Pugwash conference participants touch horror and hardship of Nagasaki A-bombing
Nov. 10, 2015
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer
The 61st “Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs” opened in the A-bombed city of Nagasaki on November 1. The conference is being held in Japan for the first time in 10 years, following the gathering in Hiroshima in 2005. On this day, scientists and high officials from the participating nations touched the horror and hardship of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and reaffirmed their determination to realize a world free of war and nuclear weapons before engaging in their discussions.
At the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, the conference participants listened to the A-bomb account, in English, of survivor Yoshiro Yamawaki, 81, a resident of Nagasaki who experienced the atomic bombing approximately 2.2 kilometers from the hypocenter. Photographs of the city in the aftermath of the bombing were projected onto a screen. Some of the participants shed tears when they heard Mr. Yamawaki describe how he cremated the body of his father, who was killed by the blast. “With the strong determination of scientists, let us pave the way for the elimination of nuclear weapons and make Nagasaki the very last A-bombed city!” said Mr. Yamawaki, his appeal receiving a standing ovation from the participants. Their comments indicated that they were moved by Mr. Yamawaki’s words, that nuclear weapons must never be used again, and that everyone should take immediate action to help abolish nuclear arms.
The participants looked at exhibits showing the belongings of A-bomb victims in the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and visited the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. A representative of the group laid flowers at the Peace Statue in the Peace Park.
At the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, replicas of the Nobel Peace Prize medal and certificate that were awarded to the Pugwash Conferences in 1995 were presented to the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Jayantha Dhanapala, the president of the Pugwash Conferences, said in his address that he holds the highest respect for the A-bomb survivors and their long commitment to nuclear disarmament. Katsumi Suesada, the director of the A-bomb Experience Preservation Division of the City of Hiroshima, who received the medal and certificate along with Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue, said, “The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum will display this medal and certificate to raise the public’s awareness of the Pugwash Conferences, which has made such great efforts to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons.”
(Originally published on November 2, 2015)
The 61st “Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs” opened in the A-bombed city of Nagasaki on November 1. The conference is being held in Japan for the first time in 10 years, following the gathering in Hiroshima in 2005. On this day, scientists and high officials from the participating nations touched the horror and hardship of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and reaffirmed their determination to realize a world free of war and nuclear weapons before engaging in their discussions.
At the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, the conference participants listened to the A-bomb account, in English, of survivor Yoshiro Yamawaki, 81, a resident of Nagasaki who experienced the atomic bombing approximately 2.2 kilometers from the hypocenter. Photographs of the city in the aftermath of the bombing were projected onto a screen. Some of the participants shed tears when they heard Mr. Yamawaki describe how he cremated the body of his father, who was killed by the blast. “With the strong determination of scientists, let us pave the way for the elimination of nuclear weapons and make Nagasaki the very last A-bombed city!” said Mr. Yamawaki, his appeal receiving a standing ovation from the participants. Their comments indicated that they were moved by Mr. Yamawaki’s words, that nuclear weapons must never be used again, and that everyone should take immediate action to help abolish nuclear arms.
The participants looked at exhibits showing the belongings of A-bomb victims in the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and visited the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. A representative of the group laid flowers at the Peace Statue in the Peace Park.
At the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, replicas of the Nobel Peace Prize medal and certificate that were awarded to the Pugwash Conferences in 1995 were presented to the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Jayantha Dhanapala, the president of the Pugwash Conferences, said in his address that he holds the highest respect for the A-bomb survivors and their long commitment to nuclear disarmament. Katsumi Suesada, the director of the A-bomb Experience Preservation Division of the City of Hiroshima, who received the medal and certificate along with Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue, said, “The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum will display this medal and certificate to raise the public’s awareness of the Pugwash Conferences, which has made such great efforts to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons.”
(Originally published on November 2, 2015)
