The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 were some of the most devastating events in human history. The bombings killed an estimated 200,000 people, most of them civilians, and left many more with lifelong physical and psychological scars. Today, the survivors of the bombings, known as hibakusha, are still fighting for nuclear disarmament and peace.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the bombings, and the G7 summit is set to take place in Hiroshima in August. The hibakusha are pinning their hopes on this summit to bring about real progress towards nuclear disarmament.
The hibakusha have been advocating for nuclear disarmament for decades. They have shared their stories of the horrors of the bombings with the world, hoping to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. They have also been pushing for the elimination of nuclear weapons through international treaties and agreements.
Despite their efforts, the world still has over 13,000 nuclear weapons, with many countries continuing to invest in their nuclear arsenals. The hibakusha are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress towards disarmament, and they see the G7 summit as a crucial opportunity to push for change.
The G7 is a group of seven of the world’s largest advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The leaders of these countries will gather in Hiroshima to discuss a range of global issues, including nuclear disarmament.
The hibakusha are calling on the G7 leaders to take concrete steps towards disarmament. They want the leaders to commit to reducing their nuclear arsenals and to work towards a world without nuclear weapons. They also want the leaders to support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted by the United Nations in 2017 but has not yet been ratified by many of the world’s nuclear powers.
The hibakusha believe that the G7 leaders have a responsibility to take action towards disarmament. They argue that the continued existence of nuclear weapons poses a threat to the entire world, and that it is time for leaders to prioritize peace over military might.
The G7 summit in Hiroshima is a chance for the world to remember the horrors of the atomic bombings and to renew its commitment to peace. The hibakusha are hoping that this summit will be a turning point in the fight against nuclear weapons, and that it will lead to real progress towards disarmament. Only time will tell if their hopes will be realized, but one thing is certain: the hibakusha will continue to fight for a world without nuclear weapons, no matter what.
