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SUMMARY:Remembering Hiroshima\, Nagasaki\, and 80 Years of Nuclear Violence
DESCRIPTION:  \nOpening Words \nHisako Masaki \nOn August 6\, 1945\, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima\, killing 140 thousand people. On August 9\, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki\, killing 70 thousand people. More continued to die years later\, due to radiation. \nNuclear violence started before Hiroshima. People involved in nuclear bomb production\, from uranium mining to nuclear testing\, suffered and died from radiation. \nThe first atomic bomb was dropped on July 16\, 1945\, in New Mexico. This Trinity Testing harmed the land\, air and water\, killing lives\, contaminating the area with radioactive substances. People involved in the project were harmed\, and many died. \nNuclear violence continued after Nagasaki. The first post-war nuclear bomb testing\, Operation Crossroads\, started in July 1946. \nOver two thousand nuclear test explosions followed worldwide\, harming lives and contaminating the earth: Radioactive fallouts were carried by wind\, water\, irradiated insects\, birds\, fish\, and other creatures\, passing through food chains. Scattered radioactive substances continue to harm life. \nThe Key Lake Mine in northern Saskatchewan\, the largest uranium producer in the world\, the Hanford Site in Washington\, the largest plutonium producer\, and many uranium mining sites or nuclear facilities have been harming life during production\, and after\, as nuclear waste continues to emit radiation. \nNuclear power plant accidents of Three Mile Island\, Chernobyl and Fukushima caused large-scale radiation contamination\, causing death and illness. But all nuclear power plants have been harming the environment and life with leaked radiation and nuclear waste. \nWith close to 13\,000 nuclear weapons in the world\, we live under the threat of nuclear disaster. \nWe want to remember these 80 years of nuclear violence so that we can stop it by contributing in our own ways. We want to remember and learn from the survivors and many who have been committed to building a future without wars and nuclear violence. \nMay we come together to remember. \n. \nAugust 6th by Toge Sankichi  (Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor)\nTranslation by Hisako Masaki \n八月六日    峠三吉\nAugust 6th\nby  Toge Sankichi\n\nあの閃光が忘れえようか\nHow can I forget that flash?\n瞬時に街頭の三万は消え\nIn an instant\, thirty thousand people in town disappeared/\n圧しつぶされた暗闇の底で\nAt the bottom of the crushed darkness\n五万の悲鳴は絶え\nfifty thousand screams died out/\n渦巻くきいろい煙がうすれると\nWhen swirling yellow smokes faded away\nビルディングは裂さけ、橋は崩くずれ\nbuildings split\, and the bridges collapsed\n満員電車はそのまま焦こげ\npacked trains were burned whole.\n涯しない瓦礫がれきと燃えさしの堆積たいせきであった広島\nHiroshima became mounds of Endless rubble and embers\nやがてボロ切れのような皮膚を垂れた\nEventually\, people with their skin hanging down like rags\n両手を胸に\nwith their hands on their chests\nくずれた脳漿のうしょうを踏み\nstepping on crumbling brains\n焼け焦こげた布を腰にまとって\nwith burnt clothes around their hips\n泣きながら群れ歩いた裸体の行列\nwere walking in lines naked and crying\n石地蔵のように散乱した練兵場の屍体\nDead bodies are scattered like stone buddhas on the Parade Ground\nつながれた筏いかだへ這はいより折り重った河岸の群も\nlayers of people crawling onto moored rafts on the river banks\n灼やけつく日ざしの下でしだいに屍体とかわり\ngradually turned into corpses under the burning sunlight.\n夕空をつく火光かこうの中に\nIn the flames soaring to the evening sky\n下敷きのまま生きていた母や弟の町のあたりも\nwas my mother\, brother\, still alive\, buried under others\n焼けうつり\nas fire moved to that neighbourhood.\n兵器廠へいきしょうの床の糞尿ふんにょうのうえに\nOn the floors of the armoury\, in human waste\nのがれ横たわった女学生らの\nescaped school girls and lying down\n太鼓腹の、片眼つぶれの、半身あかむけの、丸坊主の\nwith swollen bellies\, crushed eyes\, half-peeled skins\, hairless heads\,\n誰がたれとも分らぬ一群の上に朝日がさせば\nThe morning sun rises on the people\, no longer recognizable.\nすでに動くものもなく\nNothing is moving anymore\n異臭いしゅうのよどんだなかで\nin offensive stagnant smell\n金かなダライにとぶ蠅の羽音だけ\nexcept flies buzzing around the metal basins.\n三十万の全市をしめた\nHow can I forget that silence\,\nあの静寂が忘れえようか\nreigning over three hundred thousand people in the whole city.\nそのしずけさの中で\nIn that silence\,\n帰らなかった妻や子のしろい眼窩がんかが\nwhite eye sockets of our wives and children never returned\,\n俺たちの心魂をたち割って\nsplitting our hearts\n込めたねがいを\nwith their wishes\n忘れえようか！\nI can never forget!\n\n\nRemembering Hiroshima\, Nagasaki and 80 Years of Nuclear Violence\nHomily by Hisako Masaki \n\nI grew up in Kyoto\, Japan\, with no family connection to the atomic bombing experience in Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Atomic bombing was never discussed at my home\, and was hardly taught in school. So\, I did not know much\, but I always felt they were important\, because it was an important public memory in Japan. Every year\, on August 6th and 9th\, the days atomic bombs were dropped\, memorials are held in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I grew up watching clips of these memorials on TV and learning about survivors’ experiences through the media. Children’s books\, such as ”Hiroshima no Pika” or “Barefoot Gen\,” were recommended\, and many schools took students to