Louisville Peace Activists Commemorate 1945 Bombings

 Louisville area peace activists are commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer has more.On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and then on Nagasaki three days later to end World War II. A series of events marking the bombings begins Wednesday with readings from John Hersey’s book “Hiroshima.”Interfaith Paths to Peace is one of five groups organizing the events. Executive director, Terry Taylor, explains why they chose readings from Hersey’s book."In its very quite, understated way, it communicates to people the real horror of what happens when an atomic bomb is dropped on a city," says Taylor, "the enormous destruction, especially the destruction of human lives."Taylor says the events are not just commemorations."We remember people who died not only at Nagasaki but in other cities throughout the world that suffered bombings directed at civilian populations and remind people that whatever our military intentions are that we exclude people from military targeting," he says.Saturday’s events include readings of work by Thomas Merton, a showing of the film “Dr. Strangelove” and a Japanese candle floating ceremony. Taylor says the events are intended to remember civilians bombed in wars and encourage people to denounce bombing of civilian populations. www.interfaithpathstopeace.org