Hiroshima Day Remembered

by Rachel Rowlands, Sheffield Creative Action for Peace

On Thursday, 6 August, Sheffield Creative Action for Peace (SCRAP) held its annual ceremony to remember the victims of the US nuclear bombings of the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Lord Mayor Andrew Sangar, accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, spoke as a representative of Mayors for Peace, the international organisation of which Sheffield is a member, committed to working for peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Part of a message from the Mayor of Hiroshima was read, including memories of hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) to remind us of the reality of the horrific destruction, deaths, and injuries resulting from the bombings, and urging those countries that have not already done so to sign up to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Poems and speeches highlighted the global devastation that would be caused by a nuclear detonation, such that the Red Cross and Red Crescent would be unable to respond; the danger of ‘normalising’ the existence of these weapons of mass destruction. US Nuclear missiles have returned to British soil at RAF Lakenheath, making the UK more of a target for attack. The UK is increasing its arsenal from 180 warheads to 260. Sheffield’s AMRC (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre) has been awarded millions in research funding for Sheffield University to work with the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) on the UK’s next-generation nuclear warheads, chillingly known as Astraea (Greek for justice, innocence and purity). Reports indicate that this new warhead is expected to be roughly 30 times as powerful as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Since the TPNW became international law in 2021, members of SCRAP have made a pennant for every country that has ratified the Treaty, for use in awareness-raising. The UK has consistently voted against the adoption of the TPNW. However, three of Sheffield’s MPs are among more than 60, along with dozens of members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, who have pledged to work for the UK’s signature and ratification of the Treaty. A number of Sheffield councillors have pledged support for the Treaty, and SCRAP is working to encourage Sheffield City Council to join other British cities, including Leeds and Manchester, in passing a motion in support of the Treaty.

A minute’s silence was held to remember the 200,000 people who died as a result of the bombing and all those descendants of survivors whose health has been adversely affected since. The ceremony ended with two songs sung by Sheffield Choir for Peace.

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