Hiroshima and Nagasaki for peace education. \n(My first encounter: How can I respond to the nuclear violence?) \nMy school trip took me to Nagasaki when I was 16. We visited the Atomic Bombing Museum and saw horrifying photos of the aftermath: People burnt alive\, skin peeling off… Vivid images of dead and severely injured people in a destroyed city were so scary. I wanted to look away\, but I felt I shouldn’t. Atomic bombing was something scary and serious that I had to look into\, but too scary and serious to do so. I felt I had to engage\, but it was too overwhelming; I didn’t know how. \n(Japanese physicists\, environment and child-raising) \nI began reading about nuclear issues in my university years. During the Second World War\, Japanese physicists also tried to develop atomic bombs. But seeing the aftermath of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki\, they became committed to abolishing wars and nuclear weapons. In 1949\, when the Japanese Academy was created\, the Japan Physics Society demanded international control of nuclear energy\, never to use it for weapons. In 1950\, the academy decided never to conduct scientific research for war purposes. Japanese physicists advocated for international collaboration to abolish nuclear weapons and to refuse research for war. Many also spoke against nuclear power plants\, because of the danger of radiation and also because it was tied to nuclear weapons production. \nBy the time I went to university\, such activism among physicists was fading. But I read those books as the responsibility of a physics student: to understand the issue and to build my informed opinion to share with others. \nAs an environmentalist since childhood\, sensitive to humans harming other beings\, I was appalled by the way Japan kept building nuclear power plants. \nBut it was the responsibility of becoming a mother that pushed me to be involved in nuclear issues. Through seeking a child-raising community that cares for the land and water\, I found farmers\, fishermen\, mothers\, and many land and water protectors\, and learned about nuclear issues in the grassroots movement to protect life\, fighting against nuclear violence\, especially from people living near nuclear power plants. The responsibility of raising children prompted me to seek resources for children and take them to places of learning. \n(Maruki Toshi and Iri) \nWhen my daughters were in elementary school\, I took them to the Maruki Gallery of Hiroshima Panels near Tokyo. I was blown away by the works of Maruki Iri and Toshi. When I stepped into their studio\, I instantly felt at home. There were shelves full of books about nuclear issues\, war responsibility\, art\, literature\, social justice\, community building\, and more. We sat on the tatami floor\, looked at books\, looked at the river and trees through the window\, and made drawings on their desk\, as all visitors were invited to do so. I felt Iri and Toshi were opening a door for us to join the community of caring for all beings\, which also meant fighting hard against violence against life. This visit changed the way I look at the tragedy of the atomic bombing. \nToshi and Iri went to Hiroshima right after it was bombed. They helped their family\, neighbours and strangers while witnessing the devastation created by the atomic bomb. Years later\, they began to paint what they saw on the first day\, the next day\, and the following days in Hiroshima. Those paintings were filled with cruel deaths and indescribable suffering\, just like those Nagasaki photos I saw on my school trip. But instead of looking away\, I looked in\, drawn by the beauty and dignity of life. Many people were dead\, but I could see that each of them had lived a precious life. A mother holding her dead baby\, naked people burnt alive\, or pierced by smashed pieces of glass… People were going through tremendous pain and sadness\, but each life was so precious and beautiful\, especially the way they cared for each other as family\, friends and community. \nSince then\, Hiroshima and nuclear issues have turned into remembering the preciousness of all lives to let such beauty continue: protecting life\, fighting against nuclear and all violence\, by building a caring community. \n(Nagasaki) \nWhen my daughters were teenagers\, I took them to Nagasaki. By this time\, the museum exhibit had changed. It took us back to what happened on the day the bomb was dropped and after\, with explanations in the context of the continuing history of conflicts\, violence\, war\, nuclear\, and peace-building. We heard stories from survivors\, learned a bit of history\, and sat in sadness in front of a screen watching video footage of too many mushroom clouds of nuclear testing that continued in different parts of the world. \nWe walked around town\, visiting places that carried the memory of death\, destruction and suffering the bomb had brought. Feeling the memory of the land\, meeting survivors and being warmly welcomed by the community changed us. Nagasaki began to feel like our hometown. As we connected with the people and place\, we felt connected to their experiences and their commitment to peace. \n(Hidankyo) \nI did