August 6, 2021, Leuven, Belgium: LKGCB participated in the commemoration
of Hiroshima & Nagasaki organized by Leuvense Vredesbeweging (Leuven Peace Movement) and Pax Christi Vlaanderen in the Saint Michael’s Peace Church, Leuven. The Leuven Peace Movement is a partnership of 6 Leuven organizations working on peace, disarmament, reconciliation, and nonviolent conflict management.
LKGCB president, Dr Rajendra Bari and the secretary, Mr Mahendra Bhattarai took active participation in various activities to remember this event, advocate to ban nuclear weapons and promote world peace. During the event, there was an exhibition entitled – “No More Hibakusha. A future without nuclear weapons”. Several art works created by young Japanese artists were displayed which depicted a future without weapons of mass destruction. The exhibition is still continuing till the end of August.
Nuclear weapons are existential threats to humanity and have potential adverse effects on world peace. Seventy-six years ago (August 6 and 9 in 1945), nuclear bombs were used by the U.S. on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which resulted in the killing of more than 210,000 people and causing the misery for thousands of survivors. Those who survived the bombings are known as Hibakusha. Survivors faced a horrifying aftermath in the cities, including radiation poisoning and psychological trauma.
Ms Els de Groen, writer, poet and former MEP, was an invited speaker during the event. She gave an interesting speech on the impact of nuclear weapon and talked about her experience in working with several organizations in promoting nuclear disarmament. Ms De Groen says –“Despite the scale and aftermath of those horrific bombings, the military application has become increasingly developed and accessible to an increasing number of countries. Those who have nuclear power plants and have knowledge of enrichment can make their own bomb and become the nuclear power.”
The unleashed atomic power has changed everything except our way of thinking. According to Ms De Groen, “the solution to that problem lies in the hearts of people. If we don’t adjust our mindset with our hearts, we threaten to become modern versions of Fred Flinstone, rock age people with a nuclear bat”.
LKGCB promotes non-violence, world peace and justice, and stands against any kind of discrimination. This includes advocating for nuclear disarmament.