Excerpts from talks given by Hibakusha (survivors of nuclear weapons) on a recent speaking tour of the United States, sponsored in part by AFSC. For full texts of the talks, contact Joseph Gerson, AFSC, 2161 Mass. Ave., Cambridge MA 02140; 617/661-6130; jgerson@afsc.org

Tamiko Nishimoto, Hiroshima, Japan

August 6, 1945: Just as we took a few steps back from the window we were caught by a tremendous white-silver-colored flash, which I felt to be as bright as thousands of photoflashes. We were suddenly in complete darkness, with tiles raining down on us. Panicking and screaming with pain and fear, I was drawn back into the closet by my mother. When we emerged from the closet, we found that the whole world had turned to rubble, leaving no space to step out.

As for the A-bomb survivors, they were soon afflicted with high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, hematemesis, melena, alopecia, and other diseases, which were caused by irradiation. Sixty-five percent of these victims were elderly people, children, and women. The victims of the atomic bomb were those who were the most vulnerable.

We are now demanding of the Japanese government support for A-Bomb survivors, and the enactment of "Legislation of the Three Antinuclear Principles."

Carletta Garcia, Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico, USA

The Laguna reservation was once host to the largest open pit uranium mine in North America. In the summer afternoons, my cousins and I would listen for the siren that announced the explosion that happened every day at noon and at 4:30 in the afternoon. We'd sit and watch the blast of dynamite loosen the uranium from the earth. If the wind was just right, it would push the foul-smelling dust toward the village.

My mother and I would often sit by the cliff and she would tell me about how beautiful the valley of Paguate was before that mining had begun its operation. She told me of the orchards that once held peaches, pears, and apples. The gardens below our homes were green with corn, chili, and watermelon. I would sit at the edge of the cliff above the mine, close my eyes and visualize how it used to look. But, when I would open my eyes all I would see was ugly, gray, and barren land before me. It was mutilated and left like an open sore to fester; the rains washed the radiation into the runoffs and nearby streams.

We were never told about the hazards of radiation. I do not ever recall hearing about any radiation at all. For years now cancer seems to be a growing epidemic among our people.

My mother, who died of cancer last summer, helped to form an organization called the Laguna-Acoma Coalition for a Better Environment.

Choi II Chul, President, Korea Atomic Bomb Casualty Association

In 1945, the Japanese government estimated that 100,000 Koreans had been victimized in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 50,000 were killed by the bombs. Of the survivors, 43,000 returned to Korea. We Korean victims demand that the Hibakusha Aid Law enacted in Japan in 1994 should be equally applied to the A-bomb survivors living abroad.

Miyoko Tando, Hiroshima Prefecture A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization

On August 6, 1945, 55 years ago, I was living in the town of Funairi-Nakamachi, Hiroshima City, 1.2 km away from the blast center of the atomic bomb. I was 13 years old and in the first grade of Hiroshima City Girls High School. I survived because I had been absent from school on that day. Almost all of my friends who were at school at that moment died. On August 8 my sister died, and in the evening my father died, too.

Our living situation grew worse and my burns took a long time to heal. Marriage and employment were difficult as I was a Hibakusha. Hibakusha are constantly facing the fear of death and battling with fatal illnesses. As of March 1999, the sufferers with official certificates as Hibakusha living in Hiroshima City totaled 91,940. Of them, 16,760 were living alone.

About 20 years after the bombing, I was asked to speak to young people about my A-bomb experience. I thought over and over because speaking about it meant exposing my unhealed mental and physical trauma. But keeping silent does not make nuclear weapons powers stop their development.

The abolition of nuclear weapons is essential to ensure that no more Hibakusha will be created. The Hibakusha are not limited to those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There are a number of victims of nuclear weapons all over the world, including those who were victimized by nuclear tests and accidents of nuclear facilities. I call on you to do your utmost, hand in hand with the Hibakusha all over the world, to achieve a nuclear-free 21st century.

