Nagasaki Marks 80th Anniversary, Survivors Advocate Nuclear Ban

On the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, memorial events were held both in Washington, D.C., and Nagasaki to remember the victims and advocate for nuclear disarmament. In Nagasaki, about 2,600 attendees from over 90 countries observed a moment of silence at the exact time of the bombing and heard from survivors and officials, including Mayor Shiro Suzuki and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who emphasized passing down the memory of the bombing and working toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. Survivor Hiroshi Nishioka recounted the lingering horrors of radiation sickness and urged that nuclear weapons never be used again. In Washington, peace activists gathered outside the White House with prayers, banners, and photos to raise awareness about the ongoing nuclear threat, echoing calls for a global ethic based on justice and fraternity rather than mutually assured destruction. Experts highlight that despite decades of deterrence, the risk of nuclear war remains, stressing the necessity of pursuing policies toward reducing nuclear arsenals to avoid catastrophic consequences. Both the memorials and expert analyses underscore a shared urgency among survivors, activists, and scholars to prevent future nuclear conflict and promote lasting peace worldwide.