This is the Nuclear Age. Nine nations have nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons have enough latent energy to kill us all. Each of us therefore has a sacred duty to honor each other, to protect our common humanity, and to elevate all life forms on planet Earth above the rhetoric, despite all the agreements signed by leaders anywhere. It is within our power to elect persons with the wisdom and determination to rise up to the largest challenge ever faced in our collective existences. We have no time to waste on cowards, on liars, on cheats, or pompous lightweights who would kill humanity’s hopes and dreams for all time with one push of a button. This is a moment when we need those with courage and fortitude to unite us as if all our lives depended on it. Because they do. In November we will be voting soul-to-soul and God-to-Universe for humanity. This is no time for weaklings.

The preceding words would be an exaggeration if we had to depend on one person’s judgment about the power of the nuclear threat that we all face. Surely, we cannot trust the voices coming from near or far that threaten to put nuclear bombs into Earth’s orbit. So I culled the best advice from within all the voices that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could find. Here is the question I asked:

“What would be the consequences if 10 to 20 nuclear bombs of 10 megatons each were put into geosynchronous orbits 200 miles above our 10 largest cities and defense systems, and all were detonated?”

Here is the answer:

If a hostile nation were to detonate 10 to 20 nuclear bombs, each with a yield of 10 megatons, in geosynchronous orbits above major US population centers and national defense locations, the consequences would be catastrophic. Let’s explore the potential effects:

1. Immediate Effects:
◦ Blast: The detonation of these nuclear bombs would cause massive explosions, destroying infrastructure, buildings, and everything within the blast radius.
◦ Radiation: Immediate radiation from the nuclear explosions would result in many quick fatalities. The lethal radiation level could extend over a mile in all directions from each detonation point.
◦ Heat: The intense heat generated by the explosions would ignite fires and cause severe burns at great distances.
◦ Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP): The high-altitude detonations could produce EMPs, disrupting electronic systems and communication networks.

2. Long-Term Effects:
Nuclear Winter: The detonation of multiple nuclear bombs would inject massive amounts of soot into the stratosphere. If Russia were involved in a full-scale exchange, it could lead to a nuclear winter. For several years, affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and human survival. The average temperature of Earth might drop by 7o to 8o degrees C (13o to 15o F) for several years, affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and human survival.
◦ Ecological Devastation: The destruction of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil and water would have long-lasting effects.
◦ Humanitarian Crisis: Millions of lives would be lost, and survivors would face extreme hardship due to food shortages, radiation exposure, and societal collapse.
◦ Global Impact: The release of radioactive particles and soot would affect the entire planet, not just the US.

3. Life’s Resilience:
◦ Life on Earth is remarkably resilient. Despite mass extinctions in the past, species have bounced back over time.
◦ However, a large-scale nuclear war could push the limits of resilience, especially if it triggers a nuclear winter.

4. Unintended Consequences:
The complexity of Earth’s interconnected systems means that even small actions can have unintended global consequences. For example, early nuclear tests raised concerns about igniting the atmosphere and burning away the oceans.
In summary, a nuclear response of this magnitude would have devastating effects, not only on the US but also on the entire planet. It is crucial to prevent such a scenario through diplomacy, arms control, and international cooperation. 

I did not ask about the consequences of the retaliations by the other eight nations.

The Power of Compounding:

Here is a little probability analysis provided by my $12 hand calculator. If each person who receives this email were to pass it on to just 2 other persons, and each of them passed it on to 2 others, in 33 days it could reach 8.6 billion people, or everyone on planet Earth.

This issue demands leadership, maturity, and a calm head; plus the power to analyze, synthesize, to evaluate, and to reach decisive judgments. He or she needs rare talents in speech and persuasion, while leading a network of world leaders in a united front that adversaries cannot match or surmount. We need leaders with the fierce urgency of now in their words and in their actions.

Vote as if the world depends on your wisdom to elect leaders with integrity, with a higher concern for humanity than for self. It does.