The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese anti-nuclear weapons group. Otherwise known as Hibakusha, the survivors of the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have recently been recognized by the Nobel Committee for their campaign against the use of nuclear weapons. This award highlights the group’s restless efforts in eliminating nuclear arms and preventing incidents as devastating as the previously mentioned bombings.
“I think that the Nobel Peace Prize winners [this year] are well deserved. Nuclear weapons should definitely be restricted and/or completely removed because of the harm and damage that they do, especially to other countries during war.” Says Rylee Polich, a sophomore.
During the Second World War, on August 6th, 1945, the United States deployed its first atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima in an effort to force the country to surrender. This attack killed thousands on impact, with more fatalities in the coming weeks due to radiation exposure. Just three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, killing around 40,000. After the second bomb, the emperor declared the country’s unconditional surrender in World War II in a radio address on the fifteenth of August that year.
In the aftermath, survivors known as the Hibakusha began to share their stories, recounting firsthand experiences of living in the devastating conditions that preceded the bombings. Eventually, groups dedicated to sharing these accounts were established, like the Nihon Hidankyo in 1956.
Nihon Hidankyo is currently the only nationwide association of atomic bomb survivors. The organization has pushed for a nuclear weapon ban, prevention of a nuclear war, and a Japanese law that would compensate those affected by the bombings, as well as their families. On top of that, they use personal testimony of the tragic events experienced by the Hibakusha in order to campaign for peace and nuclear disarmament.
Sophomore Lauren Saddler mentions, “A lot of people died, and they are living out their legacies by accepting this prize. I think nuclear weapons should be removed from the entire world because they cause too much destruction. People kill each other, and that’s sadly natural, but nuclear weapons are on a whole other level. They could wipe out an entire country.”
As the average age of their members has reached 85.6 years, the group has become increasingly disheartened with the younger generation’s lack of concern surrounding the topic of nuclear power. They feel as though the newer generations don’t take nuclear weapons seriously enough. As a result, the Nihon Hidankyo have dedicated themselves to informing others of the threat that nuclear weapons pose to future diplomatic relations between countries.
Although nuclear weapons have not been used in eighty years, a collective group of nine countries owns around thirteen thousand nuclear weapons. Said countries include the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Israel, India, and North Korea. Since 1945, tensions surrounding the usage of nuclear weapons have quieted down a bit, but recent political instability surrounding wars in Ukraine and the Middle East seems to have raised fear among citizens, who fear experiencing a repeat of the bombings.
Throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its leaders have implied potential use of nuclear weapons if Western allies show support for Ukraine in a way they deem unacceptable. These threats seem to have instilled a fear of escalation, hindering Western support and giving them their desired effect.
In conclusion, though, the Nobel committee’s decision to nominate Nihon Hidankyo may potentially renew the debate about the use of nuclear weapons. This nomination recognizes the ongoing struggles the Hibakusha have been facing, including the impact the nuclear bombs have had on the environment. By recognizing Nihon Hidankyo, the committee not only honors the strength of these individuals but also emphasizes the importance of discussing such topics.
