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Indybay Feature

Berkeley Peace Lanterns Commemorate Atomic WMD War Crimes

by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
<b>About 250 people, including many children, gathered at Berkeley’s Aquatic Park this evening August 7th for the third annual East Bay Peace Lantern Ceremony.</B>
1-lantern-gathering.jpg
The event commemorated the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, and all victims of war. The United States is the only nation that has used nuclear weapons of mass destruction in war. Most folks made their own lantern shades for the trip across the lake alongside freeway 80. A message of solidarity from Mr. Tadatoshi Akiba, the mayor of the city of Hiroshima, was read.
§Peace Lantern
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
2-lantern.jpg
§Hundreds designed their own lantern shades
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
3-making-lanterns.jpg
§Japanese drum performance
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
4-drummer.jpg
§Peace Lantern
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
5-lantern2.jpg
§Yeaa!
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
6-yeaa.jpg
§Singing for peace
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
7-singing.jpg
§Lanterns being launched into the lake
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
8-lantern-launch.jpg
§Designing lantern shades
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
9-pax.jpg
§&quot;Peace Train&quot; lantern
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
10-peace-train.jpg
§Nude lanterns
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
11-pre-lanterns.jpg
§Pryer
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
12-pryer.jpg
§Peace made of many origami paper cranes
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
13-peace.jpg
§Peace lanterns
by Jeff Paterson, Not in Our Name (jeff [at] paterson.net)
14-lanterns.jpg
Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)
Info about the Berkeley Peace Lantern Cermony (including the long list of sponsors and how to get involved next year) and such ceremonies in general may be found at:
http://www.progressiveportal.org/lanterns/
by Shinji Watanabe
I'm Japanese, my parents are from Nagano-ken and I'm offended by this. As a japanese, I'm grateful the US used nukes. Ended the war quicker, saved lives for both the US and Japan, you people misrepresent my race.
by amo
The annual peace lantern ceremonies happen also in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (and around the world).

"Nagasaki mayor urge Americans to help abolish nukes on A-bomb anniversary: The mayor of Nagasaki used the 59th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city to urge Americans to realise the extent of tragedy that nuclear weapons cause and to join global efforts to get rid of them..."

"A-Bombing Anniversary- Hiroshima Mayor slams 'egocentric' US: The mayor of Hiroshima slammed the United States for continuing to develop nuclear arms yesterday, the 59th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing which killed tens of thousands of people in this western Japanese city..."
by takeshi
This is in response to Mr. Watanabe's comment above
about "nukes" having been necessary to end the war.

There's a lot of controversy over that decision, with,
in my view, many Japanese leaning to the view that
it was unnecessary, particularly with Russia already
agreeing to join the war along with the U.S. (at that
time the two had just agreed to ally against Japan).

Anyway, there is a historical controversy there and
I would ask Mr. Watanabe not to speak in the name
of his "race" as if for one race there is only one view.
by DaMav
You have reached one of the major fruitcake sites on the internet if you haven't figured that out yet. Don't be surprised to find your comment removed by one of the Stalinist censors here
by Angie
you are protesting wwII ? hasn't that ended a while ago???

you need to be doing much more about the Palistine situation
that IS HERE AND NOW! not blubbering about old people who died decades ago. this shows the deep hatred you have twards the arab people.
by not
For more about forgeries on Indymedia, click here:

http://www.sfimc.net/news/2002/12/1555696_comment.php#1692248
by the REAL not
For more about forgeries on Indymedia, click here:

http://www.sfimc.net/news/2002/12/1555696_commint.php#1692248


by dusty
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeate it, thats what this is about, telling people "Look what happend, look how many people died from such an evil weapon". And by the way the US Govenrment COULD have targeted a MILITARY target, instead they decided to take out a city full of innocent people. True Japan killed a few non-military people, but atleast they followed the rules of war and attacked a military base...and dont for one second think that means I support that action. I support NO action that kills anyone, but I can understand the reason for the action. Blah Blah Blah Like any one will read this this news is allready 2 months old :)
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