By Sucheta Shetty
 

While the world is on the brink of witnessing yet another war and the threat of the use of nuclear weapons hangs like a shadow over us, let us take a moment to remember all those who have already suffered the destructive powers of nuclear energy, whether as victims of war or of nuclear “accidents.” It is with this intention that I have put together this picture feature, showing the shocking consequences of indiscriminate use of nuclear energy. We have all heard of the destruction and suffering caused by the Hiroshima- Nagasaki bombings and the Chernobyl disaster. Yet, words could never really drive home the point like a picture can. This is what I learnt when I saw these pictures for the first time. I now understand the overwhelming need of the people of these unfortunate cities to see the world rid of nuclear weapons. It’s not just a few days, months or years of suffering, but it’s generations of people living the consequences of these disasters. Take a look at these pictures and ask yourself how you feel about more such victims and more such years of living the consequences of someone else’s mistakes.

Hiroshima, 1945. The shadow of a person waiting for a bank to open was burnt onto the steps outside permanently even as he was burnt to death on the spot. Source: <http://pegasus.la. saga-u.ac.jp/ peace1e.html>

Nagasaki, 1945. The shadows of two people and a ladder were projected on a wooden house by the energy of the bomb. Photo: Eiichi Matsumoto.  Source: <http://perso.wanadoo.fr/ivan.regi na/hiro.html>

February 1946. A boy who was exposed to thermal rays 1.5 miles (2.4 km.) from the hypocenter. Photo: The US Army. Source: <http://www.csi.ad .jp/ABOMB/record. html>

Ohmura Navy Hospital, Nagasaki, on August 10-11, 1945. A girl who was burnt so severely that the skin hung from her body like rags. Photo: Ohmura Navy Hospital. Source: <http://www.csi.ad.jp/ABOMB /record.html>

Hiroshima, August 7, 1945. Two men severely burnt by the heat. The first one was exposed 1 kilometer (just over half a mile) away from the hypocenter. Photos: Masami Onuka. Source: <http://www.pcf.cit y.hiroshima.jp/peace site/English/Stage1/ S1-5E.html>

Seven years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, hastily dug graves were excavated. This one contained 252 bodies. Source: <http://www.peace wire.org/photoexhi bits/Hiroshima/image s/07.html>

Chernobyl, 1996. Children suffering from thyroid cancer as a result of being exposed to radiation. Source: <http://users.westne t.gr/~cgian/ecogal. htm>

Chernobyl. Children have been the most vulnerable victims of the fallout.
Source:  <http://cems.alfred. edu/students/ wirkuscp/DEFAULT. HTML>

Source (all except top photo): <http://www.shuts ellafield.com/chern. htm>

Year 200? - How many more?

In addition to the links mentioned above, you can explore these sites for more pictures and personal stories:

<http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/peacesite/English/Stage1/
S1-2E.html>
- A very touching collection of pictures with descriptive stories.

<http://www.ibiscom.com/hiroshima.htm>
- An eyewitness account of a victim of the bombings.

<http://archive.greenpeace.org/~comms/nukes/chernob/
cherfoto.html>
- Greenpeace photo archives.