August 6-9 - event reports

Civil Disobedience at Alliant Techsystems, Inc. -- Edina, MN

allie — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:53:59 -0400

Eight Arrested for Delivering Roses to Alliant Techsystems Headquarters on Hiroshima Day.

On Monday, August 6, approximately 40 people gathered at the headquarters of Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (ATK) in Edina, MN to prayerfully commemorate all who died in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 62 years ago, and those who have suffered the effects of Depleted Uranium (DU) poisoning in recent years. ATK is the world's largest producer of DU weapons. The United States has used DU weapons in former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Health effects linked to DU's radioactive particles include increased instances of cancers, leukemia, birth defects, miscarriages, and infant mortality among civilians and soldiers alike. In addition, ATK produces motors for launching Trident II and Minuteman III nuclear missiles.

Vigil participants representing Christian Peacemaker Teams, AlliantACTION, and other Minnesota peace groups, dressed in black and carried white roses to represent healing and remembrance for those who have suffered from nuclear weapons and DU. Instead of missiles and bombs raining down destruction and horror, participants prayed for a new day- for the raining down of love on all God's people.

CPT training participant, Jean Fallon, a Maryknoll Sister who lived in Japan for 50 years, spoke of the horror of the atomic bomb on the people who survived the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings: "There was residual radiation after the bomb exploded and it was very potent. First the people would get leukemia and thyroid cancer, and other cancers would follow. Depleted Uranium works in the same way. Particles are taken in by the body and they go off at different times. Many of the children get leukemia right away. They have the same kind of birth defect- bone cancer."

Holding signs that said "Hiroshima: Never Again," vigilers passed white roses to others bearing signs representing victims of DU- Iraqi civilians, Soldiers, Children, Afghanistan, etc. As the crowd sang out the words, "None can stop the Spirit, burning now inside us. We will shape the future. We will not be silent," eight participants carried their white roses towards the front door of ATK, hoping to deliver their
message of peace to executives inside. When stopped by several ATK employees and Edina police, the eight attempted to engage in dialogue and negotiate entrance to the building. Police warned the group to leave or they would be arrested. The eight then knelt down in prayer. Each person received a citation for trespassing which carries a $142 fine.

Arrested were Tarek Abuata (Bethesda, MD), Sally Ann Brickner (Green Bay, WI), Kryss Chupp (Chicago, IL), Steve Clemens (Minneapolis, MN), Delycia Fuestel (Lebanon, NH), Cliff Kindy (N. Manchester, IN), Martin Smedjeback (Sundbyberg, Sweden), and Colin Stuart (Ottawa, ON).

The action was planned by CPT in solidarity with AlliantACTION.

IMAGES from the ACTION

Contact Christian Peacemaker Teams at kryss@cpt.org

Hiroshima Remembrance and Reflection -- Petoskey, MI

allie — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:50:23 -0400

At our Hiroshima event we began circulating a petition to End the Urgent Danger--a project of the Center for Theology and Policy originally -- Barbara MacArthur

(More info on this event to come . . .)

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Rememberance -- Hartford, CT

allie — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:54:31 -0400

We had about 60 people in Hartford and 30 handwritten letters to the CT Congressional delegation on nuclear weapon issues -- Joe Wassermann

Nagasaki Day Peace Dedication at SS Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA

allie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:11:44 -0400

On August 6, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on
the city of Hiroshima, Japan, killing an estimated 150,000 people
in the immediate blast and fire. Three day later, on August 9, 1945,
more than 75,000 people died in the blast and fire resulting from the
U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan. More than 100,000
people died in the days and years ahead, and continue to die,
from the radioactive poisoning of the first atomic bombings.

In Valley Forge, Lockheed Martin, among other Pentagon
contracts, produces fire control systems for Tomahawk cruise
missiles as well as battlefield computers used in the U.S. war of
occupation in Iraq.