not know about Nihon Hidankyo\, the Japan Confederation of Atomic and Hydrogen Bomb Sufferers Organization\, until I saw them awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year: “for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.” I was impressed by Hidankyo elders\, unwaveringly committed to peace. Then\, I met their long-time supporter and started learning. \nIn 1945\, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki\, taking the lives of 220 thousand people\, and severely injuring countless. However\, most survivors did not know what happened beyond their personal experiences. \nJapan went under the American occupation\, which forbade reporting on atomic bombings\, so most people did not know what actually happened. The US sent medical doctors to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to examine the injured people\, not to give medical treatment\, but to collect data on the radiation impact on human bodies. They took their findings to the US and kept them secret. Scientific information was not shared\, international journalists were forbidden to enter those cities\, and articles\, artworks or books about atomic bombing were banned. The knowledge of atomic bombing was silenced and kept away from the public – until the survivors started writing and sharing their personal experiences\, which grew into the Atomic Bombing Victims Association in 1954\, after the American occupation ended in 1952. \nOn March 1\, 1954\, the US conducted its largest weapon test: the Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb was dropped on Bikini Atoll. It caused a weather change\, and nuclear fallout spread all over the Marshall Islands and beyond\, harming all life. Without any notification from the US\, over 856 Japanese fishing boats in the Pacific were also exposed to the radiation. When these 20 thousand fishermen returned to Japan\, they became ill and started dying. All the fish they caught had high levels of radiation; therefore\, they had to be buried underground. \nShocked by the third nuclear disaster Japan had to endure\, mothers in Tokyo\, determined to protect all children\, started a petition against atomic bombs. The movement spread all over Japan and the world\, and the first international conference to abolish the atomic bomb was organized in Hiroshima. “Hibakusha”\, the atomic bomb victims\, were finally able to share their stories: the heartbreak of losing their loved ones\, continuous pain from injuries and illness\, fear of dying\, and worries of passing on radiation effects to their children and grandchildren… Through remembering and sharing\, Hibakusha\, victims\, found their way to turn their lives around to become “survivors”: committing themselves to remembering and fighting against nuclear violence to save all humanity. The second conference was held in Nagasaki in 1956\, when Hidankyo\, a network of atomic bomb survivors\, was established\, with a commitment:\n“Never again to anyone!” Hidankyo became the leading organization fighting against nuclear violence by building grassroots collaborations\, conducting research on the atomic bombing experience\, and demanding international community abolish nuclear weapons. \nSuch activism of Hibakusha changed the course of the international discussion on nuclear weapon control\, from political negotiation\, dominated by powerful nuclear-armed states\, to a moral commitment of all nations to protect all humanity. Finally\, in 2017\, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was adopted at the UN\, entering into force in 2021. \n(Pacific Islands\, colonial and environmental violence) \nI used to read a picture book to my daughters about the Marshall Islanders who continue to suffer from radiation and forced removal after the 1954 Castle Bravo nuclear bombing test by the US. Later\, I learned that among 1\,054 American nuclear bombing tests\, 67 most powerful ones were conducted on the Marshall Islands. Castle Bravo was about 1\,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. The United Kingdom conducted 45 atomic bombing tests in Australia and the Pacific Islands. France conducted two tests in the Sahara and 200 in French Polynesia. \nNuclear violence has also been colonial and environmental violence: powerful nations dropping atomic bombs onto colonies and the lands and people they value less. Learning about nuclear history has been heartbreaking: seeing such cruelty of what humans do to other humans and what humans do to the earth and all life. The powerful kept dropping atomic bombs on the powerless and voiceless. To keep or gain power\, nations keep making nuclear weapons\, and now\, we live on the brink of nuclear disaster.The powerful also control the media\, so knowledge about nuclear violence and the voices of victims have been suppressed. \nHow can we stop nuclear violence in this world of power? Hidankyo and many organizations have been demanding that America take its responsibility to lead the abolition of nuclear weapons. But America\, the most powerful nuclear-armed nation\, is refusing to do so. Nuclear-armed states and many allies are not signing the Nuclear Weapons Abolition Treaty\, including Canada and