Pax Christi Minnesota

Peace Lantern Float
Remembering the
63rd Anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

As it enters Hiroshima, the Ohta River splits into six fingers.  It was to these waters that tens of thousands fled seeking shelter from the flames of the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945.  It is here each August that people gather, as they do in Nagasaki three days later, to float lanterns and to remember: never again.

In Rochester we remember those days to remind ourselves of what we are capable of doing.  With nuclear weapons we are capable of destroying the world’s civilization.  We are also capable of preventing that destruction.  We gather to remind ourselves that the choice is ours.

Rochester commemorates the event in an annual Peace Lantern Floating Ceremony at Silver Lake Park.

WHERE: East picnic shelter at Silver Lake
WHEN: August 6th (Wednesday). If heavy rain, August 10th (Sunday)
  7pm: Gather to make lanterns; kits and instructions for making lanterns will be provided. 
  7:45pm: Ceremony followed by lantern floating at sunset

SPEAKERS: Mayor Ardell Brede and Professor Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer

MUSIC: Campfire II 
         
PLAY: A short play presented by Rochester students

WHY: George Shultz, Sec. of State 1982-89; William Perry, Sec. of Defense 1994-97; Henry Kissinger, Sec. of State 1973-77; Sam Nunn, former chair Senate Armed Services Committee: in an article in the Wall Street Journal Jan. 15, 2008 again point out that the world has reached “a nuclear tipping point” and call for an immediate move toward destruction of all nuclear weapons. They are joined by James Baker, Warren Christopher, William Cohen, Lawrence Eagleburger, Melvin Laird, Robert McNamara and Colin Powell. 
  http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB120036422673589947.html
  “For the first time in history, both main party candidates have agreed to put America on a path    toward a world without nuclear weapons and all the risks they bring.”   (June 24, 2008)
  http://www.johnkerry.com/news/entry/america_looks_to_a_nuclear_free_world/

WHAT TO DO:   Check these web sites for information and suggested actions:
  International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
  http://www.ippnw.org/
  International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
  http://www.ippnw.org/Programs/ICAN/index.html
  Mayors for Peace http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/index.html
  Cities Are Not Targets (CANT) project Petition Drive
  http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/topic/list/36.htm
  https://www.ssl-hiroins.city.hiroshima.jp/pcf/en/form.htm
     
WHO: You! Everyone is welcome. All ages please come.