Keiko Ogura, Survivor of the Hiroshima Atomic Bombing

In May, the Elders heard the testimony of Keiko Ogura, who was just eight years old when the atomic bomb was detonated over Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. The day of the bomb, Keiko was out playing in the street near her home.

“First there was a blinding flash. Soon after that, there was a strong blast. I felt like I was in the midst of a tornado or typhoon. I was blown to the ground and became unconscious. When I woke, the whole city was on fire. It kept burning all night. The next day, everything was gone.” 

Her testimony went on to outline the horrors that followed. Neighbours dying in agony. People wandering the streets with burnt skin hanging from their bodies, begging for water. Sticky black rain failing from the sky. 

It is estimated that 140,000 died in Hiroshima from the bomb. Many were killed instantly. Others died from horrific burns. But as Keiko explained, many more perished in the weeks, months and years that followed, suffering from the long-term effects of radiation. 

“I met many people like this - without any scars or burns - who developed cancer or a serious disease and died...I saw many who died because of radiation...So many people without any scars died.” 

Fearful of the discrimination faced by survivors, Keiko kept silent for years before being able to relay her experience and the reality of nuclear weapons, “I still have invisible scars and trauma”. 

Keiko began sharing her story – not to dwell on tragedy, but to warn future generations. She has vowed to never stop trying to convey the truth about the horror of nuclear weapons and the sanctity of life. 

“For we shall not repeat this evil. This is the pledge survivors want to convey” 

Juan Manuel Santos, Former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Laureate and Chair of The Elders

The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki occurred six years before I was born, but their destructive legacy has shaped the world throughout my lifetime.

Hearing testimonies from Hibakusha like Keiko powerfully reminds the Elders why we continue to advocate for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. During our recent board meeting in Hiroshima in May, we met Keiko and other Japanese anti-nuclear activists, visited the Peace Memorial Museum and the Peace Park – powerful experiences which also deepened our sense of duty.

As we approach this solemn anniversary, the world should be united in our determination to prevent another nuclear tragedy. Instead, nuclear diplomacy is faltering as rhetoric and policies grow more worryingly aggressive.

The recent US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets represent a misguided use of military force and a troubling disregard for international law. By undermining delicate talks between Iran and the US on its nuclear programme, they risk fuelling regional destabilisation and accelerating nuclear proliferation.

Meanwhile, rhetoric is becoming more aggressive across nuclear states. Stockpiles remain dangerously high, and nuclear-armed states continue to pour billions into upgrading their arsenals. In 2023 alone, nine countries spent $91.4 billion on nuclear weapons – more than double the amount needed to end world hunger by 2030.

The current geopolitical climate may make disarmament feel distant – even utopian – but history shows that progress is possible when courage, diplomacy and collective will align.

The path forward lies in engagement, compromise and a renewed commitment to global peace. As Elders, we will continue to press for this — and honour the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by ensuring their horrors are never repeated.

The threat of nuclear weapons is not inevitable. It is a political choice. We can choose a safer future.

Hideo Asano, youth activist and Coordinator at the Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

It was visiting Hiroshima for the first time in 2016 that helped me truly understand the need for a nuclear-free world. I was horrified by the realities of the atomic bomb shown at the Museum but also deeply moved by how the hibakusha continue to speak out despite their trauma. Hibakusha changed my life.  

At a time when the risk of nuclear war is heightened, our generation must ask with urgency: how can we carry forward their message of “no more hibakusha” for the next 80 years and beyond?  

While learning about the realities of nuclear war is of the utmost importance, it is also critical to show there are alternatives to the nuclear status quo. We should not keep living under this threat, spending billions to maintain these weapons while economic inequality, climate change and public wellbeing are being sidelined.

There are moments in history when collective action for disarmament made the world safer, because citizens demanded change and political leaders responded. 

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, for example, became reality thanks to the tireless efforts of the hibakusha and civil society around the world. Future generations have the responsibility to strengthen and build on this treaty, while learning from past successes to advance other nuclear disarmament efforts. 

To sustain and strengthen this progress, we need to invest in young professionals in this field. Their passion, creativity, and expertise are more needed than ever – yet many face barriers due to limited career opportunities and financial support. 

As Hibakusha Setsuko Thurlow often emphasises: only praying for peace does not make the world peaceful, taking actions will.   

The path forward

As Elders and young activists, our experiences have been very different, but we are united in our mission to eradicate the threat of nuclear weapons.

These weapons, designed to turn cities into rubble and inflict unimaginable suffering, do not guarantee international security. We must challenge this untenable status quo.

The right to live peacefully, without fear of nuclear annihilation, belongs to each of us – as does the ability to speak out and demand change. To save future generations from the suffering visited on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we must find the courage to do so.

Let us never forget the devastation unleashed 80 years ago and take decisive action to ensure it can never happen again.

Learn more on how we can make a difference here.