Japan. \n(Silent Fallout) \nA Japanese filmmaker\, Ito Hideaki\, had been struggling with this dilemma and found a way. He made a documentary for the US audience to inform the public\, believing that the US citizens themselves would pressure their government to change its policy if they knew the truth. His film\, Silent Fallout\, lets the silenced US survivors of nuclear test fallout speak their truth. \nSince the 40’s\,100 nuclear bombs exploded in the sky of the Nevada Test Site\, creating radioactive fallout that was carried by the winds to Nevada\, Arizona\, Utah\, California\, and all over the US\, taking many lives. Survivors who lost family and friends from radiation-related illnesses tell how nuclear bombs developed to attack enemies have harmed and killed Americans instead. \nThe documentary also tells the story of courageous women in St. Louis\, Missouri:\nIn 1958\, determined to protect all children\, a group of women led a movement of collecting baby teeth to be examined by the doctors\, who proved strontium-90 from the nuclear test fallout was in human bodies\, endangering people’s health. Their findings convinced President Kennedy to stop above-ground nuclear testing in 1963\, signing the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty! \nHowever\, nuclear tests continued in Nevada with 828 “underground” explosions\, contaminating air\, land\, and water\, and we are still living in the world of nuclear weapons and nuclear facilities. \nThe documentary continues\, explaining that nuclear bombings conducted in the Marshall Islands were far more powerful than the ones in Nevada\, and most fallout in Virginia or the East Coast came from these nuclear tests in the Pacific and from the Soviet Union. \nWe are all Hibakusha\, nuclear victims\, exposed to radiation\, says Ito. Nuclear tests in different parts of the world have been contaminating the whole Earth beyond national borders. Therefore\, Ito insists\, the nuclear issue should be discussed as an environmental issue endangering all lives and needs to be regulated internationally. He made this documentary\, believing in ordinary Americans: if they knew the truth of nuclear violence threatening their lives\, they would convince their government to abolish nuclear weapons and facilities. \n(Remembering) \nCanada has not signed the Nuclear Weapons Treaty\, but ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970. We have 22 nuclear power plants\, mostly in Ontario\, but in British Columbia\, nuclear plants and uranium mining have been banned under the province’s Clean Energy Act of 2010. There is a long way to go in ending nuclear violence\, but I am grateful to those who fought against it\, and hope to continue the work. \nFacing violence and tragedy is difficult. Every day life is already overwhelming\, and with so many injustices and tragedies happening around us and in the world\, it is difficult to deal with them physically\, mentally\, or emotionally\, so I tend to push them away for later. But many people I met along the way\, who are committed to preventing violence in the future\, have inspired me to remember\, reminding us of the preciousness of life. \nLet us help each other in remembering\, for the beauty of the Earth and all life. \n\n80 Years of Nuclear Violence\nHomily by Huguette Hayden \nThank you Hisako for sharing your personal illuminating journey and extensive knowledge. \nHi\, my name is Huguette. I was born in 1944 and grew up in France until I came to BC in 1974. I have always known that France is a nuclear power and a nuclear weapons state. In 1954\, under the presidency of General Charles de Gaule\, France started his nuclear weapons program. The reasons given were to be independent of NATO and to protect itself from the USSR with it’s own “Force de Dissuasion” or nuclear deterrence under sovereign control. It  might have been why I did not hear much about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nuclear energy is used for electricity and today\, 70% to 80% of electricity in France is from nuclear power. \nThe first successful testing of nuclear weapons by France occurred in 1960. Israeli scientists were present at the tests and were given full access to all the scientific data.  Between 1960 and 1961\, there were 4 atmospheric tests conducted in Algeria at the Saharan Military Experimental Center in the desert with terrible fall out and 27\,000 people were affected (It was supposed to be inhabited). Skin cancers\, birth defects\, organ cancers\, and blindness were some of the results. The Algerian war ended with Algeria gaining its independence in 1962\, and so from 1966 to 1996\, the tests were moved to French Polynesia.  