On Saturday 1st August members and supporters of Bromley Borough CND assembled opposite the central library to commemorate the use of nuclear weapons against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August 1945. We maintained a two hour presence outside the library before processing on a silent and dignified walk around Bromley High Street. We all wore our face masks as a mark of respect to the victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and also to victims of the Covid 19 virus. We then walked to the lake in the Library Gardens where we scattered chrysanthemum petals on the lake. Afterwards we read poetry written by members of Bromley Borough CND.
Watch: Nagasaki Day commemorations
London CND supported the London Peace Pagoda’s annual event, held this year via Zoom.
Programme
Welcome & Introduction - Shigeo Kobayashi (MC), JAN UK
Water Sprinkling & Blessing - Rev. Nagase Shonin, London Peace Pagoda
Chanting - Rev. Nagase Shonin
Chapter 16 Lotus Sutra - Rev. Nagase Shonin
Tibetan Traditional Chanting - Jamyang Buddhist Sangha －Geshe Tenzin Namdak
Christian Prayer - Rev. Alan Gadd, South London Interfaith Group
Speech - Bruce Kent, Vice-President of CND
Speech - Shigeo Kobayashi
Speech on Bradwell - Yuko Moriyama-Wiffen
Song for Peace - Brigette Bennett
Conclusion & Thanks - Shigeo Kobayashi
The ceremony ended with the live image of lanterns at the London Peace Pagoda.
Watch: Hiroshima Day commemorations
This year, we held our annual Hiroshima Day commemorations online, as we were unable to meet in Tavistock Square. The event was recorded and can be viewed below.
Feedback from our guests:
Sonoda : I am a Fukushima nuclear victim. Thank you to all.
Syeda : Thank you all, 本当にありがとうございます。Great songs!
Frank: Thanks to all, from Leicester.
Min O'R: Thanks to all, from Belfast
Iliyana: Thanks from Scotland and our Peace Cranes exhibition at the Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre
Symon, Peace Pledge Union: Many thanks to all organisers and participants.
Ziba, Raised Voices Choir in London : Thank you Hugh for all these excellent songs.
Katrina A: Thank you everyone who organised and contributed to this great event.
Tim O: Thanks very much to everyone involved.
Cordelia: Thank you to everyone who organised this important event
Gerri: Today is so important to me and this has been a wonderful, spiritual way to remember. With love
Mahzad : Thank you for commemorating this very important historical and humanitarian event
Julie S: Thank you everyone for this event!
Mariette and Jai : Thank you London CND for this event.
Paula S: Thank you for an excellent Zoom x
Ivan R: Thank you for holding this !