On Saturday 9 August we were honoured to attend the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance Ceremony at the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell, organised by Canberra Rotaract.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August). Both events caused long-term suffering and forever changed the course of history.
The ceremony honoured the lives lost, acknowledged the ongoing consequences of nuclear warfare and shared the message of the importance of global peace.
Rotary International has long championed peace and conflict resolution as one of our core Areas of Focus. As we gathered beside the Peace Bell we were reminded of our responsibility to build a more peaceful, compassionate world.
We are incredibly grateful to the Rotaract Club of Canberra for organising such a meaningful and reflective event.