August 9, 2007 - Nagasaki Day Peace Dedication
Organized by: Brandywine Peace Community; Co-sponsored by:
Catholic Peace Fellowship & Northwest [Phila.] Greens

August 9, 1945, Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki, Japan;
Ground Zero: the Urakami Roman Catholic Cathedral

August 9, 2007, Nagasaki Day Dedication at SS Peter & Paul
Roman Catholic Cathedral in Philadelphia

As people stood on and before the steps of the SS Peter & Paul
Roman Catholic Cathedral in Phila., a siren blasted recalling the
sirens of that morning 62 years ago when the largest Catholic
Cathedral in all of Asia, in the city of the largest Catholic population
in all of Asia, was ground zero for the 2nd atomic bombing.

[Relative to the Hiroshima bomb (nicknamed "Little Boy) dropped
three days earlier, the bomb that exploded above the Urakami
suburb of Nagasaki was the more powerful plutonium bomb,
nicknamed "Fat Man" after British prime minister Winston Churchill.
The plane carrying "Fat Man" took off from Tinian Island with the
primary target of Kokura. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Kokura had all
been "saved" (from earlier U.S. carpet and fire bombings) for the
planned atomic bombings.
On the morning of August 9, ground haze and smoke fully obscured
Kokura, so the plane's pilot, Major Charles W. Sweeney, decided to
"make a run down to Nagasaki [the mission's secondary target] as
there was no sense dragging the bomb home or dropping it in the
ocean". At 11:02AM, "Fat Man" dropped from the B-29 and
exploded 1,650 feet above the city.]

In front of Philadelphia's SS Peter & Paul Cathedral, a large bell
tolled 62 times as people stood in silent reflective memory of 62
years of war and nuclear weapons. Readings on "the Cost of War,
the Price of Peace" followed as did a Litany of Water, Healing, &
Peace (see below).

Incense burned in homage to all the victims of war and ceremonially
people were invited to a basin, on the base of which were river rocks
and stones, a piece of wood, and a dome shaped stone. Water (a
symbol of healing, cleansing, and re-juvenation) was poured over
the hands of participants and the basin-filled representation of the
Urakami Cathedral and the port city of Nagasaki.

The Nagasaki Day Peace Dedication ended with Tom Mullian
leading people his song "We Declare Peace".

Hiroshima Day ‘07 Litany

Reader: On July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb test, code-named
“Trinity,” took place in an area of desert in New Mexico called
“Jornada del Muerto” – Journey of Death. J. Robert Oppenheimer,
the scientific director of the Manhattan Project which developed the
first atomic bombs, remembered the passage from the Hindu
Scripture, the Bhagavad Gita: “Now I am become death, the
destroyer of worlds.” Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 3 weeks later,
foretold the world that we know and the society that we’ve become.
The trail of nuclear weapons, militarism and war, invasions and
occupations, empire and the corporate domination of the economy
and our democracy, brings us to where war is made today:
Lockheed Martin.
All: Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Never Again; Stop Lockheed Martin;
We Declare Peace

Reader: On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb was dropped on
the city of Hiroshima. The thermal flash and blast started fires
which very quickly became a firestorm until the whole city was
ablaze. Birds ignited in midair. People ran to the rivers to escape
and soon the river became not a stream of flowing water but a
stream of drifting dead bodies. Despite every horrifying statistic of
violence and war we’ve ever heard, the account, statistics, and
memory of that day 62 years ago are still devastating. 60 percent of
the city is destroyed–hospitals, hotels, rail stations, temples,
factories, houses, and scores of other buildings reduced to flaming
rubble. The next morning the sun rose and revealed the dawning of
the nuclear age. Where the city once stood, was a wasteland of
ashes and ruin. Three days later, Nagasaki.
All: Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Never Again; Stop Lockheed Martin;
We Declare Peace

