REMEMBER THE BOMBINGS OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI

On 6th August 1945 the United States of America dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima
" Up to 180,000 people were killed from a population of 350,000
" The firestorm destroyed 13 sq km of the city
" Over 60% of buildings were completely destroyed
Three days later on 9th August a second atomic bomb was detonated over the city of Nagasaki
" Up to 100,000 people were killed from a population of 240,000
" Nearly a quarter of all buildings were consumed in flames
In total about 250,000 people died in the first few days. Everyone within half a mile of the bombs was instantly vaporised by intense heat. All that was left was their shadows burnt into stone walls.
Those caught in the open were killed by heat and blast waves. Huge winds destroyed any remaining buildings. Thousands were killed by falling debris or suffocated because the oxygen in the air had burnt away. In the days, weeks and months that followed thousands more died from their injuries or from the effects of radioactive fallout.
Years later survivors developed radiation induced cancers and intestinal problems. Children of survivors were more likely to be born with genetic deformities or develop leukaemia.
In both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the overwhelming majority of people killed were civilians, ordinary men, women and children.
All of this was caused by just TWO nuclear weapons.
Today we live in a world where there are 30,000 nuclear weapons.
UK Trident warheads are nearly EIGHT TIMES MORE powerful that the bomb that exploded on Hiroshima.
Together we can work to change this suicidal madness.

• Join CND - the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament take a membership leaflet today or join online www.cnduk.org
• Ask for a speaker to come to your school, college, church or community group
• Support your local Hastings Against War