Hiroshima and the Nuclear Cycle

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August 6th is the day to commemorate the first atom bomb dropped by the US in 1945 on the citizens of Hiroshima in Japan. More than 140, 000 people were either vaporised immediately or died in the following months of radiation sickness or horrific burns. Every Hiroshima Day, people around the world reaffirm that this must never happen again.

In Kempsey this year, the commemoration was supported by the visit of a group of dedicated Australians who are cycling from Rockhampton to Canberra to raise awareness about the consequences of the nuclear cycle. They were greeted by local cyclists who joined them in Frederickton for the ride into town and a brief gathering in the Clyde Street Mall. Cycling on the Pacific Highway was a rather scary experience for the more inexperienced locals. Many motorists slowed down, sounded their horns and waved, but there is not much room to move next to a fast big truck. The effort of the Cyclists Against the Nuclear Cycle was truly appreciated after riding with them for only seven of the more than 1,500 km they have come so far.

For the evening, the Macleay Nuclear Free Alliance had organised the screening of the latest work by the well regarded film maker David Bradbury at the Bandbox Theatre. The film, A Hard Rain, documents the dangers of radiation from uranium mining to nuclear weapons. It was followed by a brief presentation by the cyclists about their motivations for their venture, their meetings with communities along the way and their intention to take their message about a nuclear free future to the politicians in Canberra.

Afterwards over supper, the audience discussed issues with the cyclists, such as the dangers of proposed nuclear power stations on rivers like the Macleay and the use of renewable energy technologies instead. On Tuesday, the cyclists continued their journey to Port Macquarie and a warm welcome by the Hastings Nuclear Free Alliance.