PAMPHLET, Nuclear War on Perth

Eight paged pamphlet entitled "NUCLEAR WAR / ON PERTH / WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE?" with a reproduction map of the city and beneath, "ONE MEGATON MISSILE = 2KM RADIUS OF TOTAL DESTRUCTION". The second page explains that projected effects of a single 1-megaton warhead are adapted from studies on Los Angeles, Washington and New York. A third page repeats the cover map and targets the main buildings and essential services which would be lost while the fourth shows a 6 kilometre radius map where "ALL HUMAN LIFE WOULD PERISH". A 24 kilometre radius map follows with a description of the expected devastation by fire and lack of essential services; page 6 compares the Hiroshima blast with one of the same size hitting Perth, the fires, and lethal fallout which would spread hundreds of miles. The next page points out the lack of water, sanitation, contaminated food and the problems of disposal of the dead following a nuclear blast in Perth and that all animal life would be affected; blindness would also result. The last page mentions the involvement of doctors and scientists in campaigning against nuclear war and concludes "JOIN THE NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT MOVEMENT / CONTACT PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR / DISARMAMENT / 306 MURRAY ST, PERTH 6000 / TEL 321 8309 / PRODUCED BY: / STATE COUNCIL OF THE AMALGAMATED METAL WORKERS AND SHIPWRIGHTS UNION". Pamphlet cover is reproduced in ORGANISE, p.161. The text points out that the leaflet not only called for nuclear disarmament but was issued to educate workers who were not being reached through the regular commercial media outlets, warning of the direct impact of nuclear war on members to raise their consciousness.

Department: 

Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data