This year also marks the 45th anniversary since the late Mia Tay organised the first lantern ceremony in Christchurch to
commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Photo credit: Christchurch City Museum
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Memorial on Sunday 9th August at the World Peace Bell at 11am.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Across the globe, events and
commemorations are taking place to mark this historical event, to remember the hibakusha (Atomic bomb survivors), and to
say, “Never Again!” to the use of nuclear weapons.
The memorial will be held on Sunday 9th August at the World Peace Bell in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens, between 11
and midday. The World Peace Bell will be rung to mark the time that the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Speakers include
Angela Woodward, a disarmament verification specialist, the Mayor’s representative and students Olivia Shimasaki and
Sarina Mackey, both reading excerpts from Japanese Hibakusha. There will be two musical contributions. All are welcome
to attend.
The World Peace Bell providesa direct link with Nagasaki. The pounamu (greenstone) beneath the bell was divided into two
and the other half of the stone is under the peace sculpture which Christchurch and 5 other cities gifted to the
Nagasaki Peace Park. There is also a camphor tree planted near the bell which is propagated from the famous one which
survived the atomic bombing. It was gifted to Christchurch by the late Nagasaki Mayor Itoh.
This year also marks the 45th anniversary since the late Mia Tay organised the first lantern ceremony in Christchurch to
commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and remember the dead and surviving Hibakusha (atomic victims) from around the world. There had been earlier marches organised by Lincoln Efford and the Peace Pledge
Union in 1947 and later by Elsie Locke and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in the early 1960s (Press photo
attached).
Since the earthquakes, Victoria Square has not been used for the traditional lantern floating on the Avon River,
although some of the old lanterns will still be lit. This represents the intention in peace campaigner Elsie Locke’s
words ‘to work for the removal of all nuclear weapons and for a peaceful future for all.’
This event is organized by the Disarmament and Security Centre (DSC) and the Women’s International League for Peace and
Freedom (WILPF) (Otautahi branch).