Eighty years ago, the world changed forever with the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Days later, Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, bringing an end to World War II and its years of aggression across Asia.
Today, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial stands as a stark reminder of nuclear devastation. A few aging survivors still speak out, urging remembrance and expressing concern over growing support among global leaders for nuclear weapons as a form of deterrence.
While Cold War disarmament once reduced nuclear stockpiles, nine nations now possess more than 12,400 warheads. Experts warn that today's nuclear arsenals are vastly more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and all major powers are continuing to modernize. Emerging technologies like hypersonic missiles, AI, and space-based systems are fueling a new arms race.
Dan Smith of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute warns that global safety has deteriorated since the Cold War's end.
His message: Everyone has a role to play in building a nuclear-free world. Stay informed, speak up, and help shape a political climate that values disarmament, so the horrors of Hiroshima remain in the past.