Reader: Sixty-two years of nuclear weapons and their threatened
use have emboldened and outlined every imperial move of the U.S.
from Vietnam to Central America to the Persian Gulf. The U.S.
continues to maintain an arsenal of 10,000 nuclear weapons
deployed on land, sea, and in the air, at a cost of $27 billion
annually and the Bush Administration is now pushing Complex
2030 for the streamlining and re-juvenation of future nuclear
weapons design and production. Called Complex 2030 because of
the nuclear weapons industry’s plan, with Lockheed Martin at the
core, be in place within the next 25 years. Whole populations and
lands have been contaminated with the toxic effects of nuclear
weapons production–plutonium, which fuels nuclear bombs, has a
toxic life of 240,000 years or 10,000 human generations. So too, the
very principle of democracy and commitment to civil liberties has
been contaminated by our society’s reliance on war and the
militarization of culture, economy, and law.
All: Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Never Again; Stop Lockheed Martin;
We Declare Peace

Reader: The U.S. military budget this year will exceed a half
trillion dollars. Many suffer, so very, very few may profit.
Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest weapons corporation, the
U.S.’s #1 worldwide arms supplier, the U.S.’s chief nuclear bomb
contractor, the Iraq war’s chief profiteer - is quite simply making a
killing in war. The fire control systems for Tomahawk cruise
missiles repeatedly launched from Lockheed Martin Aegis warships
throughout the Gulf Wars are produced by Lockheed Martin right
here as are the battlefield computer used daily in the Iraq war of
occupation, now in its 4th year In every war lies the threat of
another Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Lockheed Martin is built atop the
ashes of the nuclear age and the continuing wars and global nuclear
reach of the U.S. military empire. Lockheed Martin profits, at the
expense of human needs and the promise of justice. In memory of
all victims of the past 62 years of war and nuclear terror, we cry out
for peace and a future worthy of our hopes and our
children–education, homes, health care for all, justice, an honoring
of the earth, peace. All: Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Never Again;
Stop Lockheed Martin; We Declare Peace

Declaring Peace at Lockheed Martin

Ten years had passed since the day the Bomb was dropped on the city of
Hiroshima. In 1955, a thirteen year old Japanese girl named Sadako
Sasaki died of radiation-induced leukemia. She was one of thousands of
children in Hiroshima to suffer the radioactive after-effects that have
kept
killing weeks, months, years, decades, after August 6, 1945. During her

illness Sadako folded paper cranes wishing for recovery from the fatal
disease. She knew the story which says that cranes live a thousand years

and that the person who folds a thousand paper cranes will have their
wish granted. Sadako folded 644 paper cranes before she died. Her
classmates folded 356 more cranes so Sadako could be buried with a
thousand cranes. A monument was built in the Hiroshima Peace Park to
honor the child’s memory and each year on Hiroshima Day children
throughout Japan adorn it with thousands of brightly colored paper
cranes. The monument to Sadako Sasaki reads: “This is our cry, this is
our prayer, Peace in the world.”

The sunflower has become a worldwide symbol for peace, carrying the
hope of a world free of nuclear weapons and war. We claim for peace the
land on which Lockheed Martin sits. We seek to reclaim our country for
peace and the promise of justice and democracy. We seek to reclaim a
determined hope for a world free of nuclear weapons and war. Today, we
join hands and declare peace in front of Lockheed Martin. Today, we
recall the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and, with
sunflower seeds, we plant our hopes here at Lockheed Martin for peace
and for justice.
All: Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Never Again; Stop Lockheed Martin;
We Declare Peace

Litany of Water, Healing & Peace
Response: [all] May the healing waters of peace roll over us as
we toll the bell of peace

