In commemoration of the Day of the Fight for Nuclear Disarmament, observed on August 9, the City Government, in partnership with the Japanese Association of Santos, held a ceremony on Thursday, August 6, at the Princess Isabel Hall in City Hall, reaffirming the City’s commitment to a culture of peace.
The date is included in the city’s official calendar and commemorates the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which took place 81 years ago. The initiative also encourages reflection on the importance of building a world free of nuclear weapons.
TRIBUTES
The program featured a performance by the karate group of the Japanese Association of Santos, whose members symbolically exchanged their black belts for white belts in support of peace.
Students from UME Professor Waldery de Almeida School (Santa Maria) performed the song “A Paz” (“Peace”) by Gilberto Gil in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras).
At the end of the ceremony, they distributed paper cranes (tsurus). The crane is considered a symbol of Japanese culture and represents peace, health, longevity, good luck, and prosperity.
SISTER CITY
In addition to being a sister city of Nagasaki, Santos has been a member of the international Mayors for Peace network since 2015.
Headquartered in Hiroshima, the organization brings together approximately 8,589 municipalities in 166 countries and works to promote world peace, the elimination of nuclear weapons, and efforts to address global challenges such as hunger, poverty, human rights violations, and environmental degradation, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
CULTURE OF PEACE
Education Secretary Joana Costal emphasized that Santos develops public policies aimed at fostering a culture of peace, including Restorative Justice initiatives.
“It is important to remember this date. Our mission in education is also to instill in students the values of unity, peace, and cooperation.”
Tourism, Commerce and Entrepreneurship Secretary Thiago Papa highlighted the importance of reflecting on the conflicts taking place in different parts of the world.
“We have witnessed the consequences of wars, and increasingly, dialogue and unity among peoples are proving to be essential.”
Alcides Sekitani, Vice President of the Deliberative Council of the Japanese Association of Santos, emphasized the importance of passing the values of peace on to future generations.
“We want to bring this mission to children so that tragedies like those that claimed thousands of lives in Hiroshima and Nagasaki never happen again.”
This initiative contributes to Goal 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
Photo credit: City of Santos
Photographer: Francisco Arrais
Website: https://www.santos.sp.gov.br/