The Government Accountability Project has a long, storied history of working with whistleblowers within the nuclear industry to bring public awareness to the most serious of safety threats.

With that in mind, GAP is partnering with other public interest organizations to raise awareness about an important new film. Countdown to Zero is a documentary about the escalating global nuclear arms crisis, making clear that the nuclear threat is very real – and not a bygone issue that died with the Cold War.

Countdown to Zero is being released on July 23 in New York & Washington D.C., and nationwide over the weeks thereafter. The film traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affairs. With the world held in a delicate balance that could be shattered by an act of terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident, the film makes a compelling case for worldwide nuclear disarmament.

This important work is more than simply an educational exercise – it’s a call to action. And you can help – we all have an historic opportunity to reduce this threat. The United States and Russia recently signed a treaty called the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which will remove significant numbers of weapons from both countries’ arsenals.

This is the first step in moving towards a world without nuclear weapons, but in order to be implemented, it requires approval by the U.S. Senate. You can do your part by demanding that your Senators pass this vital legislation – View the online petition here (note: this will take you to a different site).

It’s not often that GAP promotes films. But we’re taking this action because we realize the immense and immediate threat that nuclear weapons pose to our civilization, and we know first-hand from previous whistleblower clients that the state of worldwide nuclear security is grossly inadequate. Something has to change.

Please check out the film’s official website here for all pertinent information and to find out how you can do more. One way to get your family and friends talking about this paramount issue is to download and read the Countdown to Zero discussion guide.

Dylan Blaylock is Communications Director for the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower advocacy organization.