In Remembrance of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, 62 years of war and nuclear weapons, and amidst the
seas of war, violence, disaster, and neglect that swirl around us
today; we yearn for the healing waters of peace...[all]
For vibrant lives suddenly and shamelessly taken from the
community of family and loved ones...[all]
For the lives that continue, haunted forever by the pain of absence,
and the nightmare images forever seared into our memories...[all]
For empire and all the deaths due to the arrogance of patriotism,
religious or ideological fanaticism, and indifference to the world
and human need...[all]
For reconciliation amongst all peoples... [all]
For the care of children and the earth... [all]
For the violence of poverty and the wounding of body and spirit
resulting from racial, religious, and sexual hatred...[all]
For our society’s addiction to oil, weapons, and war-making... [all]
That we may end war and the occupation of Iraq, abolish nuclear
weapons, resist the war economy and beat swords into plowshares,
care for the victims of violence, disaster, and hatred; That we may
see the possibilities of justice and peace, always clinging to the
Promise of Peace... [all] --Robert M. Smith

Brandywine Peace Community's Hiroshima Day of Remembrance & Resistance at Lockheed Martin, Valley Forge, PA

allie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:06:37 -0400

August 6 - 9, 2007- Brandywine Peace Community's Hiroshima Day of
Remembrance & Resistance at Lockheed Martin, Valley Forge, PA and
Nagasaki Day Peace Dedication at SS Peter & Paul Roman Catholic
Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA
.
On August 6, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on
the city of Hiroshima, Japan, killing an estimated 150,000 people
in the immediate blast and fire. Three day later, on August 9, 1945,
more than 75,000 people died in the blast and fire resulting from the
U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan. More than 100,000
people died in the days and years ahead, and continue to die,
from the radioactive poisoning of the first atomic bombings.

Hiroshima Day 2007, Remembrance and Resistance

At 8:15AM, a siren blast signalled the 62nd Anniversary of the
atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the start of a vigil of
remembrance in front of the Valley Forge weapons complex of
Lockheed Martin. The siren blast was followed by the tolling of a
bell sixty-two times, once for each of the past sixty-two years of war,
war economy, and the terror posed by the existence and threatened
use of nuclear weapons. The vigil continued in front of Lockheed
Martin which, as the world's largest weapons corporation, the U.S.'s
chief nuclear bomb contractor, and the Iraq war's chief profiteer,
incorporates the continuation and legacy of sixty-two years of war
and nuclear weapons.

The vigil of remembrance continued until noon, with hourly siren
blasts and bell-tolling sixty-two times.

The vigil moved to the driveway entrance of Lockheed Martin, with
large blue Lockheed Martin logo signs on both sides of the drive.
Again, a siren blast, followed by a reading of the account of the
Hiroshima bombing from the "Journey of Death" narrative published
by the Brandywine Peace Community for the 50th Anniversary of the
bombing of Hiroshima. Following the reading of the Hiroshima
bombing account, Ms Yuko Nakamura, a survivor of the Hiroshima
bombing, an "Hibakusha", spoke. A thirteen year old school girl at
the time of the time of bombing, her words convey what most of us
can only best imagine in nightmares. Nakamura-san now travels
the world, as Secretary-General of Kanagawa Atomic Bomb
Sufferers Association speaking for peace and the abolition of
nuclear weapons.

Fittingly, a "Die-in", dramatizing the unimaginable, followed on black
coffin cloths in front of the Lockheed Martin logo sign. Nearby stood
a full-size black coffin with white masks, pictures of the aftermath of
the first atomic bombing, and draped with colorful strands of paper
peace cranes. People then arose to the sound of music and walked
a few feet to another part of the Lockheed Martin site forming a
chain of remembrance and resistance to Lockheed Martin.

Following the Hiroshima Day '07 litany and a statement "Declaring
Peace at Lockheed Martin" (see below), one by one, those prepared
to face arrest for civil disobedience exited the line, walking onto
Lockheed Martin, strewing handfuls of sunflower seeds: "The
sunflower has become a world-wide symbol for peace, carrying the
hope of a world free of nuclear weapons and war... Today, we recall
the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and, with
sunflower seeds, we plant our hopes here at Lockheed Martin for
peace and justice."

