In just 10 seconds, a nuclear bomb reaches its full impact, with shockwaves travelling at hundreds of kilometres per hour. After such an attack, medical aid is nearly impossible to deliver; facilities are destroyed, and access is delayed.
On 6 August 1945, Hiroshima was devastated in an instant, and on 9 August 1945, Nagasaki faced similar destruction. With temperatures reaching 4,000°C and radioactive rain falling, many died while waiting for help.
Today, nuclear weapons still pose a grave threat, symbolising both practical and ethical destruction. Their existence undermines human security and dignity. To prevent future catastrophes, these weapons must be abolished.
Our era demands strong and decisive measures to protect life and creation. Nuclear weapons may be described as humankind’s first invention capable of destroying the world as we know it. Human-induced climate change is also threatening the world as we know it. These threats are interconnected in many ways.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is a crucial step forward. Despite broad support, more countries need to ratify the treaty to uphold human rights.
As we remember the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we continue the #Hibakusha’s call to eliminate nuclear weapons.
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Learn how you can take action with ICAN’s 6 steps and urge your country to ratify the agreement by using ICAN’s sample letter.
A special message by Martha Inés Romero,
Secretary General of Pax Christi International
As we commemorate the tragic events of August 6 and 9, 1945, when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were devastated by nuclear bombs, we come together in reflection and a shared commitment to a world free from the nuclear threat.
On behalf of Pax Christi International, I honour the victims and extend my sympathies to their families, whose lives were forever changed.
May these days serve not only as a reminder of the horrors of nuclear warfare, but also as a call to action. The memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki should strengthen our commitment to disarmament, peace, and trust among nations.
Our collective voice is powerful. By standing in solidarity, we can challenge the proliferation of weapons and the ideology behind them.
We urge global leaders to embrace dialogue, nonviolence, and mutual respect as the pillars of security.
In this spirit, let us work together to eradicate weapons and build a world where conflicts are resolved through diplomacy and dialogue, not violence.
Every step we take towards disarmament is a step closer to a safer, more just world.
Today, we honour the past. Tomorrow, we continue to strive for a better future; a future where just peace and humanity prevail over destruction and despair.
With hope,
Martha Inés Romero