CLICK HERE to carry a prop in the procession
Join us to say “NO NUKES!“
University United Methodist Church | 1085 E. Genesee St. | Syracuse | Fri., August 7, 2026 | Procession: 4:30-6 pm, route is 1.2 miles | Reception and Speakers: 6 – 6:30pm
Speakers:
Youko Yamamoto, main organizer of the Bon-Odori Dance Festival for Peace in Kingston, NY, is well known as a peace activist, cultural ambassador, and owner/chef of Tanma Ramen Restaurant. Born in Yokohama, Yamamoto moved with her family to Hiroshima at age 10, where the devastating legacy of the city’s 1945 nuclear catastrophe became a lifelong impetus for her work for peace. She will share with us her most recent conversations with aging Hiroshima atom bomb survivors after a spring trip to Japan, and the inspiration for her continuing work that she gained from these interviews.
Joshua Reno is a socio-cultural anthropologist, who researches various forms of waste and their impact on lives, economies, and social movements in the contemporary U.S. In a “spoken word” manner, he will make real the connections between military waste and how it weaves into the uncanny, uncountable scale of the Hiroshima bombing, offering us a powerful, somatic reflection on the true monstrosity of the weapon.
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On August 6th, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The bomb killed tens of thousands of people instantly, and countless more would later succumb to the effects of the bomb’s radiation. On August 9th, a second bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, bringing further devastation to the region. Every year, on the anniversary of the bombings, the NFW committee holds an event to commemorate these bombings and raise awareness about the destruction and devastation caused by nuclear weapons. This year will be the 81st anniversary of the bombings.
Commemorating the lives lost in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings is not only about raising awareness about the horrors of the past, but is also about raising consciousness surrounding the dangers of present day nuclear disaster. The United States continues to invest in nuclear infrastructure, planning to spend an estimated $1.7 trillion over the next thirty years to update nuclear weapons. These new and “improved” weapons, alongside present day nuclear infrastructure, are more powerful than the weapons that were used in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, posing an even greater threat to health and safety than ever before. Remembering the atrocities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki allows for honoring lives lost while making a commitment to preventing future nuclear destruction.
While the official anniversary is on August 6th, on the weekend of August 7 and 9 2026, we will commemorate the 81st anniversary of the bombings. The nuclear danger has increased, but we are committed to nuclear abolition.
On Sunday, August 9 we will hold a gathering with storytelling by Jim Brule, a potluck picnic, and origami crane-making from 5-7:00pm. Lantern floating will take place at dark for those who want to stay.
Please join us in planning and promoting this year’s events, and please participate in this remembrance! Contact Diane Swords at drswords@gmail.com to get involved!