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HNDC 2015 press releases

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Are Americas Games a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone?

August 6, 2015​ For Immediate Release:

“Ground Zero to Global Zero: Hope After 70 Years” will commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Every August the Hiroshima/ Nagasaki Day Coalition organizes commemoration events for the City of Toronto, through volunteerism and donations.

This year, with 41 countries involved in the Pan-American and Para-Pan Am Games in Toronto, it is important to note that all of the participating countries except 3 (Canada, USA and Bermuda) are part of a Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone (NWFZ). In this respect, Toronto 2015 is bringing peace to our city, and the Games can be considered a NWFZ as Toronto itself was declared a NWFZ in 1983 by City Council.

“Having 38 of the 41 countries in a treaty to be nuclear weapons-free is significant and it really gives an indication of the global push occurring across the globe to work toward nuclear abolition,” states Dr. Vinay Jindal, Chair of Toronto’s Hiroshima/ Nagasaki Day Coalition. “As people across the world speak with one voice, with one message- it will be much more powerful than any nuclear bomb.”

Today, Thursday August 6, 2015 at the Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square, behind the Eaton Centre), Torontonians and their international visitors will join in hope and peace for a world free of nuclear weapons. Keynote speaker is Canadian Co-president of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, Paul Dewar, with performances by flautist Ron Korb, Taiko Drummers Raging Asian Women, the Pax Christi Chorale and the Raging Grannies.

The event is free and open to the public, community tables at 4:30 pm, commemoration ceremony starts at 6:30 pm, lantern ceremony at dusk.

Toronto Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Addresses the World

August 5, 2015​ For Immediate Release:

2015 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Torontonian Setsuko Thurlow, will broadcast her message of peace around the world. A retired social worker with the Toronto District School Board, Ms. Thurlow is a Hibakusha, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. A member of the Order of Canada, Ms. Thurlow shares her experiences to put a voice and a face to the powerful, destructive force of nuclear weapons. As an international peace activist, Ms. Thurlow has addressed the 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the United Nations as well as the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons conferences in Mexico and Vienna.

The Hiroshima/ Nagasaki Day Coalition (HNDC) is proud of the vital contribution Setsuko Thurlow continues to perform in the name of nuclear abolition. This year, Setsuko will return to Hiroshima to mark the 70th Anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and speak to a gathering of thousands.

Toronto will participate in this international event with “Ground Zero to Global Zero: Hope After 70 Years” presented by Toronto’s Hiroshima/ Nagasaki Day Coalition(HNDC) on Thursday August 6th at the Church of the Holy Trinity. The event is free and open to the public, with community tables at 4:30 pm and the commemoration ceremony starting at 6:30 pm.

On her return from Hiroshima, Ms. Thurlow and the HNDC will host an event at Queen’s Park on September 22, 2015 to mark the 70th Anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and continue the quest for nuclear abolition. Ms. Thurlow will be available for interviews on September 21, 2015 (UN International Day of Peace).

Toronto Will Not Wait Until Three Minutes to Midnight

August 4, 2015​ For Immediate Release:

In 2015, the Doomsday Clock was moved forward 2 minutes to rest at 3 minutes to midnight, matching the nuclear threat to human existence that occurred during the height of the Cold War. From New York to Vienna, New Delhi to Geneva, cities around the world are commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a unifying voice for nuclear abolition. Toronto, declared a Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone by City Council in 1983, is joining in the global call for nuclear disarmament.

Toronto’s Hiroshima/ Nagasaki Day Coalition organized “Ground Zero to Global Zero: Hope After 70 Years” to acknowledge the new hope for nuclear abolition with the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons conferences, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the Humanitarian Pledge. After 70 years, there is a global imperative that negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention push forward.

On Thursday August 6, 2015 at the Church of the Holy Trinity (10 Trinity Square, behind the Eaton Centre), Torontonians and their international guests will join to say “Not This City, Not Any City”. Canadian Co-president of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, Paul Dewar, speaks, with performances by flautist Ron Korb, Taiko Drummers Raging Asian Women, the Pax Christi Chorale and the Raging Grannies.

The event is free and open to the public, community tables at 4:30 pm, commemoration ceremony starts at 6:30 pm.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration in Toronto August 6th, 2015

Japanese version (pdf download)

July 2, 2015: For Immediate Release

Toronto’s Hiroshima/ Nagasaki Day Coalition presents “Ground Zero to Global Zero: Hope After 70 Years” to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Thursday August 6, 2015 (Hiroshima Day) at The Church of the Holy Trinity (west of Eaton Centre), Toronto. The commemoration starts at 6:30 p.m.

Paul Dewar MP, Co-President of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament will give the key-note address.

Setsuko Thurlow says, “For us Hibakusha who remember and honour the countless perished citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we need immediate policy change on nuclear weapons leading up to their complete elimination. As abolitionists, we all must renew our commitment to this work.”

The event will welcome performances by the Yakudo Traditional Japanese Drummers, Flautist Ron Korb, the Pax Christi Chorale, and the Raging Grannies.

Everyone is welcome, doors open at 4:30 pm featuring tables from community partners. This event is free and open to the public.

For further information, please consult the Hiroshima Day Coalition

Contact: Sandra Ruch, at hiroshimaday@gmail.com or 416-716-4010

* Survivors of the Hiroshima or Nagasaki atomic explosions.