked on, read, and shared recaps and memes. Now, imagine if those stories included mention of the human cost of nuclear weapons development and use — how far could that push and re-ignite our work to build a world free from the threat of nuclear war?

With all eyes on Oppenheimer, we have a crucial, made-in-Hollywood moment to hijack a PR machine. This year, let’s use the Oscars as a platform to remind the world of those who suffered, many of them silently, in the shadow of nuclear development and use.

The Academy has a duty to use its platform to tell the full story. By dedicating a short segment during the Oscars to highlight the human cost of nuclear testing and war, they can provide a moment of reflection and education for millions of viewers, highlighting the human cost of nuclear weapons.

                           THE LETTER
To Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science CEO Bill Kramer:
Throughout the years, the Academy has addressed urgent social issues and contributed significantly to important conversations. The upcoming March 10 ceremony and the film Oppenheimer present a unique opportunity to continue this tradition by shedding light on the stories of those affected by nuclear testing and nuclear war.
I urge you to dedicate a short segment during this year’s Academy Awards ceremony to acknowledge the human cost and impact of nuclear activities.

Can you add your name to urge the Academy to honor those who have suffered in the face of nuclear testing and war with a short segment during the ceremony’s broadcast?

Thank you for working for peace,
Eric, Shahed, Shayna, and the Win Without War team