Where Were You on August 6, 1945?

How many of you were born in 1945? What about August 6, 1945? If so you share your birthday with the 65th anniversary of the explosion of the first Atom Bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later a second, larger atom bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The two bombs killed over 400,000 humans (mostly civilians)and destroyed both cities, causing years of cancer causing radioactive fallout and radiation. Soon thereafter the Japanese surrendered to the US and WWII ended.

Today the nuclear powers of the world including USA, England, France, Russia, China, Pakistan, India, and probably Israel (although they have not verified) possess a total of over 10,000 atom and hydrogen bombs that could destroy all or most life on Earth many times over. The two bombs that destroyed two of Japan's large cities were equal to the bomb power that could drop from 4,000 B-29 bombers, dropping all their bombs simutaneously. Today the nuclear armed countries of the world are able to launch nuclear bombs that are more than 1,000,000 times more powerful than either one dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And, they can be launched by long range missiles that are virtually impossible to intercept.

The world nuclear powers still accumulate and upgrade nuclear weapons to use in the event of war and to supposedly deter a nuclear war. We have been the only world power to use nuclear weapons in war up to now. But as proliferation continues and both N. Korea and Iran are likely involved in developing nuclear bombs the world becomes more, not less likely, to face a future nuclear war. Such a war could unleash thousands of nuclear bombs using long-range missile and destroy every large city and most population centers on Earth within one day.Such a catastrophe would make Earth virtually uninhabitable for centuries due to persistent and deadly radioactivity.

Those of you who were born on August 6, 1945 may not be aware of the bombs that announced the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki three days later. However, we must all be aware of the potential that the nuclear powers of the world have to destroy Earth and its inhabitants. If you believe that all life is sacred and humankind is worthy of continuing life in Earth you and all others alive today must demand the cessation of nuclear bomb development and production and the destruction of all existing nuclear weapons. Absolutely nothing else is more critical for the survival of the human species and all life on Earth.

Take a few moments to write your elected representatives in Congress and the Administration to end nuclear proliferation and the ongoing development of more destructive nuclear weapons. All existing nuclear weapons must be destroyed by all countries that possess them. The notion of a nuclear deterrent is a false dream. We have already proven that deception by what we did in Hiroshima and Nagasaki about 64 years ago. Stop the pipe dream and take action now.