61st Anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Today is the 61st anniversary of the atom bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – a day of immense suffering for civilians of two cities. Despite that, the military industrial complex continues its work of developing nuclear weapons. From North Korea, India, Israel and Iran governments of many other countries are also continuing their nuclear dreams. Below are several stories that deal with the nuclear threat.

Protestors to Call for No Nukes! No Wars! Aug. 6-9

To mark the 61st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, rallies, vigils, teach-ins, and nonviolent protests will be held in more than 60 cities in 24 states across the country to demand an end to nuclear weapons and wars. Antiwar, nuclear abolition and indigenous rights groups are focusing on facilities run by the Bechtel Corporation, one of the world's leading nuclear weapons contractors, war profiteers, and violators of indigenous rights. Activities will take place under the banner: From Hiroshima to Yucca Mountain to the Middle East: No Nukes! No Wars! End War Profiteering! Support Indigenous Rights!
Read a story about how the war in Iraq spurred the nuclear race: From the Independent (UK)

Hiroshima Anniversary: How the War in Iraq Spurred a New Nuclear Arms Race

Tomorrow at 8.15am, a minute's silence will reverberate around the world. The people of Japan will commemorate the victims of the first atomic bomb, which was dropped by an American B-29 on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.
Half a world away, in Tehran, the new hard man of Iranian politics, President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, will take the oath of office before the country's parliament. His presidency heralds a new era of uncertainty in Iran's fraught relations with the West over its nuclear ambitions.
In Beijing, urgent talks on curbing North Korea's nuclear weapons programme are close to collapse. And in Pakistan, efforts are still being made to roll up the world's biggest nuclear proliferation scandal. Sixty years after Hiroshima, whose single bomb killed 237,062 people, a new nuclear arms race has begun.
A crisis is deepening with Iran over its suspected nuclear weapons activities. Tehran is threatening to resume uranium conversion next week, prompting an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency which could result in Iran being referred to the UN security council for possible sanctions. More


Message from Hibakusha in Japan to the People of the United States

August 2006 -- On behalf of the 260,000 Japanese Hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, we extend our warmest greetings of solidarity to the people of the United States who have been working for peace.
We experienced the atrocity of the A-bomb hell. We have seen a number of A-bomb victims die in agony and pain. Also, the agony would last until their death with a possibility of being inherited to their children and grandchildren. We would like you to take this opportunity to listen to Hibakusha's testimonies. More

Keiji Tsuchiya is the Vice-President of Okayama A-Bomb Sufferer's Association, a chapter of Hidankyo. Mr. Tsuchiya will be speaking at the Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab on August 6th and at the Bechtel Corporate Headquarters in San Francisco on August 9th.