In Memory of Hiroshima

Tonight, the yearly floating of candles takes place at the Reykjavík pond in the memory of the victims of Hiroshima and Nakasaki. This is the 22nd year the ceremony takes place and various organizations are behind the floating of the candles. The only prerequisite to participate is to be a pacifist and believe in the cause.

Every year it is a beautiful ceremony and the atmosphere at the pond is solemn. It is also a sad moment due to the memories of the people in Hiroshima. Steinunn Þóra Árnadóttir one of the organizers says it is important to connect this event to current events and the speaker of the ceremony, Guðrún Margrét Guðmundsdóttir, will discuss the situation in Lebanon today and stress that Israel owns nuclear weapons. Guðrún Margrét will discuss the culture of war in connection with Hiroshima and Lebanon and the idea that problems can be solved by killing innocent people and where such ideas come from.

Steinunn Þóra asks people to show up early to the ceremony. Candles and peace-signs will be sold at the pond, in recent yeras the candles have sold out. The organizers encourage parents to show up with their children. „It is wonderful to see the families together and it is a good opportunity to educate our children about unjustice in this world,“ says Steinunn.

The floating of the candles begins at 22.30 tonight.