8/10/2020
The Peace Wave
“The Beginning of Our End”: On 75th Anniversary, Hiroshima Survivor Warns Against Nuclear Weapons
JPR stream: Hiroshima And Nagasaki + 75 Years https://www.ijpr.org/show/the-jefferson-exchange/2020-08-06/fri-8-30-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-75-years
The age of nuclear weapons began 75 years ago this week. August 6th marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, August 9th the Nagasaki anniversary. No one has forgotten; how could they? The anniversaries are being observed, though somewhat differently from usual practice, due to the pandemic. Peace House in Ashland always arranges an event. Michael Niemann and Estelle Voeller join us with reflections on the past, and a look to the future. They are joined by Hideko Tamura-Snider, who lived in Hiroshima as a child and survived the bombing.
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Activities commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Thursday, August 6, Friday, August 7 & Sunday, August 9  Thursday, August 6We’ll gather on the front lawn of Lithia Park in Ashland at 8 a.m. There will be ample room for social distancing, but please wear a mask. At 8:15, when the bomb exploded, we’ll ring the gong. There will also be the reading of the proclamation by the Ashland City Councilwoman Tonya Graham, a brief reflection by Paula Sohl, a member of the local faith community, and the traditional water ceremony. This event will initiate a 12-week period of education and activity about three facets of ending international violence-ending the threat of a nuclear holocaust via the UN Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, the UN’s call for an international ceasefire during the epidemic, and appreciating the role of the UN in ending war. Sponsors are Ashland Culture of Peace Commission, Medford UCC Church, One Sunny Day Foundation, PeaceHouse, South Mountain Friends Meeting and the Southern Oregon Chapter of the United Nations Association USA [Ashland UCC Church, Japan Association of Southern Oregon, Justice & Peace Team of Medford UCC Church, One Sunny Day Initiative, Peace House, Rogue Valley Peace Choir, Social Justice & Action Committee of Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, South Mountain Friends Meeting (Quakers), Southern Oregon Chapter of the United Nations Association USA and Veterans for Peace Chapter 156. Friday, August 7 On JPR’s Jefferson Exchange at 8:30 a.m., Michael Niemann and Estelle Voeller, local nuclear activists, will talk about Trump’s efforts to dismantle arms treaties and reignite a nuclear arms race, plus United Nations efforts to prohibit nuclear weapons and end international violence. Sunday, August 9 Zoom discussion at 3 p.m. PDT with Hiroshima bombing survivor Hideko Tamura Snider. Hideko lives in Medford, and is a sought-after speaker for events centered on ending the threat of nuclear war. Click onto the following link just before the conversation starts. Sponsored by national Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Thursday August 6 & Sunday August 9 Washington-based Council for a Livable World is having virtual gatherings of activists, experts and survivors on both days. The August 6th gathering runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; the August 9th from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. One need not stay for the whole program either day. To participate, go to https://www.hiroshimanagasaki75.org/events and fill out the form. On-line exhibit on nuclear war and peace The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has a highly informative exhibit at https://cnduk.org/hiroshima-and-nagasaki-cnd-exhibition-introduction/ Play this game: Hair Trigger You’re the President and your nuclear weapons are on hair-trigger alert. You face real-life nuclear close calls as you navigate competing pressures to build domestic support and carefully manage international relations while racing to remove all nuclear weapons from hair-trigger status. you have to do it all in cooperation with Russia. Download the game at https://hairtriggergame.org/. It’s also available for iOS and Android. Go on record as favoring U.S. ratification of the UN treaty prohibiting all nuclear weapons Tell the President to sign, and the U.S. Senate to ratify the treaty. It will go into force when 50 nations have signed and ratified. There are a number of petitions online. The one at the following web address is sponsored by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. |
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