Eleven people were arrested - Tom Mullian, Media, PA; Mary Jo
McArthur, Beth Friedlan, Vinton Deming, and Bernadette Cronin-
Geller, all of Philadelphia; Rev. Patrick Sieber, Camden, NJ, and
Jackie Baumann, Elmwood Park, NJ; Rich Conti, Rutledge, PA;
Theresa Camerota, Wyncote, PA; and Robert M. Smith,
Swarhmore, PA. - cited and releases on "Disorderly Conduct"
citations.

Color photos of the Hiroshima Day Demonstration appeared in the
Phila. Daily News. There was also coverage on WCAU-TV and it
was the lead report for a while on KYW-All News Radio. -Robert M. Smith

Nagasaki Remembrance in Asheville, NC - Pritchard Park

allie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:56:36 -0400

About 12 of us gathered at Pritchard Park to remember the bombing of Nagasaki. I had a difficult time trying to park, and drove around and around the part trying to find some place to park. I was the ones with the candles, bags, and most importantly, sand. The sand is too heavy to carry very far. Finally, I pulled into the space reserved for police officers, and unloaded the supplies, since there were several people there already. After unloading, I drove off and found a parking spot right away – figures.

Anyway, tonight we remembered the bombing of Nagasaki. This was the 62^nd year of remembering this event where the US killed 140,000 people from that one bombing.

This is how they remembered it in Japan:

Japan marked the 62nd anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki with prayers and ceremony on Thursday as the city’s mayor warned that the world faced a crisis of nuclear proliferation. Thousands of children, elderly survivors and dignitaries in Nagasaki’s Peace Park bowed their heads in a minute of silence at 11:02 a.m., the time the bomb was dropped, in memory of the more than 140,000 who ultimately died. Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue vowed to carry on the fight to eliminate nuclear arms long spearheaded by his predecessor, Itcho Ito, who was gunned down by a gangster in April.

I agree. We need to eliminate nuclear arms, yet my government wants to keep building more and more of them.

Anyway, the above are pictures from our vigil, held at the other end of the park this time. (Someone had an art display at the other end, and we did not want to disrupt that.) There were about 12 people there, and some of us talked while others meditated for peace.

We remembered. --Susan Oehler

Minneapolis, MN Hiroshima Nagasaki Commemoration Events

allie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:41:23 -0400

The STARTRIBUNE printed a photo of a woman gently placing her origami crane on the weeping willow tree by the Peace Bridge at the Ceremony of Cranes Monday morning. I think it is an iconic photo of this year's commemoration activities to date. Our Minnesota community is dealing with all the emotions and reality of the I-35W bridge collapse, and the need is for kindness and quiet space in our hearts. Our events at the Peace Garden helped meet that need, I think.

As the Women in Black processed along the Pathway to Peace, they were accompanied by the gentle rat-a-tat-tat of the drum. Moments of silence after each reflection gave time for the words to sink into our consciousness. Thank you, Marilyn and the WIB, for leading us into the garden.

There was a small group gathered by the Spirit of Peace sculpture as Marcia Sanoden began to sing songs of peace. I hold the refrain of "One crane, two cranes, three cranes, four, We can put an end to war..." in my heart. Larry Johnson and Elaine Wynne once more told the SADAKO story with great expression. And what a wonderful photo I have of Larry playing with his grandchild Lincoln after the story was told. Larry explained how his son Lincoln, at age seven, suggested that folding the origami crane would enhance the story. I am sure "mini Lincoln" will grow to be a peacemaker as well.

Thank you to Camy and the Arden Consort for welcoming people into the garden for the tea ceremony. Father Jim Soki Herrman and Father Lyle Ehmke, with help from Patricia Katagiri of the Yukimakai tea study group, performed this commemorative event. As Patricia said, outdoor tea ceremonies would often use the folding tables rather than tatami mats. Being on the tables gave the audience better views, I think. Thank you to Katie Fournier for organizing these two activities.