Almost 200 tests happened at Mururoa and Fangataufa  atolls (46 atmospheric tests of which 4 did not have a nuclear shield and then 152 underground after the atmospheric tests became prohibited). France did not sign the Partial nuclear Test Ban of 1963 (which prohibited atmospheric\, space and underwater testing) so that  it could pursue their nuclear weapons program. There was anti-nuclear resistance in the Pacific especially from New Zealand and Australia with Greenpeace involvement. They were able to delay testing in 1972. Captain David McTaggart was beaten and seriously injured and in 1985\, the Greenpeace rainbow warrior was sunk by exploding a bomb placed under the boat by 2 French agents and the photographer was killed. France was taken to the International Court of Justice and it was judged to be an act of state terrorism. France signed and ratified the Comprehensive Multilateral Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1998. I imagine under much international pressure. \nPeople affected have pursued compensation which was completely denied until 2009 and is still woefully inadequate due to the criteria used. \nPersonally\, the Cuban Missile Crisis\, the continuous testing\, the threat of possible submarines coming to the west coast which brought massive anti nuclear demonstrations\, particularly in Vancouver\, and as a physician and resident in psychiatry at UBC\, I had to try to do more than just march\, so I joined the IPPNW in 1983.  It was awarded the Nobel peace price in 1985. Since then\, I have also joined other peace groups\, WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom)\, VOW (Canadian Voice of Women for Peace)\, World Beyond War\, and ICAN  (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons). As a physician\, I feel a special responsibility. I know the consequences of a nuclear war with no possibility of treatment. The only remedy is prevention. \nWhere are we now? In 2025\, the atomic scientists have moved the doomsday clock closer to midnight than it has ever been in the past 79 years. India/Pakistan\, Russian threats\, Israeli threats to nuke Gaza\, the nuclear states insistence on  improving\, modernizing\, and developing weapons that are at least 100 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. But there is hope\, there has been continuous and persistent efforts to curb nuclear weapons at the international levels through treaties\, at the regional levels with regional treaties establishing nuclear weapons free zones (NWFZ) and locally\, many cities around the world have declared their city to be a  nuclear free zone. \nCanada was at the forefront of nuclear disarmament\, not so much now. As early as July 1955\, after Einstein and Russell released their manifesto: “Humanity must renounce war or face universal death. Scientists should assemble in a conference to appraise the perils that have arisen as a result of the development of weapons of mass destruction. We are speaking NOT as members of this or that nation\,  continent\, or creed\, but as humans whose continued existence is in doubt.”  Joseph Rotblat and Russell with the help of Cyrus Eaton\, a Nova Scotia liberal member of parliament\, convened the first Conference on Science and World Affairs in 1957. Cyrus Eaton financed it and offered his thinking lodge in Pugwash\, Nova Scotia.  Pugwash international conferences continue and issue reports credited for helping to prepare the way for the major international treaties. (Nobel peace prize was awarded in 1995). \nCanada signed the NPT 9 (Non Proliferation Treaty 9) in 1968. No progress has been made on article 6 of this treaty which is to negotiate cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament. So\, an International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear weapons (ICAN) was launched in 2007 by civil society (a global coalition of 714 non governmental partners from 110 countries).  Building on the NPT\, it led to the TPNW (Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons) that came into force on January 22\, 2021. ICAN was awarded the Nobel peace price in 2017. A cities appeal to adopt the treaty was also launched and is still ongoing.  Many cities  around the world have signed:  Vancouver\, Toronto\, Halifax etc. \, even my little city of White Rock. \nThe nuclear weapon states have opposed the ICAN initiative. \nCanada has not signed on this treaty\, nor has it attended the meetings as  observers despite other NATO states attending as observers and despite a motion unanimously adopted in the Canadian parliament to get involved. Canada does not possess or house nuclear weapons but participates in the NATO nuclear mission. It has provided uranium\, research\, technology and participated in the Manhattan project. Canada also cooperated with France to give Israel nuclear weapons. \nAnother grave hidden issue is the link between nuclear energy and nuclear weapons which is relevant as  nuclear energy is coming back as the saviour of the environment. Macron\, the French president\,  said in an address to the Framatome nuclear plant workers: “without nuclear energy\, no nuclear weapons and without\nnuclear weapons\, no nuclear energy”. This link is usually kept secret as military nuclear activities are highly classified. \nHere are two examples:\n– In 1956\, under the popular slogan “Atoms for Peace”\, the Cader Hall nuclear plant in Cumbria was celebrated at its opening by the Queen herself as a generator of clean electricity. It was not. it was primarily used to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. \n– In 2017\,  I believe\, in the UK\, as part of a parliamentary investigation into the Hinkley project\, it