Nonviolent Resistance to Trident Nuclear Weapons, 8/3 - 8/6, Bangor WA; sponsored by Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action; program exploring roots of violence, discussing effects of nonviolence, training in direct action, participation in resistance; contact Ground Zero at info@gzcenter.org; 16159 Clear Creek Rd, Poulsboro WA 98370; 360/377-2586

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Days Remembrance, 8/5, 3 pm - 5 pm, Kings Bay Trident Base, St. Mary's GA; theme: "No Trident Upgrades; No Trident Conversions to Stealth Battleships; No More Money Wasted on Tridents;" contact Robert Randall, 912/262-1274, rrandall@compuserve.com; Sam Marshall, 912/452-9540, samruth@peachnet.campuscwix.net; Metanoia Community, 904/262-5071, metanoia@juno.com

Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow: 24 Hours of Action & Remembrance about Hiroshima, Nagasaki, & Iraq, 8 am 8/5 to 8 am 8/6; outside First Churches, 129 Main St., Northampton MA; a sing-out, speak-out vigil to mark the anniversary of the atomic bombings in Japan, & also the 10-year anniversary of the beginning of US sanctions against Iraq; contact AFSC, 140 Pine St. #10, Florence MA 01060; 413/584-8975

The Courage to Wake Up & Follow our Conscience, 8/6, 7 pm; Unitarian Society, 220 Main St., Northampton MA; with Hibakusha Setsuko Thurlow, representatives from the Peace Pagoda, & more; contact AFSC, 140 Pine St. #10, Florence MA 01060; 413/584-8975

People's Campaign for Nonviolence March & Rally, 8/6 (Hiroshima Day), Washington DC; to end the sanctions against Iraq & abolish nuclear weapons; contact Tom O'Rourke, 215/665-0480; Brandywine Peace Community, POB 81, Swarthmore PA 19081; 610/544-1818; brandywine@Juno.com

From Hiroshima to Hope: Peace Action of Washington Commemoration, 8/6, Seattle WA; largest gathering outside of Japan features family entertainment; NW shore of Green Lake; contact Fred Miller Peace Action of WA, 206/527-8050; organizer@peaceaction.gen.wa.us

Hiroshima Day 2000 at Lawrence Livermore Lab, 8/6, 8 am, Livermore CA; corner of East Ave & Vasco Rd; program & demonstration; anniversary of bombing of Hiroshima & 10th anniversary of sanctions against Iraq; keynote: Bruce Gagnon, coordinator of Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space; other speakers, music, nonviolent direct action; contact Tri-Valley CAREs, 925/443-7148

Encampment at Hanford Nuclear Reservation, 8/8 - 8/10, Richland WA; site where plutonium for Nagasaki bomb was produced & then sent to Los Alamos; vigil 8/9 from 11 am to 1 pm; possible civil disobedience, demonstrations; contact PHer909836@aol.com; 206/417-3922

National Gathering & Demonstration at Los Alamos, New Mexico, 8/9, demonstration 11am at Ashley Pond, march to labs at 2 pm; 8/7-8/8 workshops & CD training; sponsored by Peace Action New Mexico; 505/989-4812; LANLaction@aol.com; PANM, 226 Fiesta St., Santa Fe NM 87501

Remembrance & Resistance at Lockheed Martin, 8/9 (Nagasaki Day), 11 am (time of Nagasaki bombing); commemoration of the 1st atomic bombing; Hibakusha; Nonviolent Civil Disobedience, Lockheed Martin, Mall Blvd, Valley Forge, PA (behind King of Prussia Mall); Brandywine Peace Community, POB 81, Swarthmore PA 19081; 610/544-1818; brandywine@Juno.com

Discussion of Hiroshima's Legacy; 8/9, 7:30, North Congregational Church, Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT; led by Joseph Gainza, field representative, Vermont AFSC; contact Bonney Simons, 802/748-3663, North Country Coalition for Justice & Peace; 186 Overcliff Rd, St. Johnsbury VT 05819

Global Hibakusha Share their Stories & Hopes; Peace & Economic Security Program has published testimonies of global survivors of atomic explosions presented at the Hague Appeal for Peace Conference, May 1999; text at www.afsc.org/pes.htm under "Current Activities and Events;" order by mail for $1 + s/h; bulk orders available

With Hiroshima Eyes: Atomic War, Nuclear Extortion and Moral Imagination, Joseph Gerson; 203 pp.; $15 + s&h; New Society Publishers, Philadelphia; describes US use of nuclear weapons from Hiroshima to Baghdad, centered on the experiences & perspective of Japanese Hibakusha, calls for the abolition of nuclear weapons

For information or to order any of these materials, contact AFSC, 2161 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140; 617/661-6130.