Between July 27th to the 29th, Teens4Disarmament participated in the informative Critical Issues Forum’s (CIF) 2023 Summer Conference Program in Monterey, California. During our time at the CIF Summer Conference, we interacted with numerous students from schools in Japan and America which helped us understand the necessary steps to free the world of nuclear weapons.

Throughout the two days, we learned the significance of dialogue and communication through thought-provoking discussions, presentations, and speeches from our fellow peers and keynote speakers. We realized the importance of taking time to sit down, with vulnerability and genuinity, and discuss issues through the lens of other people. We practiced empathy together with students from Philadelphia to Hiroshima and learned to see different topics through their perspectives. Like Mr. Charles Mahauffy, the keynote speaker from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Security stated, if we aspire to see other people’s backgrounds and perspectives, we can effectively create solutions to maintaining peace and sustainability.

With all that has been said, we would like to deeply thank Ms. Masako Toki, the organizer of this conference for this very special invitation, especially for her effort and dedication to make this conference so welcoming and successful. From soul-touching murals to informational podcasts, we have seen many fascinating presentations that capture the intersectionalities of nuclear weapons and social issues on multiple levels. We are truly inspired to pursue our passion for nuclear disarmament with a courageous and determined mindset thanks to our experience with CIF. Please stay in tune with Teens4Disarmament’s further steps toward creating a nuclear-free world.