From Hiroshima to Iran: Reflections on a Nuclear Age

During the past few days, two powerful Western presidents – Nicholas Sakorzy of France and George W. Bush here in the U.S. – have made extremely strong and concerning statements about Iran. In the context of discussing Iran’s nuclear program, they have both indicated a clear willingness to take military action against Iran’s perceived ambitions toward nuclear weaponry. This morning, Just Foreign Policy issued an action alert calling for each of us to contact our member of Congress to ensure that the White House doesn't move quickly toward war with Iran: please join me and FOR in supporting this timely effort.

Frankly, it’s ironic to think that two of the world’s largest nuclear powers – both of whom continue to seek to build new, advanced versions of their weapons – are pointing the finger elsewhere. Need we be reminded yet again which is the only nation to have ever used this power?

Indeed, it was just this month that worldwide observances once again were held on the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. More than a half-century after those horrific incidents, we still are unable to rid ourselves of nuclear weapons. Three weeks ago, in a letter to FOR dated August 6, 2007 – the anniversary of the bombing of his city – the Mayor of Hiroshima reminded us of how important it is to keep this history before us:

“62 years after the atomic bombing, with many persons from Japan and other countries in attendance, Hiroshima City has again carried out the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Peace Memorial Park. During the Ceremony, I delivered the Peace Declaration, which was imbued with the “spirit of Hiroshima,” the desire for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace.

“I commend from my heart your efforts for peace. I am enclosing a copy of the Peace Declaration, which I hope you will read…”

On that same morning earlier this month, I joined several dozen peace activists at the gates of Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Laboratories, in Livermore, California. Led by the local coalition Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment, it was for me a stark reminder of why we do the work we do to oppose the military-industrial complex. The early-morning rally was a metaphor of what we face in the world today. The group, many of whom were over the age of 55 (and a number appeared to be frail, walking with canes or other assistance), were met with an equal number of police – fully decked out in riot gear, helmets drawn, sunglasses covering their eyes, bearing weapons and some even holding tear-gas shotguns.

It was a stunning sight: a group of mostly elder peaceniks, singing songs of the “We Shall Overcome” variety, being met by the full power and brutality of the military. If it wasn’t so disgustingly militaristic, it would have been laughable.

We, of course, were not the only group of nonviolent protesters being met in this fashion. A few weeks earlier, I met the nonviolence training coordinator for Sweden FOR, Martin Smedjeback, when we both attended the U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta. Martin was visiting the States for three months to research the ways that nonviolence is being used to root the work of peace organizations in our country. He spent his last few weeks here attending a training organized by the Christian Peacemaker Teams, as he hopes to spend time on a CPT team in the Middle East in the coming year. Martin shared in his English-language blog that he and several others at the CPT training were arrested at the gates of Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (the largest U.S. producer of Depleted Uranium) on the morning of Hiroshima Day.

Another event, happening a few thousand miles away, featured a group of peace activists who had walked tirelessly across the United Kingdom over several weeks. FOR member Bernie Meyer, known to some as the "American Gandhi," concluded a 700-mile "Toward an End of Nuclear War" walk with other members of Footprints for Peace. Walking from military base to base, from town to town, from community hall to church to Quaker meeting house, this dedicated group lifted up the challenges of nuclear war and depleted uranium in our time.

The work will continue, and thankfully, our colleagues in the peace community are gearing up for the fall. One key set of dates will be from October 4-13, 2007, when a group of nuclear disarmament activists and others will sponsor a “Keep Space for Peace Week: International Days of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space.” More information is available from the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.