‘In any case, the scientists involved in the invention of the weapon were conscience-stricken…’
I’M only seven although I died, In Hiroshima long ago, I’m seven now as I was then, When children die they do not grow.” — NaÌ‚zım Hikmet Ran
Seven decades ago, the Nippon Times reported: “The new-type bomb…is dropped by parachute. At about 500 to 600 meters above the ground, it issues a strong light and explodes. The blast of the bomb is powerful and strong heat is spread all over.”
[https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/08/05/national/history/japan-times-reported-atomic-bombings-hiroshima-nagasaki/] The periodical was then referring to “Fat Man,” the second nuclear weapon deployed by the Americans against the imperialist Nipponese, bursting over Nagasaki, yielding 21 kilotons of devastation, bringing the Pacific War to a close in August of 1945. [John Malik, “The Yields Of The Hiroshima And Nagasaki Explosions”] The official report: “On August 9th…at 11:02 a.m., another B-29 dropped the second bomb on the industrial section of the city of Nagasaki, totally destroying 1 1/2 square miles of the city, killing 39,000 persons, and injuring 25,000 more.” [The Atomic Bombings Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki by The Manhattan Engineer District, June 29, 1946]
Who survived? Among others, Miss Toshiko Sasaki (clerk in the East Asia Tin Works), Dr. Masakazi Fujii (on the porch of his private hospital), Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamura (tailor’s widow), Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge (German priest of the Society of Jesus), Dr. Terufumi Sasaki (on the surgical staff of the Red Cross Hospital), and the Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto (pastor of the Hiroshima Methodist Church): “These six were about their business on this morning. But there was no calm in their lives.” [Hiroshima by John Hersey]
On that day, Amaterasu Omikami and her scion on Earth (Showa Tenno) failed the Japanese: “Indeed, we declared war on America and Britain out of our sincere desire to ensure Japan’s self-preservation… Despite the best that has been done by everyone — the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of our servants of the state and the devoted service of our 100 million people — the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage… Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb.” [Hirohito’s Surrender speech, recorded on August 14, 1945, broadcast on August 15, 1945]
Excuses, excuses. In any case, the scientists involved in the invention of the weapon were conscience-stricken: “I was well aware of the dreadful danger for all mankind, if these experiments would succeed. But the probability that the Germans might work on that very problem with good chance of success prompted me to take that step. I did not see any other way out, although I always was a convinced pacifist. To kill in war time, it seems to me, is in no ways better than common murder.” [On My Participation In The Atom Bomb Project by A. Einstein] The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists asserts that prominent nuclear scientists did not recommend the atomic bombings of Japan, citing the Franck Report: “In case chances for the establishment of an effective international control of nuclear weapons should have to be considered slight at the present time, then not only the use of these weapons against Japan, but even their early demonstration, may be contrary to the interests of this country. A postponement of such a demonstration will have in this case the advantage of delaying the beginning of the nuclear armaments race as long as possible.” [https://thebulletin.org/2020/08/prominent-nuclear-scientists-did-not-recommend-the-atomic-bombings-of-japan/]
Are we already in the “Gehenna of a world where Hiroshima is merely the prelude of more terrible things to come?” [Irving Howe, “Atomic Scientists Find Their Conscience,” 07 October 1946] If so, what should be done? Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki, Japan in a 08 July 2020 email to Catholic News Service: “I want the Americans to work for peace without the possession and use of weapons.”
[https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/japanese-archbishop-urges-us-witness-gospel-peace] Yoshiki Tanigawa (chair of the Soka Gakkai Council on Peace Issues): “At this deeply significant juncture, the government of Japan, the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during war, should announce its readiness to consider participation in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, thus positively shaping the discourse on the elimination of nuclear weapons within the international community.” [https://www.sgi.org/in-focus/press-releases/75th-anniversary-hiroshima-and-nagasaki.html]
Action des ChreÌtiens pour l’Abolition de la Torture, All Africa Conference of Churches, Birmingham (Alabama) Friends Meeting (Quaker), Dev Sanskriti University (Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India), Mennonite World Conference, Pooha-Bah Traditional Native American Healing Center, United Church of Christ (Justice and Witness Ministries), World Yoga Community, among others: “We urge our governments to use the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of the only occasion that nuclear weapons have been used in conflict, to ensure that they are never used again in any circumstances. We call upon all States to join the growing community of States which have rejected nuclear weapons entirely. We appeal to you to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.” [Joint Interfaith Statement on the 75th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 06 August 2020]
Dhaka Declaration 45th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (Session of Islamic Values for Sustainable Peace, Solidarity and Development): “We further underscore our support to all endeavors to achieve nuclear disarmament and the elimination of other weapons of mass destruction as a mean s to further strengthen international peace and security.” [https://www.oic-oci.org/topic/?t_id=18652&ref=10334&lan=en]
Vladimir Putin (December 19, 2019): “Curse the tongue that says it. An ‘upcoming nuclear war’.” “…we do not have a military alliance with China and we do not plan to create one.” [http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62366]
Time to remind the world of the 1971 Kuala Lumpur Declaration: “Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are determined to exert initially necessary efforts to secure the recognition of, and respect for, South East Asia as a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality, free from any form or manner of interference by outside Powers.” The ASEAN Leaders had resolved to intensify the translation of both the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and the ZOPFAN into reality. [https://asean.org/?static_post=political-achievement] Our ASEAN instruments should play a pivotal role in preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution. [2003 Declaration Of ASEAN Concord II; http://www.aseansec.org/15159.htm]
“I come and stand at every door, But no one hears my silent tread.” [NaÌ‚zım Hikmet Ran]
