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Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition held in Australia for the first time
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For a period of around a month from October 14
to November 16, 2011, the Hiroshima-Nagasaki
Atomic Bomb Exhibition was held in the city of
Cairns, in the state of Queensland, northern
Australia. Over 5,000 people visited the
exhibition.
The Atomic Bomb Exhibition was planned with a
view to commemorating and promoting among
city residents the fact that Cairns became a
member of Mayors for Peace in April 2010. This
was the first Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb
Exhibition to be held in Australia.
From October 19 to 27, Chairman of this
Foundation Mr. Steven Leeper travelled to Cairns
together with Mr. Hiromi Hasai, an atomic
bombing witness, and two staff members, where
they participated in the exhibition's official
opening ceremony and commemorative forum.
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Exhibition venue
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Cairns Mayor Val Schier welcomed the visit by those from the Foundation, saying "I am proud to
be one of the 5,000 mayors of cities throughout the world that have expressed their support for
world peace and a world without nuclear weapons. Cairns will proactively use our local history of
war as a means of promoting peace."
On October 21, following on from the exhibition's opening ceremony, a public forum was held as a
commemorative event for the exhibition, on the theme of "What is War For?" With the famous
Australian journalist George Negus acting as MC, the mayor of Cairns, Chairman Leeper and Mr.
Hasai participated as speakers. The 200-seat venue was full, and there was passionate debate for
two and a half hours from 7:30pm until after 10pm.
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Mr. Hasai giving his atomic bomb testimony at a Japanese school in Cairns
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Another exhibition-related event that was held
from October 21 to 25 was 9 atomic bombing
testimonies, given at the exhibition venue and
Japanese schools and high schools throughout
the city. The audience at each session listened
with great interest to Mr. Hasai's testimony.
Since its inception in 1995, the Hiroshima-Nagasaki
Atomic Bombing Exhibition has been
held in 38 cities in 14 countries, including this
time in Cairns. The Peace Memorial Museum will
continue to communicate the reality of the
atomic bombing to those overseas and work
toward the elimination of nuclear weapons.
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(Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Outreach Division)
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