On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, marking the end of World War II. After impacting the Japanese population, the devastating consequences of those explosions still resonate in the memories of survivors, such as Shigemitsu Tanaka, who at just 4 years old experienced the tragedy in Nagasaki.
Tanaka, now at 84, is co-chairman of the NGO Nihon Hidankyo and has dedicated his life to honoring the memory of the victims and advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons worldwide. In a recent interview, he recalled the moment the bomb fell on Nagasaki while he was playing at home and expressed his deep concern about the existence of around 12,300 nuclear weapons globally.
In a more current context, Hungary was affected by bomb threats directed at more than 240 schools, resulting in the cancellation of classes in some institutions. Hungarian authorities have taken measures to investigate these incidents, which are suspected to have been sent by a single sender via emails.
Tanaka warns about the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and their strategic use in contemporary conflicts. He emphasizes that humanity cannot coexist with weapons that have the sole purpose of annihilation. In this regard, he advocates for the adherence of countries like Japan and Spain to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, in order to prevent a new nuclear massacre and raise awareness about the need to eliminate weaponry that only brings destruction and suffering.
