When: 8:30 AM EST / 10:30 PM JST

The second day of Nuclear Prayer Days is dedicated to the generation that did not create the nuclear age but has inherited its consequences. Today's young people have grown up in a world where the threat of nuclear weapons has never fully disappeared. They have inherited the remnants of the Cold War, renewed global tensions, the accelerating climate crisis, environmental degradation, and a planet that too often reflects humanity's willingness to place power before peace and short-term interests before the well-being of future generations.

Yet every generation is presented with a choice. It may inherit history, but it is not bound to repeat it. Throughout this presentation we will hear the voices of young people from around the world refuse to accept that nuclear weapons must remain a permanent feature of human civilization. Their stories remind us that hope is not passive optimism but the courage to imagine a different future and the determination to help create it. Our program celebrates the extraordinary contributions of young people who are building bridges across cultures, advancing dialogue over division, protecting our planet, strengthening their communities, and working tirelessly for a world where conflict is resolved without violence and security is rooted in cooperation rather than fear.

At the heart of today's gathering is the presentation of the 2026 Mikhail Gorbachev–George Shultz Youth Award. Named in honor of two remarkable statesmen who, despite serving on opposite sides of the Cold War, came to believe that nuclear weapons threatened all humanity, this award recognizes a young person whose leadership embodies their shared vision of a world free of nuclear weapons. Gorbachev and Shultz demonstrated that dialogue can overcome distrust, that former adversaries can become partners, and that courageous leadership is measured not by the accumulation of power but by the willingness to reduce the dangers facing humanity.

The Golden Ginkgo Leaf presented with this award carries its own profound story. Descended from the ancient ginkgo trees that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, each golden leaf is a symbol of resilience, renewal, and hope. It reminds us that even in the aftermath of humanity's darkest moments, life continues to reach toward the light. As this award passes into the hands of a new generation, it becomes more than a recognition of past accomplishments; it is a charge to continue the work of building a more peaceful world.

Throughout the day we will also explore the hopes, concerns, and aspirations of young people who are confronting the interconnected challenges of our time. Nuclear weapons cannot be separated from the broader questions of environmental stewardship, social justice, human rights, sustainable development, and our shared responsibility to care for Mother Earth. These issues are deeply intertwined, and the solutions they require will demand imagination, collaboration, and compassionate leadership. As we listen to these young voices, we are reminded that they are not merely the leaders of tomorrow. They are leaders today. They are already transforming their schools, their communities, their nations, and our world.

The future will ultimately be shaped not by the fears we inherit but by the hopes we choose to cultivate. As this program concludes, we once again gather in the Nuclear Prayer. Together we pray that the wisdom of those who came before us and the vision of those who follow us may become one shared commitment—to leave future generations not a world shadowed by nuclear weapons, but one illuminated by peace, justice, compassion, and hope.

For the voices we hear today are more than the voices of youth. They are the voices of the future calling us to act while there is still time.