Hiroshima Remembered, 62 Years Later

Ceremonies Marked By Vows To Eradicate Nuclear Weapons

(AP)  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that Japan is committed to its non-nuclear policy and will work toward the abolition of nuclear weapons as Hiroshima marked the 62nd anniversary of the world's first atomic bomb attack, which killed more than 140,000 people in the Japanese city.

There were similar vows made by anti-nuclear activists at other events marking the anniversary, including in the United States.

In the city of Hiroshima Monday, about 40,000 survivors, residents and visitors from around the world observed a moment of silence as they gathered in the Peace Park built at the dead center of where the bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, by the U.S. B-29 bomber Enola Gay.

An estimated 140,000 people were killed instantly or died within a few months after the bombing. Three days later, another U.S. airplane dropped a plutonium bomb on the city of Nagasaki, killing about 80,000 people.

"Japan has been taking the path toward global peace for 62 years since World War II. The tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki should never be repeated in any place on Earth," said the Japanese prime minister, in a speech at the Hiroshima ceremony.

"We will take an initiative in the international community and devote ourselves wholeheartedly toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and realization of peace," Abe said.

The mayor of Hiroshima took an even stronger stand, combining his anti-nuclear stance with criticism of the United States.

"The Japanese government must humbly learn the atom bomb victims' reality and philosophy, and they are responsible for sending out the message to the world," said Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba. "The Japanese government should comply with the nation's pacifist Constitution as it is and clearly say no to wrong and outdated policies of the United States."

This year's memorial comes at a particularly sensitive time for Japan.

Following North Korea's first nuclear test explosion last Oct. 9, some prominent Japanese politicians have suggested Tokyo should at least debate development of nuclear weapons. Their remarks prompted Abe and other top officials to state Japan will not stray from its three long-standing principles of not possessing, developing or allowing nuclear weapons on Japanese soil.

Last month, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma resigned amid a public outcry over his having suggested that the U.S. atomic bombings may have been justified.

Abe reiterated Monday that Japan will remain committed to the country's non-nuclear principles.

"We promise that we will comply with provisions of the Constitution, sincerely seek global peace, and adhere to the three non-nuclear principles," he said.

In a message marking the anniversary, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said nuclear proliferation is "one of the most pressing problems confronting our world."

"Today our challenge ... is to make the world safer for succeeding generations. This requires us to continue to work toward a world free of nuclear dangers, and ultimately, of nuclear weapons," Ban said in the message, delivered by Sergio de Queiroz Duarte, the U.N.'s high representative for disarmament affairs.

There are about 252,000 survivors of the attacks, according to the health ministry. Many have developed various illnesses caused by radiation exposure, including cancer and liver diseases.

Abe, in a meeting of survivors on Sunday, proposed a plan to relax some screening requirements so that more victims can get extensive medical support from the government. Currently only a restricted number of bomb victims meet the criteria for receiving special medical aid.

Ceremonies will also be held on Thursday's anniversary of the Nagasaki attack.

Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, bringing World War II to an end.

[tucano2]

The million or more American servicemen (and their decendants) spared death by not having to invade the Japanese homeland islands by virtue of the excellent decision of the US President Truman to cause two bombs to be dropped ought to forever grateful to him.

[feelfree1]

'stinkingprick/arse008',

RE: "How's your pal Achmadenijad doing these days FeelFree1?"

It sounds like he is doing pretty well. I understand that he is calling for the Israelis to leave occupied Palestine, and find somewhere else to live.

Sounds like an excellent idea to me.

That would solve a lot of problems and help to correct a great many injustices.

[oleander8]

"The U.S. was trying to stay out of the war until Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. I guess they have forgotten this after so much time has passed."[DeborahCox05]

No, they haven't forgotten - and as the only population in the world that has experienced the horror of the atomic bomb - their pacifist policy speaks for itself.

[deborahcox05]

The U.S. was trying to stay out of the war until Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. I guess they have forgotten this after so much time has passed.

Now they want a world without anything nuclear. I guess I would too!

[nonameabc]

This is what they deserved, and the two gifts were from the heaven. Read the Japanese denied the "Comfort Woman", and NanJing Massacre, I would not wonder why Germany did not eat that "heaven" of fire. German, they know and felt regret of what they did. In WWII, Japanese killed, raped, stole and murdered regardless of age in NanJing and in few weeks, over 300,000 people were dead. It is a bloody history, but Japanese denied these all. The government is teaching their new generation without this history.

Reference link:
http://centurychina.com/wiihist/njmassac/index.html

http://prion.bchs.uh.edu/~zzhang/1/Nanking_Massacre/gallery1.html

http://www.users.bigpond.com/battleforaustralia/JapWarCrimes/TenWarCrimes/Rape_Nanking.html

[mcvet]

If you enjoyed the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, don't miss what Cheney has in store for 9/11, part 2B. Act now. Don't wait for the video. Wire-tappers are standing by to take your order.

Posted by FeelFree1 at 07:00 AM : Aug 06, 2007

LOL What are you talking about, IF Bush and Chumey had been in charge in 1941 we'd never gotten to the point of dropping the Bomb. Remember those "Con's" LOVED Hitler and did EVERYTHING they could to prevent FDR from doing anything to stop the Axis. In fact it's highly likely if Japan doesn't make the stupid mistake of attacking Pearl Harbor, that Con's in this nation would have continued to support Hitler and the Nazi's until England fell. Sieg Heil Y'all.

[hotwitch]

I wonder if the Nation of Japan seeks to learn, with equal fervor, "the reality and philosophy" of the lessons of victims of The Rape of Nanking, or The Bataan Death March, or those of December 7th, 1941 ?

[feelfree1]

If you enjoyed the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, don't miss what Cheney has in store for 9/11, part 2B. Act now. Don't wait for the video. Wire-tappers are standing by to take your order.