Hiroshima commemorates 80 years since the atomic bombing, overshadowed by global conflicts

Hiroshima (Japan).- The Japanese city of Hiroshima commemorated this Wednesday the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing perpetrated by the United States Army, under the shadow of new conflicts and amid growing calls from the 'hibakusha', the survivors, for these weapons to never be used again. The Peace Bell resonated in the Peace Memorial Park of the western Japanese town during the minute of silence observed at 8:15 local time (23:15 GMT on Tuesday), the exact time at which the 'Little Boy' bomb was dropped by the Enola Gay bombing on the city, causing the instantaneous death of about 70,000 people, a figure that would double by the end of 1945.

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Family members of the victims, representatives of national politics and diplomats from 120 countries and regions, a record number, participated in the commemorative ceremony on a warm day with clouds and clear skies, where the song of the cicadas was the backdrop for the anti-nuclear calls. The mayor of Hiroshima, Kazumi Matsui, opened the speeches of the event, recalling memories of the horror experienced by the 'hibakusha', their commitment eighty years later to the eradication of nuclear weapons, "the best thing that can be done for the dead". "Today, conveying the fervent pleas for peace stemming from the experiences of the 'hibakusha' is more crucial than ever," declared Matsui, while recalling that the United States and Russia, which in recent times have intensified their warmongering rhetoric, still possess 90% of the world's nuclear warheads. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and "the chaos" in the Middle East are accelerating military development worldwide and in the face of these developments, officials from some countries argue that nuclear weapons are essential for national defense, it was pointed out. "These events flagrantly ignore the lessons that the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history. They threaten to dismantle the peacebuilding frameworks that have been so painstakingly built," said Matsui, who added that despite the turmoil, the people should never give up. "Our youth, the leaders of future generations, must recognize that erroneous policies regarding military spending, national security, and nuclear weapons could have absolutely inhumane consequences," added the Japanese mayor, who invited to "think less about ourselves and more about others". Thinking of others "is the way humanity has resolved many conflicts and disturbances on our path to the present day," noted Matsui, who insisted that "nations must also look beyond their own interests and consider the circumstances of other nations," adding that solidarity will be "indispensable" to achieve real and lasting peace.

A Call to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons

The Japanese man launched a direct question to the world's policymakers: "Don't you see that security policies derived from personal interests are fostering international conflicts?", and urged nations that are strengthening their arsenals to abandon their dependence on nuclear weapons and visit Hiroshima to see with their own eyes what an atomic bombing causes. He also reiterated his call for Japan to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), to which it is not a signatory. The Japanese Executive has adhered to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which it considers a "realistic" framework for action. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who also spoke during the ceremony, reiterated the government's position to promote a world without wars or nuclear weapons under that treaty at a time when "the division of the international community around nuclear disarmament is deepening and the current security environment is becoming increasingly hardened." In the background, coming from outside the event venue, protest slogans from demonstrators could be heard. This Wednesday's event was the first commemorative ceremony of the bombing held since Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Victims Organizations, comprised of survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. Their work has been overshadowed by the growing geopolitical tension and the escalating conflicts. This year's event has taken on special relevance as it is a milestone date, and visitors to the city acknowledged to EFE on the eve that they have traveled here for the anniversary to hear firsthand the testimony of the 'hibakusha', whose number has fallen this year for the first time below 100,000. The United States launched the first nuclear attack in history on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and three days later, launched a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, which led to the surrender of Japan, marking the end of World War II. It is estimated that some 210,000 people lost their lives over the years due to the bombings, which also left 150,000 injured and humanitarian and environmental consequences still palpable.