Hiroshima

79 years ago.

This past week marked the anniversary of the most singular and unique tragedies we have ever witnessed the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki . Sadly it is clear to me that the most important lessons of these terrible events are being forgotten far too soon. Rising international tensions increasing global nationalism the corruption of democracy by wealthy lobby groups and with them the military that holds the keys to the most deadly weapons. I think it is more important than ever that people take the time out of their own lives to study just how shocking the events of the bombings were in Japan and around the world and how they shaped our modern politics, nuclear power is a threat on which the global order is precariously balanced in past decades European American government have persuaded themselves that this is a stable long-term state of affairs even as they navigated the difficult events of the Cold War. Now it seems that anyone with the will to require nuclear material can in fact threaten major world powers. Throughout the 2000s the possibility of a extremist terrorist bomb was used as the ultimate justification for the Erosion of many civil liberties in many countries. Our world is less private. We as individuals more powerful and more interconnected than ever before, but as people become less free and nuclear weapons or a part of that power structure. They are the price of admission for any national power to be taken seriously in a disastrous state of affairs that could hardly have been considered on that morning in August 79 years ago.

I’m not an expert on Japanese culture but I know that in Japan the bombings had a profound effect on the cultural psyche. A lot of what we admire about modern Japanese culture today was shaped by those horrific events Japan's love of technology and science-fiction have their roots in this unique tragedy. the ONLY nation to deal with the effect of such an attack. I can’t imagine what it must’ve been that morning to be sat quietly eating your breakfast to be on your bicycle on your way to work or school only to be carbonised an instant. Both cities that were bombed have long since made spectacular recoveries surprising to those less familiar with the science. There is no harm in living in those areas visiting the museum in Hiroshima that commemorates the bombing is definitely on my bucket list by all accounts- It is one of the most haunting but worthwhile experiences in all of Japan.

 when people think of nuclear weapons they think of something that is kept locked safe and guarded however you may be deeply dismayed to learn that there is a long history of professional negligence and mistreatment of these powerful weapons as well as several high profile accidents which could’ve easily ended in an accidental detonation of nuclear material. And that is only from sources we can access we may never know the full extent of incompetence displayed in more secretive corners of the world the Soviet Union and China in particular rumours of secret nuclear accidents involving bombs or reactors are a favourite of online conspiracy theorist.

This is a less coherent peace than I wanted to introduce this blog with but I feel it’s important to always remember the huge human and political cost of these atrocious actions. As we face a rising tide of nationalism, we must remember the nuclear weapons and the threat of nuclear arms must be treated with the upmost respect. It is not as some people have treated it something to be chatted about a rusty sabre to rattle it is the ultimate threat to life and peace