HIROSHIMA DAY August 6
THE NATIONAL UN VOLUNTEERS-INDIA
HIROSHIMA DAY: August 6
NAGASAKI DAY: August 9
Anti Nuclear Weapons Day
Hiroshima Day is observed annually on the 6th of August on the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.
Here is the entry for Hiroshima Day from World BEYOND War’s Peace Almanac:
On this day in 1945 the American bomber Enola Gay dropped a five-ton atomic bomb — equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT — on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The bomb destroyed four square miles of the city and killed 80,000 people. In the weeks following, thousands more died from wounds and radiation poisoning.
President Harry Truman, who had assumed office less than four months earlier, claimed that he made the decision to drop the bomb after being told by his advisers that dropping the bomb would end the war quickly and would avoid the need to invade Japan, which would result in the deaths of a million American soldiers. This version of history does not hold up to scrutiny.
Several months earlier, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, had sent a 40-page memo to President Roosevelt that summarized five different offers of surrender from high-ranking Japanese officials. The USA, however, knew that the Russians had made significant advances in the east and in all likelihood would be in Japan by September, well before the U.S. could mount an invasion. If this were to pass, Japan would surrender to Russia, not the U.S. This was unacceptable to the U.S., which had already developed a post-war strategy of economic and geo-political hegemony. So, despite strong opposition from military and political leaders and Japan’s willingness to surrender, the bomb was dropped.
Many have called this the first act of the Cold War. Dwight D. Eisenhower said years later, “Japan was already defeated . . . dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary.”
◾HIROSHIMA DAY: ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Being a day of remembrance, reflection, and action for peace and disarmament, Hiroshima Day is observed in Hiroshima and around the world with various events and activities, such as:
▪️Ceremonies at the peace memorials, where the names of the deceased are read aloud and paper lanterns are floated on the rivers.
▪️A minute of silence at 8:15 a.m., the exact time when the bomb exploded over Hiroshima.
▪️Peace marches, rallies, vigils, concerts, exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to raise awareness and educate people about the dangers of nuclear weapons and the need for their abolition.
▪️Messages and speeches from political leaders, religious figures, civil society organizations, and survivors of the bombings, known as hibakusha in Japanese.
▪️Prayers and expressions of sympathy and support for the hibakusha and their families.
▪️Attend online Hiroshima Museum of Art exhibition:
The museum hosts various exhibitions throughout the year. Although not exclusively focused on Hiroshima Day, it’s a great place to appreciate art and culture. (https://www.hiroshima-museum.jp/en/)
Check their website for current and upcoming exhibitions.
▪️Virtual tour: Virtual Video Tour of Hiroshima: Start at poignant locations in the city related to its history. Explore both somber and lighter aspects, including the iconic torii gate in the water.
▪️Virtual Tour of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: Available for free, this virtual tour provides insights into the museum’s exhibits and the impact of the bombing. Additionally, there’s a video tour of the Peace Park on YouTube, hosted by the volunteer group Hiroshima Interpreters for Peace.
