Give peace a chance
Kenneth Speirs
The destruction of the Japanese city of Hiroshima by an atom bomb during the last days of World War II was commemorated by a solemn ceremony at Barshaw Park’s Peace Garden.
The United States detonated the bomb on August 6, 1945, followed by another in Nagasaki three days later.
Almost 130,000 people were killed, most of them civilians.
The event in Paisley, which was organised by the Renfrewshire Campaign for Nuc l e a r Disarmament, was attended by Mihoko Kawada from Tokyo, who wore traditional Japanese dress.
Duncan Macintosh, of Renfrewshire CND, said: “She described the ceremonies which had taken place in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
“They are attended by the Japanese Prime Minister and live streamed on Japanese TV.”
Also speaking at the event was Green MSP Ross Greer.
Duncan added: “He spoke of the bombing as a crime against humanity, and called states like our own which deployed and threatened to use more destructive nuclear weapons as the real rogue states.
“Both speakers spoke of the need to alert younger generations to the dangers to humanity and the planet of nuclear weapons.”
The Peace Garden was officially opened in 1986 by Monsignor Bruce Kent, former national chairman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and local children.
It features a variety of flowers and plant life, and is intended as a quiet space where people can remembers the dead and enjoy contemplation.
The gathering was called by Renfrewshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in the build up to a major protest rally on Saturday, September 22, at the Faslane nuclear weapon base in Helensburgh.