66 years ago today an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Tens of thousands of civilians were killed instantly and hundreds of thousands more were condemned to a slow death from burns, radiation poisoning and other injuries.
On 9th August 1945 a further bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
This must not happen again. Consider donating money to CND to help them campaign. Or join. www.cnduk.org/
5 years ago
11 comments:
Yes, incredibly tragic. But how many more would have died otherwise?
Quite why the Japanese decided to start a war and commit atrocities beyond even the Nazis is fundamentally perplexing. Japanese surrender on Aug 15th is also something worth remembering along with the lives of all the young soldiers and the civilians who died in the fighting a war they didn't start or want.
Never forget that the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ended the 2nd world war possibly years earlier than might have been the case.
Its a shame that such weapons are technically possible , but we have to face the fact that they are and that one day another may be used by a nutter somewhere.
I just wonder if the authorities in Tehran will be listening to CND.
Its debatable if the second bomb was needed but thats not the point. Now we know the harm that they cause they should not be used. Cold war weapons from a different era long gone.
Money spent there could do some real good elsewhere. Not least on our soldiers who cant even get basic equipment. Too many wars not enough cash yet we have these expensive weapons that do nothing.
I doubt very much that the UK would ever fire such a weapon and it makes me wonder about the need to renew our system with a hideously expensive new version.Why not just keep the old system?
According to George Galloway we couldn't fire it anyway without the Americans giving us the codes. If that was true (and I don't know if it is) then there is no point in us paying for what would be an American weapon.
I wouldn't mind betting that the main reason that Afganistan is so important is the need to keep the weapons in Pakistan in friendly hands.
Its not just Galloway that says we need the USA permission to fire 'our' weapons. I think it was Tony Benn that revealed this to the world.
I just happened to hear Galloway saying it, Tony Benn may well have said so. My point really is, that if it is true, then the UK is effectively buying weapons for the Americans because such weapons are no use without their say so.
Hardly what we should be doing !
On that we agree
Theres a first time for everything Adrian !
At some point (not sure when) I will be sending you some fascinating stuff about alternative fuels to look at.
You will be amazed at what can be done.
steve this post is about nuclear bombs. The reason for most war is about svarce resources, so I predict more war as resources get more scarce and inequality gets worse
Were you aware that just before the second bomb, several Japanese Generals staged a coup in an attempt to continue fighting the war?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABj%C5%8D_Incident
I'll bet there were several hundred thousand young Americans who were saved from a horrible death while having to fight the fascist Japanese to the total end.
But, of course, we can agree on the fact that they should never be used again.
There were also moves towards peace, rejected by the allies.
Glad we agree on an end to it
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