It was 67 years ago when two atomic
bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima was
devastated, and three days later, on August 9, Nagasaki suffered the
same fate. These two commemorative dates provide us with the opportunity to
remember what happened, and to renew a sense of determination to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
A commemorative ceremony for the Atomic Bomb Memorial Day
2012 took place at the main building of the UNO in Vienna,
August 8th 2012. Two of Soroptimist International’s UN Representatives, Dora
Vrdlovec and Roswitha Benesch, were in attendance.
One of the speakers, Ambassador Enkhsaikhan of Mongolia,
expressed that every state, large or small has a pivotal part to play and has
the obligation to contribute to a better common future. He calls for a total
ban on nuclear weapons. Both Dora and Roswitha had the
pleasure of meeting him afterwards. They went over to congratulate him on his
powerful speech and to explain to him about Soroptimist International and the
work that we do. Ambassador Enkhsaikhan was already familiar however,
expressing that he knows us and also knows that we have a
club in Mongolia.
He was very pleased for the introduction and expressed how important it is that
the NGO’s get in touch with the Ambassadors so that firstly they can help them get more
acknowledgment, and secondly so that they can support us in the programmes that we do in
their countries.
As part of the ceremony Austro-Japanese artist Ms.Yuko Gulda carried out a number of artistic performances, including a
Japanese tea ceremony. The tea ceremony is meant as
a symbol for peace, even in times of war.
Japan
led the ceremony and this was of symbolic importance because it is the only country
to have experienced a nuclear attack. Ambassador Thoshiro Ozawa from Japan
said ‘Japan has
a moral responsibility to lead in the International efforts towards the
ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons’. He said ‘It is important to teach our youth about the real consequences of the use of nuclear weapons’.
The ceremony was concluded by Dr Klaus Renolder, chairman of the NGO Committee on Peace. He said ‘In case of nuclear
explosions there is no medical help, everything is destroyed; there are no
emergency services, no facilities in the area. Either we succeed in abolishing
nuclear weapons, or nuclear weapons destroy mankind’. A powerful and necessary closing statement.
For more information on the event or a look at artist Yoko Gulda’s Commemorative Acts please see below:
http://www.vie-mission.emb-japan.go.jp/Statements/s20120808.html