Full text of Nagasaki Peace Declaration on 81st anniversary of atomic bombing
NAGASAKI -- The following is the full text of the Nagasaki Peace Declaration read on Aug. 9 by Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki at a ceremony to mark 81 ye
On August 9, 1945, the Japanese city of Nagasaki experienced the devastating effects of an atomic bomb dropped by a U.S. Army Air Forces bomber. The bomb resulted in the death of 150,000 people by the end of the year, accounting for two-thirds of the city's population. Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki, reading the Nagasaki Peace Declaration on the 81st anniversary of the bombing, recounted the horrific sights and sounds he witnessed in the aftermath of the attack.
People with charred bodies, bulging eyes, and missing limbs wandered around in confusion, while others choked on contaminated river water. Suzuki himself was covered in blood and suffered severe burns, leaving a scar on his face that he bore for the rest of his life. Despite the physical and mental trauma endured by survivors, the international community continues to struggle with the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the risk of nuclear war.
The hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, assert that nuclear weapons are an "absolute evil" and cannot coexist with humanity. They call for urgent action to restore multilateralism, uphold the values of the United Nations Charter, and pursue nuclear disarmament. Japan, as the only country to suffer atomic bombings in war, has a historical responsibility to lead the effort.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