Monday morning dawned cloudy and close, but a bit of a breeze came up as we began our centerpiece event, the Ceremony of the Cranes. Kathleen Olsen and Bret Hesla played both familiar and new songs of peace. The "Remember" song which Bret wrote was so appropriate to the day. City Councilwoman Betsy Hodges and Park Commissioner Bob Fine welcomed the seventy-five or so people who came, then Kathleen, Bret, and Joseph Olsen on his violin, played DONA NOBIS PACEM--give us peace. This is becoming a tradition at the ceremony. Thank you, Kathleen, for your faithfulness. US Representative Keith Ellison was our keynote speaker, thanks to the persistence of Margaret Esslinger. His message of the importance of dialogue, not arrogance, gave us language to use with our legislators and other government leaders to work toward peaceful resolution of conflicts.

After the moment of silence at 8:15 and the hanging of the cranes, Leo Hansen's wonderful shakuhachi flute led us to the Spirit of Peace sculpture where Maria Genne's Kairos Intergenerational Dance Theatre performed a dance of reflection and hope as Leo continued to play. What an awesome closure to the morning ceremonies!

Marj Wunder and others kept vigil in the garden throughout the day, folding cranes under the willow by the bridge and greeting a host of international visitors. A group of young people from Germany was biking with a Lutheran church group. Some seventy-five students from an international program at the University of Minnesota came into the garden. The delegation from Lithuania spontaneously sang a haunting song about cranes. What an inspiring day!

Rabbi Glaser and the Social Action Figures did rock the night away. Two highlights for me, though, were the ballad which Sara Glaser had written and "Last Night I had the Strangest Dream," another slow tune. I was so pleased that Fumiko Yamaguchi, vice president of the Nagasaki St. Paul Sister City Committee, was able to make an appearance at the Concert and welcome people to the August 9 event in St. Paul.

Chris Rossow, president, and other members of the St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee, have been instrumental in arranging the upcoming event August 9 at Como Park where we will remember the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The Junshin singers will sing two songs written expressly in response to the August 9 bombing; Chris will read ON THAT SUMMER DAY, and people will walk the Global Harmony Labyrinth designed by local artist Cyndy McKeen and dedicated to Karen Kunzman, longtime supporter of the St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City relationship. Kyodo News is sending a reporter to cover that event.

Special thanks to Lisa Ledwidge for designing our website, and Lisa Boyd and Karen Redleaf for maintaining it; to Michael Matheny and Holly Coughlin at Triangle Creative Press for the wonderful flyer design; to St. Joan of Arc for the use of their meeting space; to Mary Lerman, faithful MPRB supporter of the Peace Garden; to our speakers, musicians, and dancers; to Jan Hively for designing the program and printing the action postcards; to Marilyn Cuneo and the Women in Black; and to all the members of the Hiroshima Nagasaki Commemoration Committee and St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee, for making this year's events so memorable. --JoAnn Blatchley

Columbia, MO Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration

allie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:33:11 -0400

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks turned out approximately 120 people on a hot August night, not a bad turnout, but a little down from last year. We had three very effective speakers, and their comments were interspersed with readings from the testimony of Hibakusha. As we always do, we shared food, made lanterns and listened to music before the speakers, and floated the lanterns after, when it got dark.

We got a little coverage. (See links below to the story that ran in one of our local papers, the pic and cutline that ran in the other daily paper, and the one TV story we got.) --Mark Haim

Columbia Missourian

Columbia Daily Tribune

KOMU-TV

Dodgeville, Wisconsin Lanterns for Peace Event

allie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:06:31 -0400

Over 80 folks ranging in age from 6 months to sixty something attended the “Lanterns for Peace” event in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. As part of the program there was an update about President Bush’s proposed $150 billion increase in nuclear weapons, and petitions to signs for our Senators and Representative. There was a message from an Japanese-American woman whose great grandparents came from Hiroshima. A story-teller told the story of “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” to the children. There were songs for children and adults. “Lantern for Peace” were made by everyone and floated on Twin Valley Lake in Governor Dodge Park at dusk. -- Mike Wolkomir

Hiroshima Day Commemoration New Haven 2007

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:00:23 -0400

On the days of August 6, 7, 8, 9, 2007, the Greater New Haven Peace Council, United Nations Association of Greater New Haven, CT Peace Coalition/New Haven and City of New Haven Peace Commission held silent vigils on the New Haven Green to commemorate the atomization of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Large white paper cranes and small colorful cranes were on display along with demonstrations on how to make cranes by the CT Peace Coalition.

