Report by Mr. Filip Deheegher, Mayors for Peace Belgium
On 6 August, the victims of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were commemorated in Ypres. The ceremony took place on the day marking exactly 81 years since the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
With a musical ceremony, the city of Ypres paid tribute to the many thousands of victims of the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Since 1998, Ypres has been a member of Mayors for Peace, an international network of cities committed to a world without nuclear weapons.
“Given our own history, we also bear a responsibility to continue to commemorate the victims of war,” says Mayor Katrien Desomer. “Nor must we forget what happened in Japan 81 years ago. Now that, in our view, the international political arena is falling short, it is our duty as a local authority to continue to highlight the importance of peace and nuclear disarmament.”
Still relevant today
During the commemoration, attention was also drawn to the consequences of the bombings. In addition to the destruction of both cities, the radioactive fallout claimed thousands of victims for years to come and left a deep mark on people’s lives.
Filip Deheegher from the Peace Service read a testimony from a survivor of the atomic bomb and emphasised that nuclear weapons still pose a threat today. “There are more than 12,000 nuclear weapons worldwide. They are often presented as a guarantee of security, but at the same time we see that they still play a significant role in international conflicts.”
Mayors for Peace flag flown in many Belgian towns
To conclude the ceremony, the flag of the Mayors for Peace network was raised, followed by a minute’s silence. The City of Ypres called on all Belgian members to fly the Mayors for Peace flag from 6 to 9 August to mark both dates and pay tribute to the victims.
Photo credit: City of Ypres