Hiroshima Day 2025

Wednesday 6 August saw the annual Hiroshima Day commemoration in Alexandra Park as people gathered to remember those killed in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago. John Enefer writes.

An estimated 185,000 people died as a consequence of the bombs dropped by the US air force, dying due to the force of the blasts, fire, falling buildings, untreated burns and as a result of radiation sickness. (1) They remain the only people to die as a result of the use of nuclear weapons in war.

The commemoration happened at a time of increased concerns over the threat of nuclear war, with tensions between Russia and America over the conflict in Ukraine. US president Trump recently ordered two nuclear submarines to ‘be positioned in the appropriate regions’ after he took exception to social media remarks by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. (2)

The attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 happened at the conclusion of World War II and the standard view is that they were necessary to end the conflict. However, senior military figures from the time have contradicted this view. President Truman’s Chief of Staff, Curtis E LeMay wrote: ‘the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender…’ (3)

Later, an exhaustive survey launched by the US government echoed the same view. The Strategic Bombing Survey states ‘it is the survey’s opinion that certainly prior to 31 December 1945, and, in all probability, prior to 1 November 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated.’ (4)
The credibility gap around the standard justification for the ‘A’ bombings has led some, like the historian Gar Alperovitz, to speculate that the attacks were aimed at making Russia more ‘manageable’ in a post-war world that would be dominated by the two new superpowers. (5)

In Alexandra Park lanterns and lights were placed around the edge of the boating lake, becoming more conspicuous as darkness fell. Buddhists from the group Soka Gakkai International chanted. After some background to the tragic events of August 1945, there was a minute’s silence. Then local activist, Fiona MacGregor spoke, stressing that it wasn’t only the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who suffered as a result of the ‘A’ bombs, but also those harmed by the testing of this weapon. Fiona spoke about the United Nations’ Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which entered into force in 2021 and made nuclear weapons illegal under international law. It is hoped that in time the ban will become as effective an instrument against nuclear weapons as earlier bans have proved against the less lethal chemical and biological weapons.

Nigel Sinden talking at the commemoration 2025

Silverhill Councillor and former Hastings’ Mayor of Peace, Nigel Sinden spoke about the continuing human cost of the bombs. He mentioned that people should be proactive in promoting peace, should stand up and ‘shout’ for peace in this world of war.Mark Bishop from Soka Gakkai International continued this theme, encouraging those present to engage people with peace through conversation, on a one-to one level. Buddhists believe individuals changing their own lives one by one can spark profound change in the wider society.

Mayor and Green councillor Becca Horn said she was ‘honoured’ to be a Mayor for Peace. Quoting former Green Party leader, Caroline Lucas she said ‘We should be making this day of remembrance a day to reset the conversation about security’, highlighting the need for food security, energy security and peace, as opposed to the ‘security’ provided by arsenals of lethal weapons.

The event was organised by Hastings Against War, which is now also known as XR Peace, having joined forces with the local Extinction Rebellion group. Extinction Rebellion meets on the third Wednesday of each month at the Meeting House in South Terrace, TN34 1SA. Meetings begin at 7pm. Information on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons can be found at icanw.org

(1) https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/timeline/factfiles/nonflash/a6652262.shtml
(2) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93dgr2dd53o
(3) https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-08-05/hiroshima-anniversary-japan-atomic-bombs
(4) Strategic Bombing Survey P107:-
https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/AUPress/Books/B_0020_SPANGRUD_STRATEGIC_BOMBING_SURVEYS.pdf
(5) https://www.thenation.com/article/world/us-hiroshima-nuclear-bomb-anniversary/

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