It was seventy years ago that an atomic uranium bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan by the US, killing 66,000 people and injuring thousands more according to estimates by the US army. Another 40,000 or more were killed instantly in Nagasaki.
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It is estimated about 105,000 lives were lost when U.S. warplanes dropped the atomic bombs, “Little Boy” on Hiroshima and “Fat Man” on Nagasaki. It would be nice to think that humans could reject nuclear weapons without ever having to see a picture of the destruction they can cause, but that may not be the case.
“My grandfather died here at that time and I keep wondering what he felt then”, said Tomiyo Sota. Meanwhile, protesters were reportedly blocked from attending the memorial by police.
“We must be attacked by a hundred bombs, we thought”, she said. “They must be withdrawn”.
On Thursday, the global Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals are still treating thousands of bomb survivors for long-term health effects.
In a fresh controversy over the unpopular moves, defence minister Gen Nakatani admitted that the new security laws being debated in parliament could – in theory – allow for Japan to transport nuclear weapons to allies, but he quickly dismissed it as unlikely. Whether for military or civil purposes, nuclear energy is never peaceful.
Speaking in Malaysia, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said the anniversary was a “very, very powerful reminder” not only of the impact of war but also of the significance of the nuclear deal reached between Iran and six world powers, Associated Press reported.
The 38-page report did acknowledge that Japan’s aggression led to the country’s expansionism in Asia from the 1930s through to Japan’s surrender on 15 August, 1945.
Moving the U.S. closer in policy and perspective to Japan would help to accomplish the abolition of nuclear weapons.
On August 6, 1945, the United States of America became the first – and, to this day, the only – nation to use atomic or nuclear weapons in actual hostilities (as opposed to testing).
“This 70th anniversary should be a time to reflect on the absolute horror of a nuclear detonation”, declared Ann Suellentrop, a member of the Kansas City chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility.
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In the following decades, many military theorists have worked hard to come up with strategies that would make nuclear weapons useful in war, and many scientists and engineers have worked on new techniques and technologies that would achieve the same objective. “I hope viewers of this sketch shall treasure the value of peace”. Doves were released as a symbol of peace.
