Japan to commemorate 76th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
Japan today commemorates the 76th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
This year’s events are reduced due to the pandemic. There will be minor attendance by atomic bomb survivors, called hibakusha, but there will still be a gathering in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Normally in-person speeches and nuclear disarmament conferences have moved online.
The anniversary of the atomic bombings serves as a reminder of the dangers of nuclear weapons. Every year, global leaders and activists lead calls for total nuclear disarmament, citing the inhumane destruction they brought upon Japan at the end of WWII. The hibakusha play a key role in the disarmament effort, reminding future generations of the human impact nuclear proliferation and war has on the world at large.
Expect Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to deliver a speech calling for eventual nuclear disarmament. Nevertheless, despite the nonproliferation event, it is unlikely today’s events will have any real impact on nuclear proliferation in the medium- to long-term. As more countries seek nuclear weapons and stockpiles increase to serve as deterrents, there is little chance of total denuclearization. Still, multilateral efforts are required as proliferation increases a state’s national security through deterrence, but ultimately decreases international security.
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