Beatrice Fihn: Daring to Speak Truth to Power

In this conversation we talk about the current situation with nuclear threats, Putin’s war in Ukraine and why nuclear disarmament is SO important. We talk about how we can all be a part of creating change on an issue that can seem so much bigger than ourselves – and the progress that is being made for a world free from nuclear weapons. We also talk about the stress and anxiety that comes with thinking about war, conflict and the ever present threat of nuclear weapons, and Beatrice shares her best advice with us. 

We talk about Sweden as an example and Beatrice shares why she started working against nuclear weapons in the first place. 

Beatrice Fihn is the Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish nuclear weapons (ICAN). In 2017 she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the campaign coalition that works to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons. 

Beatrice has led the campaign since 2014 and has worked to mobilize civil society throughout the development of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons that Entered into Force on January 22nd 2021. She is an expert on weapons law, humanitarian law, civil society engagement in diplomacy and multilateral institutions, as well as the gender perspective on disarmament work. 

Beatrice Fihn holds a master’s degree in law from the University College London and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Stockholm University. She has been listed as one of the 50 innovators who changed the global landscape in 2017 by Bloomberg Media.  Beatrice Fihn is also the Executive Producer of the film “The Day the World Changed”, the first-ever interactive virtual reality memorial experience to pay tribute to those affected directly by nuclear warfare spanning back to 1945.  

This is an episode that I recommend you listen to in its entirety. Beatrice is full of wisdom and inspiration for us to do more for a peaceful and just world. 

Learn more about ICAN and the work to ban nuclear weapons at www.icanw.org. You can also follow Beatrice and ICAN on social media @beafihn and @nuclearban.