2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the detonation of nuclear bombs during World War II in Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9). There will be official commemoration ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki organised by these cities, was well as actions and events organised by civil society in Japan and around the world.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the official ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki will be invite-only (to restrict numbers and allow for physical distancing) but can be watched live online. See Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony, Notice regarding Hiroshima Memorial 2020 ceremony procedures in light of COVID-19 pandemic and Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony
See below for information on some of the other international events and nuclear abolition actions for Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days. For more events and actions see Nuclear Remembrance and Action Week Aug 6-9 2020, as well as the Abolition 2000 events calendar, FCNL Nuclear Calendar and the World Beyond War events calendar.
Peace Wave
From August 6 at 8:15am, the time that the nuclear bomb was detonated over Hiroshima, until August 9 at 11:02am, the time the nuclear bomb was detonated over Nagasaki, peace activists around the world will undertake individual and/or group actions as part of a ‘Peace Wave’.
You can join the peace wave by undertaking your own small, creative, social media action from home or interesting location, or joining an action in your community. For more information and to register your action, please visit Peace Wave 2020.
Ribbon 2020 – Tangible hope for No nuclear war
The Ribbon International was founded as an artistic event to commemorate the Hiroshima and Nagasaki anniversaries. On August 4, 1985, fifteen miles of Ribbons encircled the Pentagon and other important monuments: With the message of “What I cannot bear to think of as lost forever in a nuclear war”. The Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima was also encircled. Various other Ribbon events have taken place since then.
On August 1st 2020 at 10:00 am (EDT), The Ribbon International will hold a Ribbon 2020 memorial event by Zoom. You are invited to join the event with your friends/family. Hold your Ribbon in front of the Zoom screen, and pray for a nuclear free world. For details see The Ribbon International 2020 event, or contact The Ribbon International.
International Fast
Every year since 1984, a small group of peace campaigners from France and Germany have fasted from August 6 until 9 in commemoration of the nuclear bombings and to call for the global abolition of nuclear weapons. In recent years, they have been joined by fasters in the Ivory Coast, New Zealand, UK and USA..
This year, in the light of the Coronavirus pandemic and its devastating consequences, the fast will also highlight the many millions around the world threatened by malnutrition or famine, while governments continue to spend $100 billion per year on nuclear weapons and $1.9 trillion per year on weapons and war. Participants in the Fast will donate the money they would on food during that time to organizations or charities helping to feed the destitute.
You are invited to join the fast. Contact Dominique Lalanne (France) or Marc Morgan (UK).
Fold an origami crane for peace
It is believed that folding 1,000 origami cranes brings one a peaceful and healthy life. Following the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, origami crane folding became an action for peace and nuclear abolition, particularly for young people. This arose from the story of Sadako Sasaki, a child at the time of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Sadako contracted leukaemia from the radioactive fallout. She tried to make 1000 cranes but passed away before she could finish. Her classmates finished the 1000 cranes for her, and then made crane making their message for peace. They raised funds for a memorial to Sadako in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Origami crane making is now taught in schools around the world.
Action: Organise a crane-making workshop at your local school, youth group, workplace or place of worship.
Resources: Video on folding a paper crane, The story of Sadako and the 1000 origami cranes, The Peace Crane Project
Youth Peace Week
Youth Peace Week is from August 3rd to 9th 2020. Originally established in New Zealand as Schools Peace Week with the support of the New Zealand government, the week spread to other countries. This year it has been broadened to Youth Peace Week as the dates only suit schools in the Southern Hemisphere (schools in the North are mostly on summer break). The theme this year is Celebrating Diversity. For more information and to register your youth action, see Youth Peace Week, visit the Youth Peace Week facebook page or contact the Youth Peace Week coordinator.
Organise a prayer vigil or church service
In commemoration of Hiroshima and Nagaskai Day, religious and faith-based communities can reflect on the morality of nuclear weapons, the role that ethics can play to abolish nuclear weapons, and the peace-making power of religious leadership and action.
Action: Organise a special service at your church, mosque, synagogue, temple or other place of worship.
Resource: Nuclear Disarmament Resource Guide for Religious Leaders and Communities. Available in Arabic, English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The Resource Guide includes sections on the growing nuclear threat, the economic and environmental costs of nuclear weapons, ethical and religious perspectives on nuclear weapons, diplomatic opportunities to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world, roles of youth and women, examples of actions by religious communities, useful resources including inspiring videos, and contacts for nuclear abolition organisations.
Sign the Hibakusha Appeal
In April 2016, Hidankyo (the Japan Confederation of A and H Bomb Sufferers Organizations) launched an appeal for the total elimination of nuclear weapons. The appeal, which was co-sponsored by the Korean and US associations of Atomic Bomb Victims and supported by Gensuikyo, calls on all governments to conclude a treaty to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons. People around the world are invited to endorse the appeal. Click here to see the appeal. Send your endorsement to Hidankyo
2020 World Conference against A and H Bombs
Every year Gensuikyo (the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs) holds a world conference against A and H Bombs in Japan in conjunction with the commemorations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days. The theme for the conference this year is “With the Hibakusha, Let Us Achieve a Nuclear Weapon-free, Peaceful and Just World - for the Future of the Humankind and Our Planet"
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 world conference will be held by a series of webinar sessions from August 2 until August 9. There will be three main sessions (2 hours each) on August 2, 6 and 9, plus some additional special sessions. For more information including the draft program see 2020 World Conference on A and H Bombs.