As we commemorate the US atomic bombing of Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, President Donald Trump has threatened North Korea with ‘fire and fury like the world has never seen’ – words that bring the possibility of nuclear confrontation closer.
CND and Stop the War Coalition have organised a joint protest at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, W1A 2LQ, and a number of celebreties are likely to join us. Make jour voice heard! Come along this Friday, 11 August, at 1pm.
Carol Turner, CND Vice Chair, said:
‘It's Nagasaki Day today, when the world remembers the US atomic bomb that hit a Japanese city unleashing a fire storm with winds of 9,000 miles an hour and killing 100,000 people.
‘It beggars belief that the US president has chosen the 72nd anniversary to threaten North Korea with “fire and fury like the world has never seen”. These words mark the real possibility of a nuclear confrontation.
‘Trump's outrageous statement in the present climate cannot be interpreted as simply words. He has ratcheted up international tensions, already high, taking the world closer to nuclear warfare than we’ve been for many years.
‘The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament condemns Trump's comments and we call on the British government to take swift action to de-escalate this terrifying crisis before it's too late.”
More ways to make you voice heard
· As Trumps comments broke in the news, London CND Vice Chair, Rosemary Addington was quick to respond. She called the BBC protest line to demand that information about Nagasaki Day be included in their broadcasts. We urge you to do likewise by phoning 03700 100 222. A list of similar numbers for Sky, Channel 4, ITV and other TV and Radio stations will be up on our website at www.londoncnd.org.uk soon.
· Why not write a letter to your local paper. You’ll find a few details about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki below to help you.
Nagasaki Day remembered
On 9 August 1945 the United States dropped its second atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaka, three days after Hiroshima had been devastated and destroyed. An estimated 100,000 people died as a result of the Nagasaki bombing, and 23% of all Nagasaki buildings were burned to the ground.
An estimated 250,000 people died in the firestorms which swept the two cities. Survivors described those people who fled as being so heavily burned they no longer looked like human beings. Others fell ill and died from radiation poisoning.
The devastation didn’t stop there. Atom bomb survivors, Hibakusha as they’re known, suffered miscarriages, birth abnormalities and cancers. Their children and grandchildren are suffering still.
This is what CND remembers of Nagasaki Day.