emerged that without the billions of pounds earmarked for building this new station\, Trident submarines would be unsupportable. The government is using the Hinkley point C nuclear power station to subsidize Trident\, the British nuclear weapon system. \nThese times are scary\, but as you heard\, efforts continue\, internationally\, regionally\, and locally ( many more than I had time to cover). Hope is alive but much work still needs to be done. When the Hiroshima bomb hit her school\, Setsuko Thurlow got buried. She lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness\, she says everything was pitch black. She could not see. She felt a hand on her back pushing her forward. She heard a voice saying\, “keep moving\, don’t stop\, keep moving\, keep moving towards the light.” She did. She survived and she has been moving us towards the light ever since. Now\, at 93\, and in a wheelchair\, she is still helping us to move towards the light\, the light of peace and justice\, a world free of nuclear weapons\, a world free of war\, free of atrocities and genocide\, free of the threat of global warming.  We have work to do\, but we have our principles to guide us and to sustain us\, and we have each other and we have the people of the whole world walking with us. So let’s keep moving to the light together. \nIf you would like to know more about Setsuko\, please come to Lindsey-Priestley at 12:30 today to see the inspiring documentary about her life: The VOW from Hiroshima. There will be some refreshments. \nAnd now let’s sing for all the precious life on earth. \nGive Birth by Kurihara Sadako (Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor)\n\nIt happened in the night in the basement of a destroyed building\nFilled with people injured by the atomic bomb\nIn the dark basement without a single candle\nFresh smell of blood and death\nSweat and groans\nWe heard a voice\n“A baby is coming!”\nIn the basement\, like the bottom of hell\nA young woman was going into labour\n\nThere is not even a match.\nWhat should we do?\nPeople forgot their pains\, caring about the new life.\n“I am a midwife\, I will help.”\nSaid a deeply injured person who was groaning a moment ago\nAt the bottom of the dark hell\na new life was born.\nThe midwife died covered with blood before dawn.\n\nLet us give birth\nLet us give birth\nEven though we give up our own lives\n\n\n————————————————————————————————-
URL:https://vanu.ca/event/remembering-hiroshima-nagasaki-and-80-years-of-nuclear-violence/
LOCATION:Sanctuary\, 949 W 49th Ave\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5Z 2T1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Social Justice
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ORGANIZER;CN="VanU":MAILTO:info@vanu.ca
GEO:49.2268718;-123.1276881
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sanctuary 949 W 49th Ave Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=949 W 49th Ave:geo:-123.1276881,49.2268718
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250309T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20250309T140000
DTSTAMP:20260604T012431
CREATED:20241130T061348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250304T064917Z
UID:10004239-1741523400-1741528800@vanu.ca
SUMMARY:Let's Talk about Peace Building
DESCRIPTION:How can we end violence and build peace?\n\nWhat can each of us do?\n\nPlease join us as we share our experiences\, aspirations and ideas.\nSpeakers will include: Huguette Hayden\, Hisako Masaki and Debra Sutherland\, who have travelled across Canada and around the world to engage in peace building conversations.
URL:https://vanu.ca/event/lets-talk-about-peace-building/
LOCATION:Fireside Room\, West 49th Avenue 949\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5Z 2T1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Forum,IPA,Social Justice
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ORGANIZER;CN="VanU":MAILTO:info@vanu.ca
GEO:49.2268279;-123.1276026
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Fireside Room West 49th Avenue 949 Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=West 49th Avenue 949:geo:-123.1276026,49.2268279
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241111T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241111T170000
DTSTAMP:20260604T012431
CREATED:20241019T214058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250212T035155Z
UID:10003637-1731339000-1731344400@vanu.ca
SUMMARY:Peace Building Reception
DESCRIPTION:Please join the Social Justice Team\, Vancouver Peace Poppies\,  and other peace activists in Hewett Hall immediately following the Let Peace Be Their Memorial ceremony. There will be  light refreshments\, a chance to socialize\, meet event hosts and wreath layers\,  and display tables set up with information about peace building activities at VanU and beyond. \nVanU members who have recently attended peace caravans and international events will be present to tell their personal stories. \nAs 2025 will mark the 10th anniversary of the White Poppy Ceremony\, there will be a brief overview of what they are planning to do\, and an opportunity to sign up to be involved in helping plan the November 2025 event.
