Wollongong has a long history of opposing nuclear. Pictured are Wollongong Against War And Nukes members David Shoebridge, Gem Romuld and Arthur Rorris. Photo: Wollongong Against War And Nukes.
Almost 80 years ago US forces dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
It was the first time nuclear weapons were used in conflict; the effects were so horrific no nation has deployed nuclear weapons since.
Conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and now Iran involve powers with nuclear capacity.
Although these conflicts may feel far away from Wollongong, the effects of nuclear war could devastate the entire world.
Despite this threat, the Australian Government has not ratified the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – and Wollongong City Council wants to know why.
Councillors have called for the council to honour the memories of more than 210,000 people who died in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki this August and reaffirm its commitment to peace and the protection of human life.
Councillor Andrew Anthony said Wollongong had a long history of peace activism.
In 1980 the council declared Wollongong a ‘Nuclear Free Zone’; this was reaffirmed in 2006 and 2022.
In 2019 the council endorsed the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Cities Appeal, a global initiative calling on cities and towns to support the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
In 2021 the council celebrated the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
“There is a growing threat of nuclear conflict, and that is a terrible thing,” Cr Anthony said.
“I hope cooler heads prevail and we will all live in peace.”
The council has also resolved to write to the Australian Government to ask why it has not signed the UN Treaty.
Councillor Dan Hayes said he was not optimistic about the council’s ability to influence an outcome, but said the attempt was a worthy one.
“I would love to know more about why the government has not yet signed and ratified the treaty,” he said.
“I visited Hiroshima a few years ago, and it was a sombre experience.
“As someone who has tried to get no parking signs installed for six months with no success, I’m less optimistic about our ability to control nuclear weapons, but I hope I’m wrong.”
Councillor Ann Martin said although Hiroshima might feel a world away, Wollongong families were not immune from the fallout.
Her father-in-law served in the navy, and spent time in Hiroshima shortly after the bomb was dropped.
“His first cancer was bowel cancer,” she said.
“Then he had his spleen removed before he eventually succumbed to leukemia.
“They say the impact of a blast dissipates fairly quickly – but you have to wonder.
“We are hearing again about the risk of countries who have nuclear weapons or aspire to have them; it feels like the 60s again.
“It’s something we don’t want to have to talk about at a local government level, but the stories we tell are the stories we take to our families and grandchildren.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
