Jennifer Leaning, M.D., National Executive Committee Member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, describes the problem of understanding the concept of civil defense in regard to nuclear war when survival is questionable. This is a presentation from the "On the Fate of the Earth" conference held October 19-21, 1982 at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Columbia University, New York City. On this weekend physicians, environmentalists, physicists, writers, economists, professors, biologists, and others gathered together to share their perspectives on the peaceful preservation of life. The recordings and excerpts were produced by Raffaelo Mazza and Bob Rufsvold, KPFK. All have intros, none have outros. The introductions were done by David Brower, President, Fate of the Earth Foundation.