URL:https://vanu.ca/event/peace-building-reception/
LOCATION:Hewett Hall\, 949 West 49th Avenue\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5Z 2T1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:IPA,Social Justice
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ORGANIZER;CN="VanU":MAILTO:info@vanu.ca
GEO:49.2268718;-123.1276881
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Hewett Hall 949 West 49th Avenue Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=949 West 49th Avenue:geo:-123.1276881,49.2268718
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241111T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20241111T153000
DTSTAMP:20260604T012431
CREATED:20241001T185449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250212T035158Z
UID:10003597-1731333600-1731339000@vanu.ca
SUMMARY:Let Peace Be Their Memorial
DESCRIPTION:To join the live stream\, please join us at 2pm using the video below\nClick here for a program of the service\nJoin like-hearted others to mark and mourn the ravages of war and gather inspiration and courage to continue your commitment to a better alternative. \nLet Peace Be Their Memorial\nService November 11\, 2024 – 2:00pm Vancouver Unitarians Sanctuary\n\nKeynote speaker: Dr. Linda Thyer\, of Canadian Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment on the Environmental Impacts of War\nOpening and closing words: Rev Shawn Gautier\nMC: Actor and Peace Activist Steven Aberle\n\nThe ceremony aims to broaden our Remembrance Day focus to better reflect the diversity of Canadian perspectives on war and remembrance\, and the personal war experiences of many immigrant Canadians.War’s victims include the civilians who now make up an estimated 90% of conflict victims\, and immense damage to the environment. We must challenge the beliefs\, values and institutions that make war seem inevitable; and to urge our government to promote and fund effective non-military means of dispute resolution.\n\nCo-Sponsored by Vancouver Peace Poppies and Vancouver Unitarians\n \nPEACE BUILDING RECEPTION\n\n\n\nPlease join the Social Justice Team\, Vancouver Peace Poppies\,  and other peace activists in Hewett Hall immediately following the Let Peace Be Their Memorial ceremony. There will be  light refreshments\, a chance to socialize\, meet event hosts and wreath layers\,  and display tables set up with information about peace building activities at VanU and beyond. \nVanU members who have recently attended peace caravans and international events will be present to tell their personal stories. \nAs 2025 will mark the 10th anniversary of the White Poppy Ceremony\, there will be a brief overview of what they are planning to do\, and an opportunity to sign up to be involved in helping plan the November 2025 event.
URL:https://vanu.ca/event/let-peace-be-their-memorial/
LOCATION:Sanctuary\, 949 W 49th Ave\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5Z 2T1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Social Justice,Special Event
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ORGANIZER;CN="VanU":MAILTO:info@vanu.ca
GEO:49.2268718;-123.1276881
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sanctuary 949 W 49th Ave Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=949 W 49th Ave:geo:-123.1276881,49.2268718
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20240529T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20240529T203000
DTSTAMP:20260604T012431
CREATED:20240519T165717Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250212T035214Z
UID:10003046-1717009200-1717014600@vanu.ca
SUMMARY:Forum – Special Resolution to be voted on at EGM
DESCRIPTION:This is a forum to discuss the Special Resolution on Endorsement of the CUC Statement calling for Permanent Ceasefire  in Israel/Palestine and Return of Hostages. \nItem 10 of the Vancouver Unitarians EGM on June 9th is the reading and vote on this Special Resolution. \nClick to see full text of the Special Resolution \nExcerpt of resolution: \nTHEREFORE\, BE IT RESOLVED\,   \nTHAT the Vancouver Unitarians congregation endorses the Canadian Unitarian  Council (CUC) Statement made on March 16\, 2024 – Canadian Unitarian  Universalists Demand Permanent Ceasefire in Israel and Gaza and Return of  Hostages \nExcerpt of CUC Statement: \n“The Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) and Unitarian Universalist Ministers of Canada (UUMOC) are calling on the State of Israel and on Hamas to agree to a permanent ceasefire and the immediate release of all hostages. We call on Canada’s government to stop supplying weapons and instead advocate for a lasting peace with self-determination\, civil\, religious\, and political rights as a foundation. …” \nThe congregation will vote on this resolution at the EGM on June 9\, 2024\, 12:30-1:45
URL:https://vanu.ca/event/forum-special-resolution-to-be-voted-on-at-egm/
LOCATION:meet.google.com/zav-tgmv-dgv
CATEGORIES:Forum,Social Justice
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vanu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/VanU-Graphics-share.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="VanU":MAILTO:info@vanu.ca
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20240427T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20240427T210000
DTSTAMP:20260604T012431
CREATED:20240402T165213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240418T080239Z
UID:10002968-1714242600-1714251600@vanu.ca
SUMMARY:Awakeneers Peace on Earth Day Concert
DESCRIPTION:This promises to be a lively evening with original music and maybe a few sing-alongs as well. All proceeds will go to the VanU Refugee Team! \nA nomadic tribe of multi-instrumentalist songwriters (most of whom are siblings) the Awakeneers offer a genre-bending blend of acoustic positivity that orbits elliptically around the idea of folk music. \nThe ticket price is a suggested donation of $20 or pay what you can. \nHere is a link to reserve your tickets. \nDoors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets can also be purchased using cash only upon entry. \nThe Awakeneers will also be doing the music for our service on April 28th. Please ask Elliot for more information.
