Patrick Comerford
I have been invited as President of the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (Irish CND) to speak at this afternoon’s Hiroshima Day commemorations in Dublin.
Today marks the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.
The annual commemoration for the victims of the Hiroshima atomic bomb takes place this afternoon [Saturday, 6th August 2016] at 2 p.m. at the memorial cherry tree in Merrion Square Park, Dublin 2.
About 16,500 nuclear weapons remain in the world today. While this is less than the Cold War peak, it is still enough to destroy life on earth as we know it many times over.
The ceremony will take place at the memorial cherry tree planted by Irish CND on Hiroshima Day 6 August 1980.
The commemoration will be opened by Councillor Mary Freehill, representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Mrs Mari Miyoshi, the Japanese Ambassador to Ireland, will also speak. Representatives of several other embassies have indicated that they will also attend.
There will be short contributions of poetry and music from Irish and Japanese artists (weather permitting) and a wreath will be laid at the memorial tree.
This annual ceremony is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the victims of these horrific weapons of mass destruction, and to affirm our determination to work for their elimination, the only way to ensure that the ghastly events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will not be repeated.
Please come along and take part in this moving and inspiring ceremony.
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