Booklet to question dropping of atomic bombs completed in English and Japanese
Apr. 15, 2010
by Sakiko Masuda, Staff Writer
The Hiroshima Institute for Peace Education, composed of teachers who are members of the Hiroshima Teachers' Union and professors, has compiled a booklet entitled "Why was the atomic bomb dropped?" in both Japanese and English. The booklet will be distributed at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference slated for this May in the United States.
The booklet consists of six questions with answers about such issues as the background involving the development of the atomic bombs and the reasons why the bombs were used on Japan. As to these reasons, several theories, including to end the war swiftly and to test the weapon on human subjects, are listed in order to encourage readers to give thought to the issue.
Hideaki Nagai, 74, a researcher at the institute, shared his thoughts in compiling the booklet, saying, "In the United States, the most common theory is that the bombs were used to end the war swiftly and save the lives of as many American soldiers as possible, but this reason was devised after the bombings. Unless we stop justifying the dropping of the bombs, the abolition of nuclear weapons cannot be achieved."
The booklet, at a size of 180mm × 255mm, has 38 pages. 1,000 copies were printed to distribute among participants of the NPT Review Conference and others. The institute has also asked Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to carry the booklet at its museum shop at a price of 300 yen per copy.
(Originally published on April 15, 2010)
The Hiroshima Institute for Peace Education, composed of teachers who are members of the Hiroshima Teachers' Union and professors, has compiled a booklet entitled "Why was the atomic bomb dropped?" in both Japanese and English. The booklet will be distributed at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference slated for this May in the United States.
The booklet consists of six questions with answers about such issues as the background involving the development of the atomic bombs and the reasons why the bombs were used on Japan. As to these reasons, several theories, including to end the war swiftly and to test the weapon on human subjects, are listed in order to encourage readers to give thought to the issue.
Hideaki Nagai, 74, a researcher at the institute, shared his thoughts in compiling the booklet, saying, "In the United States, the most common theory is that the bombs were used to end the war swiftly and save the lives of as many American soldiers as possible, but this reason was devised after the bombings. Unless we stop justifying the dropping of the bombs, the abolition of nuclear weapons cannot be achieved."
The booklet, at a size of 180mm × 255mm, has 38 pages. 1,000 copies were printed to distribute among participants of the NPT Review Conference and others. The institute has also asked Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to carry the booklet at its museum shop at a price of 300 yen per copy.
(Originally published on April 15, 2010)
