Wednesday, August 6th 2025, marks 80 years since the atomic bombs caused devastation in Hiroshima, followed 3 days later by a further bombing of Nagasaki.

Speaking at a solemn national commemoration ceremony in Merrion Park in Dublin, Chernobyl Children International’s Voluntary CEO Adi Roche is calling for the promotion of peace across the globe as an urgent priority.

In her passionate speech, Roche drew particular focus on the horrific impact of nuclear bombs on human beings;

“Such enormous numbers of victims, estimated at over 214,000, can be overwhelming.  Buried in that awful statistic is the child victim figure of 38,000 innocent children who suffered horrific, painful deaths.  The survivor’s world changed forever with the devastating consequences of the bombings.  Survivors ‘envied’ the dead.  Let us awaken to the reality of the true inhumanity of nuclear weapons…I believe that nuclear weapons cannot, must not, coexist with humanity.”

“In remembering the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we are called to act and to reaffirm our commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.  We renew our pledge to build a world where nuclear weapons have no place.”   

“Current tensions around the globe show us that nuclear escalation is not a relic of the Cold War, but an increasing clear and present danger.  Recent attacks on Iranian nuclear facilites is a very real example of such danger.   We are regressing into a world in which the ‘rule of law’ is replaced by the ‘rule of power,’ with a destabilising new nuclear arms race.  There can be no compromise on the issue of nuclear weapons…we either put an end to nuclear weapons, or they will put an end to us”, Roche continued.

Roche has been an active voice for peace and justice for over 45 years and acts as the Vice-President of the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (ICND), who organised today’s commemoration in Merrion Square.   Fellow speakers on the day include the Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the Japanese embassy in Ireland, Mr Norimasa Yoshida, and Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor John Stephens, as well as contributions of music and poetry.  A wreath of flowers will be laid at the memorial cherry tree at the close of the commemoration, which will be attended by diplomatic representatives from many countries, including Ukraine and Japan, as well as representation from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

The survivors and victims of the bombings, known as the Hibakusha, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2024 for their lasting efforts to free the world of nuclear weapons and promoting justice and peace.