"In the shadow of the mushroom cloud" - commemorative and discussion events in Kaiserslautern on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Around 100,000 people died immediately in these attacks; many tens of thousands died in the years that followed as a result of the explosions and lethal radiation. To mark this commemorative year, the Peace Academy Rhineland-Palatinate and CampusKultur at RPTU, together with the organization ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017, are organizing an event with "International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (ippnw)" and "Ohne Rüstung Leben" from 27 and 28 June 2025 under the title "In the shadow of the mushroom cloud. Another 80 years without nuclear weapons?" a series of events in Kaiserslautern.

On Friday, 27 June at 7 p.m., the organizers invite you to a public commemorative event in the Japanese Garden Kaiserslautern, where survivors of Hiroshima, Nagasaki and those affected by nuclear tests worldwide will have their say, accompanied by the drummers of the Japanese drum group "TENNOGAWA". On Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m., a public panel discussion on the future of nuclear weapons and nuclear (dis)armament in Europe will take place in the Audimax (Building 42, Room 115) at RPTU in Kaiserslautern. This will be followed by a reception in the foyer, where the poster exhibition "ARTISTS AGAINST THE BOMB" will be on display.

The series of events is intended to commemorate the devastating effects of the use of nuclear weapons and at the same time promote dialog about the possibility of a future free of nuclear weapons. Admission to the commemorative event, panel discussion and exhibition opening is free. Registration is not required.

Further information can be found on this flyer.