In an event at the UN headquarters, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi implored young adults around the world to raise their voices to call for disarmament: where less nuclear and small arms lead to greater peace and security.

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Speaking at the launch of United Nations’ new book “Action for Disarmament: 10 Things You Can Do!” the Envoy noted that “Nearly half the world’s population is under 25 years of age. They deserve a fresh start in a world that’s made safer without nuclear weapons and even traditional small arms.”

This book  empowers young people to develop their leadership skills and give them action oriented ideas to start a dialog with peers, press and politicians; reading up on the work of leading disarmament organizations and following them through social media. Once they’re up to speed, they can start a discussion with their community by making presentations, facilitating discussions and hosting disarmament-themed movie screenings.

It also talks about the importance of electronic and social media to keep people informed & magnify their voices through texts, tweets and emails. They can build dedicated message pages on Facebook, Tumblr, or Google Plus. There are no shortage of ways to talk about disarmament and start a conversation about it in person or electronically. It’s just important that youths do so, in their own words, in a way that they feel most comfortable.

The benefits of disarmament are massive. One example Alhendawi gives is, “The enormous money we spend on arms and weapons could be spent to make sure that the 57 million kids who are out of school could be in school.”

Writing in the foreword of the book, he coaches “Youth have shown time and time again that they are the drivers of change. We are counting on you to make your voices heard on this critical issue.”

Watch the Envoy’s call for action on disarmament here.

Follow link to learn more: unp.un.org/disarmament