Council for a Livable World: Join Us as We Commemorate

As the Olympics come to a close in Tokyo in just a few days, we want to acknowledge what happened in Japan 76 years ago this week and urge you to participate in a global weekend of action on peace.

On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, killing hundreds of thousands of people instantly.

We hope you'll join us in commemorating these tragic events by joining the Council for a Livable World, global and community leaders, and families around the world in folding an origami peace crane and sharing a photo of it, along with wishes for a brighter future, on social media during this weekend of peace.

HOW TO FOLD A PAPER CRANE

HISTORY OF THE PAPER CRANE

To make this weekend of action a success, we are asking you to recruit family and friends to join you. Post on social media between August 6 and 9 using the hashtag #CranesForOurFuture and share your pledge to fold a crane for peace.  

SAMPLE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

As we acknowledge these somber anniversaries, we also want to call attention to the hard work that goes into making sure events like these never happen again. For nearly 60 years, the Council has been at the forefront of policy and political action to help rid the world of nuclear threats. Our work is far from over, but every day that we don’t see another horrific tragedy caused by nuclear weapons represents progress in the global effort for peace. 

SUPPORT THE COUNCIL

As you know, our mission and work are as important now as ever. There are recent reports of new nuclear developments in China, which hawks in Congress will use as an excuse to give the Pentagon more money for more American nuclear weapons. That’s why it’s imperative that we continue supporting Members of Congress who advocate policies that prioritize diplomacy over conflict and peace over war. 

We can only continue our important work with your support. Will you help us maintain the staff and resources necessary to continue doing our part to prevent another nuclear catastrophe? 

HELP US RID THE WORLD OF NUCLEAR THREATS

Please consider making a one-time contribution or increasing your monthly donation in support of a brighter future and more livable world. 

Thank you for all you do. 

With gratitude,

John Tierney
Executive Director
Council for a Livable World
Member of Congress, 1997–2015

Manhattan Project National Historical Park At Los Alamos Hosting Moment Of Silence In Observance Of Atomic Bombings Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki Aug. 6 & Aug. 9

Thanks to Joni Arends of CCNS in Santa Fe, NM for alerting us to this news:

Manhattan Project National Historical Park At Los Alamos Hosting Moment Of Silence In Observance Of Atomic Bombings Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki Aug. 6 & Aug. 9

• Submitted by Carol A. Clark
• on August 3, 2021
• - 6:41 pm
• https://ladailypost.com/manhattan-project-national-historical-park-at-los-alamos-hosting-moment-of-silence-in-observance-of-atomic-bombings-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki/
  

MPNHP News:

The National Park Service at Manhattan Project National Historical Park (MPNHP) in Los Alamos will be hosting a moment of silence to observe 76 years since the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the waning days of World War II.

The park will host two separate events, one Aug. 6, in observance of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and one Aug. 9, in observance of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

The event is at the at the Ashley Pond Park Pavilion, at 2200 Trinity Dr. in Los Alamos:

• Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 at 9:15 a.m. MDT; and
• Monday, Aug. 9, 2021 at 11 a.m. MDT.

The uranium fueled atomic bomb “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945, at 8:16 a.m. local time in Japan, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of people. It is one of only two times an atomic weapon was intentionally used on a human population.

The second being when the plutonium fueled “Fat Man” was dropped over Nagasaki, Japan, on Aug. 9, 1945, at 11:02 a.m. local time in Japan, also killing tens of thousands. World War II came to an end less than a week later with the surrender of Japan on Aug. 15, 1945. The surrender became official on Sept. 2, 1945, 6 years and 1 day after World War II began when Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939.

Former Hiroshima Mayor Akiba steps up his call for an Olympics moment of silence on August 6

Dear Friends, Basel Peace Office has joined more than 120 organizations globally in supporting the appeal of former Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba to the International Olympic Committee to hold a moment of silence at the Olympic Games on August 6 in memory of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and in support of world peace. Basel Peace Office Director Alyn Ware joined Mayor Akiba in a press conference earlier today to advance this call. Below are some comments from the press conference. For more on this, please see the blog article on our website Former Hiroshima Mayor Akiba steps up his call for an Olympics moment of silence on August 6.   An Olympic moment of silence on August 6?

"The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should uphold the historical Olympic ideal for peace by holding a moment of silence on August 6, the 76th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima," says Mr Tadatoshi Akiba, former Mayor of Hiroshima and former President of Mayors for Peace. ‘The Olympic truce was inseparable from the Ancient Olympic Games, and has been reaffirmed in principle by the IOC and the United Nations,’ said Mr Akiba, speaking at a press conference earlier today. ‘Since Japan is the hosting country this time, the peace-oriented emphasis of the Olympic Games leads us naturally to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, two symbol cities of peace worldwide.’ IOC rejects the request The IOC announced on August 1 that it would not hold a moment of silence on August 6, in response to requests from Hiroshima City and an organization of atom bomb survivors (see Tokyo Olympics not to observe moment of silence for A-bomb victims, Kyodo News, Aug 1, 2021). This is supposedly in line with the IOC policy not to allow or facilitate political protests at the Olympics, which some athletes are already challenging. However, the call for a moment of silence is different. ‘A moment of silence on August 6 would not be a protest,’ said Mr Alyn Ware, Director of the Basel Peace Office and Member of Peace and Sport. ‘It would be a non-political, dignified and respectful way to uphold the Olympic Truce ideal and mark the significance of the Olympic Games being held in Japan.’

The Olympics and the Truce Ideal "During the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, the Olympic Truce Ideal was embodied in the Korean Olympic peace initiative, a diplomatic action, starting with the joint North/South Korea women’s ice hockey team, that opened the door to North-South Korean and Korean-USA summits and the start of a peace and denuclearisation process for the Korean Peninsula. It would be entirely appropriate for the IOC to mark the Japan Olympics with a solemn and dignified moment of recognition of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and the leadership of these cities for global peace." Alyn Ware, Director Basel Peace Office and Member of Peace and Sport, speaking at the Press Conference on the Olympic Moment of Silence Appeal.

Time for IOC to change its mind

"There is still time for the IOC to change its mind," says Mayor Akiba. ‘The IOC and the Japan Olympic Committee were able to change overnight their plans for in-person spectators at the Olympic games once it became apparent that having such spectators would exacerbate the covid infection rate amongst athletes and Japanese citizens. The IOC could also respond overnight to our appeal to mark August 6 with a dignified and respectful moment of silence.’

‘However, if they don’t, perhaps some of the athletes themselves will undertake their own moment of silence at 8:15am on August 6^th, the time of the detonation of the nuclear bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima,’ concluded Mayor Akiba.

For the full blog article please see Former Hiroshima Mayor Akiba steps up his call for an Olympics moment of silence on August 6

Commemorative Events Calendar - 76th Anniversary of the Bombings on Hiroshima & Nagasaki

FCNL NUCLEAR CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT:

Friday, August 6, 9:00 AM
Commemorative Events Calendar - 76th Anniversary of the Bombings on Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Online
Washington, DC

Sponsor: Physicians for Social Responsibility. Speakers: Multiple.

 Event Information 

Cranes For Our Future [Online]

FCNL NUCLEAR CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT:

Friday, August 6, 9:00 AM
Cranes For Our Future [Online]

Online
Washington, DC

Sponsors: Hiroshima Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, Nuclear Threat Initiative, Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace.

 Event Information