Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors
The Nobel Peace Prize for this year has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The recipients, known as hibakusha, are a diminishing group facing the urgent need to convey the horrors they experienced 79 years ago. The honor recognizes their lifelong activism against nuclear weapons and their efforts to share their stories with younger generations.
With an average age of 85.6, the hibakusha are concerned that their message of nuclear disarmament is not fully understood by the youth. Despite facing discrimination and health issues from radiation exposure, they continue to advocate for peace and a world free of nuclear weapons. While the Japanese government has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, there is hope for change as a youth movement supporting the survivors is emerging.
High school students have pledged to continue the survivors’ activism and work towards abolishing nuclear weapons. Efforts to preserve the survivors’ stories and voices are growing in Japan, with young volunteers collaborating with hibakusha to ensure their legacy lives on. The first U.S. atomic bombing in Hiroshima killed 140,000 people, while a second attack on Nagasaki claimed another 70,000 lives.
As the hibakusha population dwindles, it is essential to document their experiences and continue their mission for a peaceful world. The Nobel Peace Prize serves as a reminder of the survivors’ resilience and determination to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
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Photo credit wtop.com
