Due to Covid-19 regulations, Salisbury Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) decided to make a film instead of staging its annual candle float through the city.
Each year, in Hiroshima, candle lanterns are floated to commemorate those ‘dreadful times’ and to remember all who were affected by nuclear weapons.
A spokesperson from Salisbury CND said: “The film represents the coming together of so much warm human spirit, and we are grateful to Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita for allowing us to use their beautiful music to complement our images.
“In 1945, the first atomic bomb ever to be used was dropped on Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The human carnage was beyond imagining, hundreds of thousands of civilians died and the effects of those bombs are still evident today. The legacy of those events majorly influences our modern world, with huge resources devoted to ever more powerful nuclear arsenals, the use of which would end the world as we know it.
“Since the early 80s, Salisbury CND has been conducting an annual Candle Float of its own on the River Avon through the city.
“We are fortunate to have developed links with groups in Hiroshima over the years and, this year, we were honoured to receive a letter from Matsui Kazumi, the Mayor of Hiroshima. We were also sent five lanterns from Hiroshima to join our own in this year’s Candle Float.”
The Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemorative Candle Float is on August 6.
“We hope people will appreciate this meditative film and reflect on whether they wish to join us, as we strive to eliminate the absolute evil of nuclear weapons.”
The film is available via the link:
www.cndsalisbury.org.uk/news_items/1677-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-commemorative-candle-float-2021
For more information on Salisbury CND, please visit: www.cndsalisbury.org.uk