Activists at Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance Call for End to Nuclear Weapons

By Danaiyla Mendoza and Amy Martin

“Those of us living today have been given the opportunity to save the world,” said Dr. Ira Helfand, Co-President of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). “The problem is that we don’t believe another nuclear war could happen {while it is becoming very likely}sic.” Dr. Helfand spoke to the vigor of hope in these uncertain times.

At the West Hartford Quaker Meeting House on August 6th, the 2023 Hartford Area Hiroshima/ Nagasaki Remembrance took place, marking the devastation of the first nuclear attacks in world history. Sponsored by Hope Out Loud, Veterans for Peace (CT Chapter 42), No Nukes/ No War, and the UN Association of CT; a crowd of peace leaders and talented artists gathered for a shared call promoting the vision of a nuclear-weapons-free-world.

Artists present at the memorial include Hartford’s own poet David Pontrelli, spokesperson of the Hartford Catholic Worker Barbara Pivarnik, Green Party CT leader Mary Lou Sanders, and singer/song-writer Ian Fay. Among the orators own works, poems such as God’s Tears: Forgive me Mother, and Sankichi Tōge’s, Hiroshima: In Four Poems, were recited in solidarity. Attendees of the event wrote letters to Senator Murphy, that will be delivered to his office; as has been done with Representative John Larson, pleading with government officials to implement legal procedures restricting nuclear activity, namely by cosponsoring House Resolution 77.

Brought forth by the Back from the Brink grassroots campaign, H. Res. 77, calls for supporting the goals of the Treaty On the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; a treaty that has been signed by over 90 nations. Action steps the resolution takes in deterring the risk of war, first takes nuclear arms off hair trigger alert and then cuts the funding for such weaponry. So far with the efforts of
organizations mentioned earlier there are currently 37 cosponsors in the House, and hopefully more in suit. As these peace groups are sounding the alarm to the threat that is nuclear war, they even have a friend sailing seas for the cause too.

Master of ceremonies, Wayne Coste of Hope Out Loud, introduced the Golden Rule: a historic peace activist sailboat touring the nation in support of the abolition of nuclear weapons. Accompanying Wayne on a venture from Essex to New London early June were two other individuals at the event. Invited on stage by Barabara Pavarnik to speak to the insights of their journey, was student activist Danaiyla Mendoza of Central Connecticut State University. To Mendoza and others, sailing overseas took the anxieties of the large-scale mission ashore back down to their shared appreciation for existence.

As from past threats of nuclear war, Helfand remarks that the peace made between the U.S. and Russia in 1987 are feats we are still capable of today. Therefore, Helfand urges everyone to act upon their strengths, as “…no one of us is expected to do this all by ourselves, but neither is any of us permitted to step back from that portion of the work which is ours to do”, in the light of a common good. Mankind has, “an extraordinary gift” much less a responsibility “to save the world”, and step in for the sake of its future.

Final words at the Hartford Area Hiroshima/ Nagasaki Remembrance were concluded by Eric Stamm (Hope Out Loud) who initiated a moment of silence for all late persons of love and light watching over the crowd; as they lit candles with hope for a nuclear-weapons-free-world. For more information on how you can make a change and exercise your influence in your city or town, reach out to expert navigator and head coordinator of local CT efforts to abolish nuclear arms, Joseph Wasserman (No Nukes/ No War). (860)561-1897 [email protected]

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