07:03 pm: Hiroshima Day
This is for all the activists who read this, including but not limited to
mintogrubb.
On this day in 1945, the American forces exploded a nuclear weapon over Hiroshima in Japan. This is the most destructive single event in human history if measured in terms of lives lost. The second most destructive was at Nagasaki.
It may not still be true, but some years ago I was told that in a knowledge survey, 80% of Americans asked "Which is the only country to have exploded a nuclear weapon over a foreign city?" answered that it must have been the damn Russkies.
In Wellington, white paper roses were on sale. They carried the text "FOR A NUCLEAR--FREE WORLD NOW".
As well as exploding 2 nuclear weapons in WW2, the USA have also let off several nuclear devices in peacetime. Ditto the French , who heiniously attacked a civilian ship in New Zealand, sinking the Greenpeace flagship 'Rainbow Warrior' in an attempt to prevent international protest.
Ever since 1945 we have eaten tritium and other radioactive isotopes on our cornflakes. The fallout from a bomb gets into the atmosphere and blankets the world in minute traces.
Thanks for flagging this very significant day up, Ringbark.
I am speaking from New Zealand myself, of course, where the Rainbow Warrior is not forgotten. "You can't sink a rainbow."
As well as the unpleasant things you described, don't forget the claims that iron rusts much more quickly now than it used to, and this has been attributed to nuclear fallout material in the global environment.
