Hiroshima anniversary a time to reflect

Only determined and sincere efforts by leaders will prevent the threat of another nuclear war

The anniversary of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima is a time of reflection about the terrible events of 1945 and of our ability to destroy others for self-preservation. Around 140,000 people died instantly in the searing heat or from radiation in the months after a US plane unleashed the deadliest weapon ever used and ushered in the nuclear age.

Those who experienced the Second World War bombing in Hiroshima and a similar attack on Nagasaki three days later, said television images of the Fukushima crisis brought back terrible memories. But even as images remind us of the catastrophe, the lessons may not have been fully learnt. Countries are still stocking up their nuclear arsenals and the clouds of war are ever upon us. At a memorial ceremony, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui said Japan must take a bolder role in leading global disarmament efforts. Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has said the country must pass on the experience to future generations so the lessons of Hiroshima are not forgotten.

But even as some speak peace, there is an ever-present risk of rogue elements getting hold of nuclear technology and eventually taking the world to ransom. The possibilities are endless. Do we want to live on the brink of disaster? While most may answer in the negative, our actions speak differently. Only a determined and sincere effort by world leaders will ensure lasting peace.