August 6th and 9th Live and Virtual Events to Commemorate the U.S. Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945

August 6^th and 9^th were the days in 1945 when the U.S. bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs 77 years ago.  Every year community members gather at to commemorate those events, to recognize the harm done, and to recommit to working for peace.  You are invited to participate in these commemoration events.

On Saturday, August 6^th from noon to 2 pm, join members of the Veterans For Peace https://www.veteransforpeace.org/ , Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety http://nuclearactive.org/ , Nuclear Watch New Mexico https://nukewatch.org/ , Nonviolent Santa Fe https://nonviolentsantafe.org/ and others in a gathering at Ashley Pond in Los Alamos to commemorate the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.

The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is located in Los Alamos County.   Under the auspices of the Manhattan Project, LANL was established in 1943 as the secret “Y” site for the sole purpose of developing nuclear weapons.  Now LANL is the only U.S. nuclear weapons facility with the capability to fabricate the plutonium triggers, or pits, for nuclear weapons.

The groups will vigil at the shelter on the south side of Ashley Pond.  Please bring signs, banners, and other pro-peace displays.  Also bring water and protection from sun and/or possible rain.  Encourage your friends and family to join the commemoration.

Also on Saturday, August 6^th at noon Mountain Time, Roshi Joan Halifax will be speaking virtually about “The Buddhist Path of Peace and Nonviolence.”  Registration deadline is Monday, August 1^st to receive the zoom link.  https://beatitudescenter.org/programs/

On Tuesday, August 9th the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, will hold a mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, followed by a panel discussion with interfaith leaders.  https://archdiosf.org/documents/2022/7/Final_Save%20the%20Date_Aug%209%202022%20Pastoral%20Letter%20Mass-1.pdf

The mass will begin at 5:15 pm in the Cathedral.  It will be live streamed at https://youtu.be/M4SnixeGwyE

The Archbishop’s homily will center on his pastoral letter on nuclear disarmament, “Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace:  A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament.”  https://archdiosf.org/living-in-the-light-of-christs-peace

In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Wester reflects upon his trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the history of Catholic social teaching on nuclear weapons, the history of the development and production of nuclear weapons in New Mexico, and Jesus’ example of nonviolence.  https://www.ncronline.org/news/justice/archbishop-wester-embarks-long-path-end-nuclear-threat  He encourages you to download the pastoral letter on the Archdiocese website, read it and engage with the reflection questions and suggestions for action.  https://archdiosf.org/living-in-the-light-of-christs-peace

At 6:15 pm, a panel discussion with prominent interfaith leaders about the growing need for nuclear disarmament will be held followed by a question and answer session.  It will be livestreamed at https://youtu.be/U88tJwq7yNs

Confirmed interfaith leaders include

• Talitha Arnold,Senior Minister of the United Church of Santa Fe, a United Church of Christcongregation, https://www.unitedchurchofsantafe.org/
• Rabbi Neil Amswych, Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Fe, https://www.sftbs.org/, and the President of the Interfaith Leadership Alliance of Santa Fe, https://ilasantafe.org/ , and
• Roshi JoanHalifax, Buddhist teacher, Founder and Head Teacher of Upaya Zen Centerin Santa Fe, New Mexico. https://www.upaya.org/

For more information, please call the Office of Social Justice and Respect Life at (505) 831-8205.  https://archdiosf.org/social-justice

1. Friday, July 22^nd from noon to 1 pm – Join the weekly peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament on the corners of Alameda and Guadalupe in downtown Santa Fe. Celebrate the successful historic First Meeting of State Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and talk about next steps!

2. Friday, August 5^th at 9 am to 5 pm MT – Live and Virtual NM Interim Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee meeting at Clovis Civic Center, 801 Schepps Blvd., Clovis. See agenda for links to view and make public comments.  Agenda includes WIPP, PFASs, Holtec, Produced Water Act, Carlsbad Brine Well Remediation Authority, State Emergency Response Commission.   https://www.nmlegis.gov/committee/Interim_Committee?CommitteeCode=RHMC

3. Monday, August 8^th at 1 pm to 2:30 pm MT – Webinar with Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) about matters of war, peace, art, and activism, followed by questions and answers. For more information, https://actionnetwork.org/events/webinar-with-roger-waters

Tags: 1945, Archbishop of Santa Fe, Ashley Pond, August 6th, August 9th, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Hiroshima, Interfaith Leadership Alliance, LANL, Los Alamos, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Manhattan Project, Most Reverend John C. Wester, Nagasaki, Nonviolent Santa Fe, Nuclear Watch New Mexico, Office of Social Justice and Respect Life, Rabbi Neil Amswych, Reverend Talitha Arnold, Roshi Joan Halifax, Temple Beth Shalom, The Buddhist Path of Peace and Nonviolence, Unted Church of Santa Fe, Upaya Zen Center, Veterans for Peace, “Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament, “Y” Site, ” pastoral letter