Hibakusha continues to inspire anti-nuclear campaignーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
NHK WORLD-JAPAN
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Video Summary
At 94, atomic bomb survivor Setsuko Thurlow is sounding the alarm with renewed urgency, campaigning for nuclear disarmament.
Thurlow, a hibakusha who survived the Hiroshima bombing, recently visited Vienna to share her firsthand account with students and locals. She recounted the horrifying moment of the blast, which occurred just 1.8 kilometers from her location, and the devastating loss of her family, friends, and classmates. To honor the victims, she displays a banner with their names, refusing to let them be reduced to statistics. Thurlow implores the world to learn from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, not by seeking more nuclear weapons, but by urgently moving away from reliance on them. Despite the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017, progress has stalled, with nuclear-armed states modernizing their arsenals and threatening use. Thurlow continues her advocacy, urging diplomats and young people to champion the treaty and work towards a nuclear-weapon-free world.
Short Highlights
- Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, is actively campaigning for the abolition of nuclear weapons at age 94.
- She shares her personal experience of the bombing and the loss of loved ones to emphasize the human cost and prevent future tragedies.
- Thurlow advocates for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, urging global action despite stalled disarmament progress and modernization of nuclear arsenals by some states.
- She inspires younger generations to take action and work towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
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Key Details
Hiroshima Survivor's Plea [0:00]
- Setsuko Thurlow, a hibakusha, has dedicated over half a century to advocating for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
- She was instrumental in the 2017 adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and continues her urgent campaign at age 94.
"Setsuko Thurlow is a hibakusha. She survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima."
Firsthand Account of Devastation [0:00]
- Thurlow recounts her experience of the Hiroshima bombing, which occurred when she was 13, approximately 1.8 kilometers from the hypocenter.
- She vividly remembers the blinding flash and the sensation of being thrown into the air.
"With a sudden blinding flash in the window, I remember the sensation of flying up and floating up in the air."
Preserving Human Dignity [0:00]
- The bombing resulted in the loss of Thurlow's close family, relatives, and over 300 classmates and teachers.
- She displays a banner with the names of the deceased to honor their memory and prevent them from being reduced to mere statistics.
"Just 10 minutes before that happened, I was joking and laughing and having good time with my friends. 10 minutes later, they are all gone."
