Hiroshima survivors speak at nuclear remembrance
On the 5th of August, just after the exact anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, two Hibakasha, or survivors of this atomic bomb spoke at the annual DC vigil on this anniversary.
Video including clips of both Hibakasha speeches
This year, the vigil was held near the Martin Luther King Jr memorial instead of the Lincoln Memorial.
Both of the Hibakasha recounted their experience as children or teenagers at the time of the bombing. They spoke of the the incredible amount of damage and suffering caused by this single bomb, a “small” nuke by later standards. It must be remembered that in no way were those who were children at the time of the bombings in any way responsible for the war.
During the introductions, there was mention of nuclear reactors and the mess they made at Fukashima after the tsunami. I was later told that some of the the Hibakasha had warned Japanese politicians and industry not to invite anything nuclear back to Japan but were ignored.
