Sunday, June 28: A Film About Daniel Ellsberg and the Insanity of Nuclear Weapons

Come join Peace Action of San Mateo County on Sunday, June 28 at 7 PM on Zoom, for a screening of a 29-minute documentary film about and featuring Daniel Ellsberg, An Ordinary Insanity.

In this film created in 2025 by Oscar-nominated director Judith Ehrlich one year before his death at age 92, Ellsberg provides a powerful wakeup call about the global threat posed by nuclear weapons and offers concrete steps to greatly reduce the danger of nuclear annihilation. 

With the aid of animation and archival footage, Ellsberg speaks with clarity and urgency about the dangers we all face. “A threat and a readiness and a preparation and a rehearsal of causing nuclear winter and destroying most large life on Earth, that is insane,” he says. “You have to call it a kind of ‘ordinary insanity’ because it's so widely shared.”

Ellsberg, who was arrested over 80 times for civil disobedience, shares his personal reflections, historical context, and proposals for controlling nuclear arsenals. The film is described as both "terrifying" and "energizing," aiming to inspire action for arms control and disarmament.

With the recent end of the New START treaty raising concerns about a renewed arms race, and global conflicts heightening tensions, An Ordinary Insanity has arrived at a critical moment. We hope the film will help to mobilize broader public concern and inspire action for arms control and nuclear disarmament. 

A discussion will follow our screening. Ideally we’ll consider not just what we saw, but what we can do in response to it.

The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3289220486?omn=87963764852.

On June 28, let’s remember Daniel Ellsberg – and resolve to take action on his behalf!