This week we saw the UK government double down on nuclear militarism, showing how little our leaders understand of the true, atrocious legacy of these weapons of omnicide.
But the disarmament movement has not forgotten this legacy. Indeed, our struggle to rid the world of nuclear weapons involves keeping Hiroshima & Nagasaki alive within the movement’s consciousness and that of wider society.
That is also why the Japanese and Korean hibakusha – victims of the first nuclear bombs – have been at the forefront of the proceedings of the TPNW and the annual UN meetings advancing the cause of global disarmament. Their testimonies continue to highlight the urgency to rid the world of nuclear weapons forever by reminding us of the total incompatibility of nuclear weapons and humanity.
On the 80th year since the first nuclear bombs were dropped, killing hundreds of thousands of people and creating generations of harm, Scottish CND is hosting and supporting several commemorative events across Scotland:
Our local groups are organising vigils in their own local areas, including a Glasgow CND vigil at the new peace garden in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens! Edinburgh CND are also running their annual vigil at 5pm on Princes Street, and will be joined by the Protest in Harmony choir.
We also have two special film screenings planned – in Glasgow and Aberdeen – where we’ll show a series of short films about the Japanese bombings and the long history of nuclear harms since.
These screenings will take place on Wednesday 6th of August at 7pm (Hiroshima day) at Glasgow’s CCA, and on Friday 8th of August at 8pm at the Aberdeen Social Centre.
We warmly invite all our supporters to join us to pay our respects to the hibakusha nuclear victims and to reflect on Scotland’s role as a nuclear occupied country 80 years on from the original nuclear atrocity.
In other campaign news this month:
Edinburgh CND are hosting their Plants for Peace stall at the Meadows Festival this weekend! Join them on either Saturday or Sunday and pick up some beautiful greenery for the coming summer months.
Filmmaker and feminist activist Aigerim Seitenova will be in Edinburgh with her remarkable film “JARA” next week – On 11th of June at the Scottish Parliament Cross-Party group (contact scndcpg@yahoo.com to attend) and 12th of June at Words and Actions in Edinburgh.
Enquiries about all these events are welcomed and may be direct towards campaigns@banthebomb.org or scnd@banthebomb.org.
In peace,
Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament