The ruins around the Industrial Promotion Hall, now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, in Hiroshima, Japan. Source: National ArchivesNext week marks the 68th year since the U.S. atom bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, killing hundreds of thousands quickly, while dooming large numbers more to eventual early death from their exposure to hazardous ionizing radiation.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing commemorations are being organized across the country and world. For example, the following announcement below of events was put out by John Steinbach, coordinator for the Washington, D.C. Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee. Please seek out and attend Hiroshima and Nagasaki commemoration events in your area.
The Washington D.C. Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee has invited Beyond Nuclear staff to provide an overview and update on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe at the Japanese American Memorial in Washington, D.C. next Monday. We will be honored and privileged to join again with Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, who has been appointed by the Government of Japan as Special Communicator for a World Without Nuclear Weapons. Setsuko gave powerful testimony last December, at the "Mountain of Radioactive Waste 70 Years High: Ending the Nuclear Age" conference in Chicago, marking the 70th year since Enrico Fermi achieved the first nuclear chain reaction, and generated the first high-level radioactive waste, in the Manhattan Project's race to atom bomb Japan.
Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps was honored by the Washington D.C. Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee with the Josephine Butler Nuclear-Free Future Award in July, 2010.
"Dear Friends,
Please notice that the August 5 Hiroshima commemoration ceremony has been moved from the Lincoln Memorial to the Japanese American Memorial located at Louisiana Avenue and D Street, NW SWashington, DC.
For the past 32 years, the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area has been organizing for the abolition of nuclear weapons and power, and in support of nuclear victims. We believe that if the world is to avoid repeating the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we must strive to keep alive the memory of the bombings.
This August we welcome Setsuko Thurlow. Setsuko was 13 years old when she was close to the hypocenter of the atomic blast that devastated Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945. She remembers vividly the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and the hardships she and many survivors endured physically and mentally. As a survivor of the atomic bombing, she is strongly committed to tell the story of Hiroshima. Setsuko has been appointed by the Government of Japan as Special Communicator for a World Without Nuclear Weapons.
2013 Hiroshima/Nagasaki Events Calendar
Monday, August 5, 6:30pm
Hiroshima Peace Commemoration,
Survivor Testimony, Children’s Program, Candlelantern Building
Japanese American Memorial, Louisiana Avenue and D Street, NW WDC (Near Union Station)
Tuesday, August 6, 6pm
Baltimore Hiroshima Commemoration
6pm Potluck Supper & Program
Homewood Friends Meeting, 3107 N. Charles Street.
Sponsored by Baltimore Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration Committee
Thursday, August 8, 9:45pm,
Nagasaki Candlelight Vigil-
(Moment’s Silencel at 10:02) in front of the White House
Friday, August 9, 7pm,
Frederick, Md Nagasaki Commemoration
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ
15 West Church Street Frederick, MD 21701.
Sponsored by Frederick Women in Black
Contact John Steinbach 703-822-3485 <johnsteinbach1@verizon.net>"
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