On 6th August 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by US air forces. This was the first time a nuclear weapon had ever been used; the fireball created by the bomb destroyed 13 square kilometres of the city, and those dead as a result numbered up to 180,000.
77 years later, we remember. Several events were organised in London to commemorate these crimes.
Friday 5th August: cultural event at the V&A
On the eve of the 77th anniversary of Hiroshima day, London CND hosted a screening of 'The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga' at the Victoria and Albert Museum. This documentary explores the relationship between Godzilla and the atomic bomb.
The event was introduced by CND General Secretary Kate Hudson, who provided some historical context and reminded the public of the importance to keep campaigning against nuclear weapons today.
Two V&A experts followed. First, Zorian Clayton presented a selection of posters relating to Hiroshima and nuclear disarmament. Then, Josephine Rout from the Japanese collection offered a fascinating presentation on Godzilla, kimonos and Japanese legends.
The documentary was then screened and complemented by a Q&A with the filmmaker, Jonathan Bellés.
Saturday 6th August: Hiroshima Remembered
Hiroshima Day opened with Finchley CND’s morning remembrance ceremony in Finchley Victoria Park.
London CND’s event followed at noon with the traditional Tavistock Square commemoration. The event was hosted by London CND co-chair Hannah Kemp-Welch, with speeches from Nasim Ali, Mayor of Camden, Kate Hudson and Benali Hamdache, Green Party spokesperson on migrants and refugee support.
London CND committee member John Morris spoke in memory of Bruce Kent, recalling their first encounters. The event was accompanied with drumming performed by Reverend Nagase from the London Peace Pagoda and songs by the choir Raised Voices. The Mad Hatters had decorated the square with hundreds of peace cranes and posters inviting people to join.
A message from Jeremy Corbyn MP
and a film of the full event is available here:
Kingston CND held a vigil with boards and leaflets in the town centre. In the evening a candlelit commemoration took place by the river in Canbury Gardens. The Mayor, Yogan Yoganathan, said a few words. White flowers were foated on the river, and lanterns lit the path.
Bromley CND organised a reading of poems and speeches opposite the Churchill Theatre and gave out leaflets. After this, they marched to the lake in Church House gardens and threw chrysanthemum flower heads on the lake. Peace were songs sung by Paul Steele and Leon Silver, and paper cranes were held in memory Sadako Sasaki, the young girl who died of leukemia in Hiroshima in 1955 and who folded 1000 paper cranes before she died. 1000s of paper cranes had been sent in a shoe box from Scottish CND.
Bromley CND commemoration pictures by Ann Garrett
Wimbledon CND also held a ceremony of poetry and quiet reflection. This year, they had a change to their usual procedure of launching symbolic lighted boats, in the Japanese tradition. Due to the tinder-dry grass on the common and the risk of an accidental fire, they floated some origami boats, but with LED lights instead of candles. They formed a solemn procession around the pond.
Wimbledon CND commemoration pictures by William Rhind
Tuesday 9th August: Nagasaki Remembered
The South East London Peace, Justice and Solidarity Network
The South East London Peace, Justice and Solidarity Network marked the day in the Archbishop Tutu Peace Garden, Chinbrook Meadows , with a peace picnic followed by speeches, poems, and songs. The group then walked to River Quaggy for a minutes silence. White chrysanthemum flower heads were thrown into a small patch of water, which was what was sadly left of the Quaggy due to the present drought.
Nipponzan Myohoji, JAN-UK and Paxchristi organized a Peace Walk. The ceremony opened with an ecumenical service and followed with a walk, congregating at Westminster Cathedral and walking towards Battersea Park. After arriving at the Peace Pagoda in the park, a short commemoration ceremony took place.
We would like to thank all those who participated in these events. While Britain announced a 44% increase in its nuclear arsenal and the US is set to return nuclear weapons to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, it is ever more crucial to remember the victims of nuclear bombs and continue fighting against their spread.
We invite everyone to join us at RAF Lakenheath on Saturday 17th September. More information here.
#NoNukes