August 22, 2024

Dear NAPF Community,

Each August, we remember the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time that human beings were evaporated by nuclear weapons, but not the only time that human beings suffered due to nuclear weapons. On August 6, the Hiroshima anniversary, we held our 30th Annual Sadako Peace Day, a beautiful event with music, poetry, and remarks that brought our Santa Barbara community together in remembering Sadako Sasaki and all innocent victims of war.

Just days before, I was in Nagasaki at the invitation of the Asahi Shimbun for the 30th Annual International Symposium for Peace, where I delivered the keynote address and had a deeply meaningful and moving experience visiting the city for the first time. Started in 1995, the 50th Anniversary of the atomic bombings and the same year that NAPF started Sadako Peace Day, the Symposium has been a forum for international voices alongside the hibakusha and Japanese experts to send the message of “Never Again” into the world. My keynote focused on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and highlighted the role that the United States and Japan should play in bringing about a world free of this ultimate threat. See the article “My Trip to Nagasaki” below for my account of the visit, photos, videos, and more!

Everything we do at NAPF each and every day is about ensuring that Hiroshima and Nagasaki never happen again. Given today’s enormous arsenals, which contain many more and much more powerful bombs, the stakes are far higher than a mere repeat of August 1945, however devastating that would be. As in past letters, I urge you to check out the resources below to learn about the various ways in which we educate and advocate for a world free of nuclear arms.

We are both proud of the work that we do and grateful to all who make it possible.

With love and peace,
Ivana

Events

30th Annual Sadako Peace Day

Our 30th Annual Sadako Peace Day, held in the serene Sadako Peace Garden at La Casa de Maria on August 6, 2024, was a deeply moving event for our community. Attendees experienced an evening of reflection, music, and poetry, honoring Sadako Sasaki and all innocent victims of war. Special thanks go to our performers and speakers for their beautiful contributions. Watch the program and view the photos HERE.

My Trip to Nagasaki

During Ivana's visit to the Peace Park in Nagasaki, she laid a wreath alongside two hibakusha, Mr. Tanaka and Ms. Mitamura, at a point marking the hypocenter of the blast. (photo by Tsutomu Ishiai)

Ivana recently visited Nagasaki to deliver a keynote address at the 30th International Symposium for Peace: The Road to Nuclear Weapons Abolition. The symposium, co-organized by the Asahi Shimbun, brought together renowned experts and hibakusha, highlighting the crucial work needed to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again. During her trip, Ivana explored the city’s hills, the Peace Park, and the Atomic Bomb Museum, reflecting deeply on the impact of the bomb and the ongoing efforts for nuclear disarmament. For more about Ivana’s trip, including photos and videos, see HERE.