URL:https://vanu.ca/event/awakeneers-peace-on-earth-day-concert/
LOCATION:Sanctuary\, 949 W 49th Ave\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5Z 2T1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Music
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vanu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/awakeneers.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="VanU":MAILTO:info@vanu.ca
GEO:49.2268718;-123.1276881
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sanctuary 949 W 49th Ave Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=949 W 49th Ave:geo:-123.1276881,49.2268718
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20231111T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20231111T160000
DTSTAMP:20260604T012431
CREATED:20230926T193445Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241017T073557Z
UID:10001575-1699711200-1699718400@vanu.ca
SUMMARY:Let Peace Be Their Memorial: White Poppy Ceremony
DESCRIPTION:Please join us in a ceremony of remembrance for all the victims of war. On November 11 at 2pm we will host the 8th annual “Let Peace Be Their Memorial” wreath-laying ceremony at the Vancouver Unitarians Sanctuary \nPlease click here for the event program\nThrough an annual wreath ceremony and white lapel poppy campaign\, Vancouver Peace Poppies hopes to encourage Canadians to broaden their Remembrance Day focus: \n\nto include the civilians who now make up 90% of conflict victims;\nto challenge the beliefs\, values and institutions that make war seem inevitable;\nand to urge our government to promote and fund effective non-military means of dispute resolution.
URL:https://vanu.ca/event/let-peace-be-their-memorial-white-poppy-ceremony-2023/
LOCATION:Sanctuary\, 949 W 49th Ave\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5Z 2T1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Social Justice,Special Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vanu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CalendarNews-slides-32.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="VanU":MAILTO:info@vanu.ca
GEO:49.2268718;-123.1276881
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sanctuary 949 W 49th Ave Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=949 W 49th Ave:geo:-123.1276881,49.2268718
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20231108T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20231108T150000
DTSTAMP:20260604T012431
CREATED:20230707T223658Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231026T175048Z
UID:10000994-1699448400-1699455600@vanu.ca
SUMMARY:Wreath Making: Let Peace Be Their Memorial - part 2
DESCRIPTION:You are invited to help make the wreaths that will be laid at the ‘Let Peace Be Their Memorial’ ceremony on Saturday\, November 11th 2-4pm. \nWe will be adding greenery to the wreath frames on Friday\, November 3\, 1-3pm in Hewett Hall\, click here for more information. \nOn Wed\, November 8\, 1-3pm\, we will be decorating the wreaths with sashes and mementos related to  the theme of each wreath. \nPlease note that Social Justice team members will be selling white poppies before and after the services on Oct 29 and Nov 5. \nPlease email nangregory [at] shaw [dot] ca  if you have any questions and if you can come to help. \nRefreshments will be provided!
URL:https://vanu.ca/event/wreath-making-let-peace-be-their-memorial-part-2/
LOCATION:Hewett Hall\, 949 West 49th Avenue\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5Z 2T1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Social Justice
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vanu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CalendarNews-slides-2-1.jpg
GEO:49.2268718;-123.1276881
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Hewett Hall 949 West 49th Avenue Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=949 West 49th Avenue:geo:-123.1276881,49.2268718
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20231103T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20231103T150000
DTSTAMP:20260604T012431
CREATED:20230630T024316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231026T175004Z
UID:10000993-1699016400-1699023600@vanu.ca
SUMMARY:Wreath Making: Let Peace Be Their Memorial - part 1
DESCRIPTION:You are invited to help make the wreaths that will be laid at the ‘Let Peace Be Their Memorial’ ceremony on Saturday\, November 11 from 2 – 4pm. \nWe will be adding greenery to the wreath frames on Friday\, November 3 between 1 – 3 pm in Hewett Hall \nOn Wednesday\, November 8\, between 1 – 3pm\, we will be decorating the wreaths with sashes and mementos related to  the theme of each wreath. Click here for more information. \nPlease note that Social Justice team members will be selling white poppies before and after the services on Oct 29 and Nov 5. \nPlease email nangregory [at] shaw [dot] ca if you have any questions and if you can come to help. \nRefreshments will be provided!
URL:https://vanu.ca/event/wreath-making-let-peace-be-their-memorial-part-1/
LOCATION:Hewett Hall\, 949 West 49th Avenue\, Vancouver\, BC\, V5Z 2T1\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Social Justice
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://vanu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CalendarNews-slides-2-1.jpg
GEO:49.2268718;-123.1276881
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Hewett Hall 949 West 49th Avenue Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1 Canada;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=949 West 49th Avenue:geo:-123.1276881,49.2268718
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR