Events in Melbourne

To commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, a host of events were run by organisations supporting disarmament (ICAN, the Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament, the Medical Association for Prevention of War, the Romero Community, the Graham F Smith Peace Foundation and Australian Red Cross) all across the city of Melbourne, one of which I was lucky enough to attend.

While at the event hosted by the ACE anti-nuclear collective at the Friends of the Earth Cafe in Collingwood, I got to meet ICAN's Tim Wright, who was very supportive of our idea and confident that Australia signing the treaty is not only possible but very achievable. I also got to hear from Adnyamathanha Traditional Owner Dr Jillian Marsh about the dispossession of Aboriginal lands to create uranium mines and the long term effects of nuclear testing in Australia, share ideas with Jenny Funston and a few others from Geelong who also make paper cranes, and above all got to hear the experiences of Mr. Horie, a Hiroshima survivor.

It was wonderful to be able to meet with so many people all working towards the same goal, and Mr. Horie's story was moving, engaging, and although largely tragic, was spoken with so much passion, positivity and even humour that the audience was not at once angry nor afraid, but rather hopeful, reminded of what it is they're fighting for.

I was extremely grateful to be able to go, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing everyone again in the future.