Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day events + Peace Sunday

7 August 2009

Below are details of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day events this weekend in Auckland and Christchurch, a Peace Sunday service in Auckland, as well as links to the Peace Sunday resources focused on justice for the Morurua workers, and the 2009 Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Declarations.

White poppies will be available at the events listed below (for a donation to the White Poppy Peace Scholarships) - information about the poppies, how you can obtain them for your peace event, and about the Peace Scholarships is available at http://www.whitepoppies.org.nz

* Auckland, Sunday 9 August

- Nagasaki Day / Peace Sunday service: with Rev'd Dr Jonathan Hartfield, Chairperson of the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship (APF) as preacher, APF members Dorothy Brown as reader and Meg Hartfield leading the prayers of the people, and APF material on display. Starts 10am at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, corner St Stephens Avenue and Parnell Road, Parnell. Information about the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/apf

- Candle Floating Ceremony to commemorate the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings:  from 5pm to 7pm at the Domain Wintergarden. Candles will be provided and the function will be held in the glass house so it will be warm and dry; contributions to the commemoration are welcome. Organised by the Tamaki Makaurau branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, for more information contact email rcoombes@paradise.net.nz or pjackman@ihug.co.nz

* Christchurch, Sunday 9 August

For the 34th consecutive year, a lantern ceremony will be held on the Avon River in remembrance of those who died and the Hibakusha (survivors) of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Beforehand there will be a ringing of the World Peace Bell in the Botanical Gardens, and a gathering at the WEA with speakers, music, poetry and peace crane making - see details below. Organized by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Otautahi branch, and the Quakers / Religious Society of Friends with support from Christchurch City Council Peace City; for more information, contact Mia tel (03) 980 4884.

- A peal for peace: the World Peace Bell in the botanical gardens will ring out at the exact moment of the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, part of the international ‘A peal for peace project’ - the project aims to connect with people around the world to transform the remembrance of horror into a rededication of life; 3.15pm, at the World Peace Bell (across the river from the Band Rotunda).

- Speakers, music, poetry and afternoon tea: speakers include Councillor Chrissie Williams on local peace issues and Natasha Barnes, a Canterbury University student who recently attended the Non-proliferation Treaty negotiations in New York. A variety of musicians will perform, including a Japanese choir, and hot soup / afternoon tea will be available. There will also be an opportunity to learn how to make origami peace cranes, before we walk down to the river to float the lanterns. Starts 4pm at the WEA, 59 Gloucester Street, the Commemoration with songs and speakers is at 4.45pm, depart at 5.15pm to walk to Victoria Square.
 
- Lantern ceremony: each year the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki float lanterns out to sea in memory of those who perished.  By floating lanterns into a river that flows into the same ocean we affirm that we will continue to work for the removal of all nuclear weapons from the earth, and to secure a peaceful future for all. Starts 5.30pm by Armagh Street bridge in Victoria Square.

* Focus on justice for Moruroa workers

Focus on justice for Moruroa workers, Christian World Service's 2009 Peace Sunday resource, is available at http://www.cws.org.nz/files/Peace%20Sunday%20resources%2009.pdf Whether or not you are Christian, the resource has useful information about the effects of the French nuclear tests in the Pacific, the struggle for justice, and the recent court case in Tahiti.

Links to information about that case, and progress in the case involving veterans of Britain's nuclear tests in the Pacific earlier this year, is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/ntest.htm

* 2009 Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Declarations

The 2009 Hiroshima Peace Declaration, delivered by Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba on Thursday during the annual commemoration of the atomic bombing, is available at
http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/shimin/heiwa/pd2009e.html An Associated Press report of the commemoration, which includes a photo of doves flying over the cenotaph in the Peace Memorial Park is available at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090806/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_hiroshima_anniversary

The Nagasaki commemoration will be held on Sunday, and the 2009 Nagasaki Peace Declaration will be available at http://www1.city.nagasaki.nagasaki.jp/peace/english/appeal soon thereafter.

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