In 1954, the United States Federal Civil Defense Agency instituted an exercise called Operation Alert. It was a civil defense drill that took place on the same day in scores of major cities.

In contrast to the U.S.’s desultory interest in civil defense, the Soviet Union is well advanced on a thoroughgoing program to protect its people against nuclear attack. The Soviet government ...

The highlight of this initiative is the live broadcast of this act of civil disobedience, allowing festival-goers to witness and potentially participate in the protest. The festival’s artistic ...