FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     August 3, 2007

Contact:                    Elisabeth Rattenborg, 412-491-7577 (c)
                                 Scilla Wahrhaftig, 412-371-3607 (o), 412-523-8533 (c)
                                 

Pittsburgh, PA- On the occasion of the anniversaries of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Yuko Nakamura, a Hiroshima survivor, will share her first-hand experience of the horrors of nuclear war while emphasizing the role the U.S. has in perpetuating the risk of future attacks.

On Tuesday, August 7th at 12:30pm Yuko will participate in a vigil and "speak out" outside of Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute (SEI) on the corner of S. Craig St. and 5th Ave. SEI, which receives millions of dollars from the U.S. Air Force, was chosen because of its role in supporting the U.S. ability to wage nuclear war.

When the bomb fell on Hiroshima, Yuko was in her second year of high school.  Earlier that same day, the first year high school students had gone to center city to help to dismantle buildings. Those 12-year-old girls, 220 in total, all perished by the end of the day, suffering from burns, without receiving any care or being able to see their families before dying. Facing the threat of dying of the diseases that plague atomic bomb survivors, Yuko became secretary general of Kanagawa Atomic Bomb Sufferers Association and a national council member of Nihon Hidankyo, an organization of Hibakusha, Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors.

Tuesday’s demonstration is part of five days of commemorations that also include a Lantern Float for Peace in Freeport on Sunday, a public discussion at the Monroeville Public Library on Monday about Bechtel and the current nuclear threat, a panel on "The Widening War" on Tuesday in Oakland, and film screenings on Wednesday and Thursday.  

“We hope that these events, while recognizing the tragedies that took place on August 6th and 9th in 1945, will also remind the public that there are a huge number of companies that profit from war” said Elisabeth Rattenborg, a Thomas Merton Center intern and one of the event’s organizers.

A complete schedule of Hiroshima and Nagasaki commemorations is attached.

For more information: www.demilitarizepittsburgh.org

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Commemorative Events, August 5-9
Lantern Float for Peace
Sunday, August 5, 7pm. Riverside Drive & 5th Street, Freeport.
A festival for families, with music, face painting, balloons, a speaker and tables of information about peace and justice groups. At dusk we will float three lanterns on the Allegheny. The first will remember those who died at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the second is for peace now and the third will send forth hope that all children will not face war in the future. Sponsored by Freeport Peace Links.

Bechtel, the Nuclear Threat, and Your Community
Monday, August 6, 7pm. Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Boulevard, Monroeville.
A public discussion on Bechtel Corporation and the current nuclear crisis. Bechtel develops nuclear weapons, pushed for us to go to war with Iraq, and is now opening up a new Navy facility in Monroeville. Featuring David Robinson, Pax Christi USA Executive Director, who recently visited Iran as part of a US religious delegation. Sponsored by Demilitarize Pittsburgh and AFSC Pittsburgh.

Vigil & Speak-out w/Hiroshima Survivor
Tuesday, August 7, 12:30pm. CMU's Software Engineering Institute, S. Craig & 5th Ave., Pittsburgh.
Featuring Hiroshima survivor Yuko Nakamura and the Raging Grannies. Sponsored by AFSC PA and Demilitarize Pittsburgh.

The Widening War
Tuesday, August 7, 7pm Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Ave., Pittsburgh
A public discussion featuring Hiroshima survivor Yuko Nakamura, National Council member of Hidankyo; and Bal Pinguel, Coordinator of the American Friends Service Committee, Peacebuilding & Demilitarization Program. Sponsored by AFSC Pittsburgh and Demilitarize Pittsburgh.

Film Screening #1: White Light/Black Rain
Wednesday, August 8, 7pm. The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh.
A new, critically acclaimed documentary featuring fourteen Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors that is a remarkable document of the only times nuclear weapons have been used in war. Directed by Academy Award winner Steven Okazaki. Sponsored by the Network of Spiritual Progressives and Demilitarize Pittsburgh.

Film Screening #2: White Light/Black Rain
Thursday, August 9, 7pm. East Suburban UU Church, 4326 Sardis Rd., Murrysville. Sponsored by the Network of Spiritual Progressives.