80 Years Since Hiroshima: A Pledge for Peace from Chemistry Students
Today, August 6, 2025, marks 80 years since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a tragedy that instantly killed around 70,000 people and claimed another 70,000 lives by year’s end due to radiation sickness.
Three days later, Nagasaki suffered the same fate.
These were not just historical events; they were human disasters whose full impact was not fully understood until years later.
In 1954, the crew of the Japanese fishing boat Fukuryu Maru (Lucky Dragon #5) was exposed to radioactive fallout from the U.S. Castle Bravo nuclear test, 86 miles away from the blast. Every crew member fell ill. The world finally began to grasp the long-term effects of nuclear weapons.
Since 1945, the world has followed an unspoken rule: the “norm of non-use” of nuclear weapons. But today, with rising geopolitical tensions, modernization of arsenals, and nuclear threats returning to global headlines, this norm is under pressure.
To honour this day, students of the Department of Chemistry took this pledge:
“I pledge to remember the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I will stand for peace, respect life, and speak out against violence.
I will learn, educate others, and use my voice for a world without nuclear weapons.”
Let us remember the voices of the Hibakusha, the survivors, who have spent their lives sharing painful truths in hopes of a better world.
They were finally recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024, nearly 70 years after their campaign began.
Their message remains:
🛑 Never again.
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