Victims Of US Bombings Of Japan To Be Remembered

Iceland’s peace activists – and the general public – will once again hold a “candle floating” ceremony at Reykjavík’s Tjörnin pond next month, in remembrance of the victims of the US atomic bomb attacks of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

In a statement to the press, the organisers say the event will begin August 9, commemorating the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, at 22:30. Participants are encouraged to buy a floating candle, which only costs 500 ISK, and then light it and set it afloat on Tjörnin pond.

“About 200,000 died in the attacks on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” the organisers write in part. “Many more died in the wake of the attacks of radiation sickness and many are still nursing their wounds. Advocates for peace believe it is important for the next generation to learn lessons from the nuclear attack, so that such weapons are never used again.”

This actually marks the 32nd occasion in Iceland in which this ceremony is performed, and drew its inspiration from similar ceremonies held in Japan. The event is organised by a coalition of Icelandic peace activists.