An attendee read a poem. Al Marder of the New Haven Peace Commission spoke about the loss of Mayor Iccho Ito of Nagasaki and current nuclear issues.

After the vigil on August 6, at 9:00 a.m. a group of cyclists set out on a bike ride circling the city of New Haven from a radius of one mile ~ indicating the area affected by the type of bomb dropped on Hiroshima. On August 9, the United Church on the Green rang the church bells during the silent vigil.

The Peace Declarations from Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba of Hiroshima and Mayor Tomihisa Taue of Nagasaki were read, with copies forwarded to the Mayor of New Haven. New Haven is a Peace Messenger City and Mayor DeStefano is part of the organization, “Mayors for Peace” which has over 2000 mayors committed to the abolition of nuclear weapons. Chief Administrator, Robert Smuts attended both vigils and spoke at the Nagasaki vigil on the importance of this issue.

Two rainbow peace flags with statements of solidarity to the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to work for the total abolition of nuclear weapons were on display for people to sign. We hope to present these two peace flags to two “Hibakusha” survivors, Hirotami Yamada and Kiya Kohta. They will be visiting Quinnipiac University, this September at a two-day conference on the topic of nuclear disarmament in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Albert Schweitzer’s “Declaration of Conscience” calling for an end to nuclear testing and for the destruction of nuclear weapons.

A large-sized copy of the “Dear Colleague Letter”, Rep. Lynn Woolsey wrote to members of Congress asking for their support of the H. Res. 68, Woolsey Resolution that calls for the U.S. to abide by the Non-Proliferation Treaty and to prevent first-strike use by the U.S. was also on display for people to sign. This letter will be presented to Rep. DeLauro with a demand for response. We are asking people to write individual letters asking for Rep. DeLauro to co-sponsor the Woolsey Resolution and also encouraging people to find out about nuclear issues through viewing documentaries such as the one mentioned below, doing research on it, and join a peace group like the ones mentioned above.

Please read the New Haven Independent article on the vigil by Melinda Tuhus:
http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2007/08/hiroshima_vigil.php

We will have a follow up meeting to continue actions that will raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear weapons and insist that the U.S. abide by the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The Last Atomic Bomb: New Haven’s August 6 Hiroshima remembrance ended at the New Haven Free Public Library with the showing of the documentary The Last Atomic Bomb followed by a discussion.

The film is Japanese with English subtitles. It would be difficult to state more concisely the essence of the film than has been done by its website which I quote here. “The film relates the story of 10-year-old Sakue (Shimohira), hiding in a shelter near ground zero when the bomb exploded in August 1945, and the aftermath of that day. Her emotionally wrenching experiences are interwoven with rarely seen archival footage, never-before-told accounts of what happened to her in 1945 and in subsequent years, the still controversial U.S. decision to use the bomb, censorship in the U.S. and Japan of the bomb and its effects, discrimination against survivors by other Japanese, buildup of nuclear weapons during the Cold War, the anti-nuclear movement, and today’s nuclear proliferation issues.”

The discussion that followed raised many issues like concern that the United States has lost it moral authority in the world and questioning how we can get it back, concern about being paralyzed by despair and the need for people to work together locally and globally.

“It’s impossible to remain detached…an emotional sledge hammer but not a diatribe…Deeply affecting...” New York Times. Much more on its website
http://www.richtervideos.com/TheLastAtomicBomb.