On the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Pax Christi International and the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) organised “Lanterns for Peace: From Hiroshima to the World”, a moment of reflection, remembrance, and hope.

In collaboration with the Hiroshima–Coventry Club and students from Hiroshima, participants had the opportunity to honour the victims of the atomic bombings and renew our shared commitment to just peace and a world free of nuclear weapons.

At a time when global tensions continue to rise and the threat posed by nuclear weapons is becoming increasingly serious, the gathering offered an opportunity to stand together in solidarity, remember the devastating humanitarian consequences of nuclear warfare, and reaffirm our collective responsibility to build a more peaceful future.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, 6 August
Time: 17:30
Venue: Quaker House, Square Ambiorix 50, 1000 Brussels

Event Report

As we were unable to receive the lanterns from Japan in time, our moment of exchange and reflection began with the preparation and decoration of lanterns that we made ourselves.

The original lanterns will be used in the autumn, during further events that we will organise in preparation for the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

 

We read the testimonies of Hibakusha, while the Quaker peace group Fellowship of Reconciliation – Cochem/Zell group joined us online from the Büchel nuclear weapons site, as part of their International Fasting Campaign.

For the occasion, we also received a message from Matsui Kazumi, Mayor of the City of Hiroshima.

 

Through these testimonies, we were reminded that the purpose of these events is not only to commemorate the past, but also to serve as a warning for the future: the use of nuclear weapons can only lead to devastating consequences, and it is our responsibility to ensure that what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki never happens again.

This December, governments will gather at the United Nations for the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

The Conference must become another lantern. A light pointing towards a world in which every State rejects nuclear deterrence, all nuclear arsenals are dismantled, and governments and societies choose courage over fear, becoming stronger advocates for nuclear abolition rather than renewed militarisation.

In the coming months, Pax Christi International will continue working towards the Conference through further awareness-raising events. Every day, we renew our commitment to the abolition of nuclear weapons and, through it, to building a Just Peace that also safeguards our planet.

As we commemorate Hiroshima and Nagasaki victims, we invite churches, communities, schools, peace movements, and people everywhere to join the Lanterns for Peace: From Hiroshima to the World Campaign. Find more on how to join here.