Features
Remembering Hiroshima: A painful lesson the world must not forget
The Pearl Harbour attack united American citizens like never before. Young men volunteered to fight, factories increased production, and the entire nation mobilised for war. Some may recall the fictional Rosie the Riveter flexing her muscles and with the words “We can do it”. As a result, many females started working in factories making munitions. The US would go on to play a decisive role in defeating the Axis powers.
Terrible tragedy of Hiroshima 80 years ago
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., a single bomb dropped by a US aircraft changed the world forever. The city of Hiroshima in Japan was instantly turned into a fiery wasteland when the atomic bomb—nicknamed “Little Boy”—exploded in the sky above. It was the first time a nuclear weapon was used in war. Three days later, another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Together, these bombings brought World War II to a close, but at a terrible human cost.
The bomb that hit Hiroshima released energy equivalent to 15,000 tons of TNT. It killed approximately 140,000 people by the end of 1945. Some died instantly. Many others suffered for days and weeks with severe burns, internal injuries, and radiation sickness.
Visiting Hiroshima in the year 2000 with my son, and visiting the museum, it was horrifying to see the models of burning human beings and the melting of their skins. The only remnant of the bomb was one lone bombed building; the A-bomb dome or Genbaku dome in Japanese. The Memorial Peace Park in Hiroshima attracts many Japanese and foreign tourists today.
In the years that followed, the tragedy deepened. Radiation exposure led to a sharp rise in cancer and other health problems. By 1950, the number of deaths due to the bomb had risen to 200,000. Survivors faced long-term effects. Many were disabled for life.
One of the most painful legacies of the bombing was leukaemia, a form of blood cancer. Studies show that from 1950 to 2000, over 10,000 survivors developed cancer, with leukaemia rates 2 to 3 times higher than average, especially among children who were exposed. For many survivors, the pain didn’t end with physical scars. They also faced social rejection, mental trauma, and the loss of family and friends.
Sadako Sasaki
The Pearl Harbour attack provoked the US
On the morning of December 7, 1941, Hawaii’s peace was shattered by the roar of aeroplanes and the thunder of explosions. The Japanese Imperial Navy had launched a surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbour, located on the island of Oahu. This event pushed the United States into World War II and marked a turning point in global history.
While the attack caused devastating military losses, it is essential to note that very few civilians were killed. The target was a military installation, and Japan’s main goal was to destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. In contrast to bombings later in the war that targeted entire cities, Pearl Harbour was a military strike, not an attack on civilians.
At exactly 7:55 a.m. that day, waves of Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes descended on the harbour. In less than two hours, the US Navy had suffered enormous damage: 8 battleships were damaged or destroyed, including the USS Arizona, which exploded and sank, killing over 1,100 men. More than 300 aircraft were damaged or destroyed. Over 2,400 Americans were killed, almost all of them military personnel. About 1,000 more were wounded.
Despite the heavy blow, key parts of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, such as aircraft carriers, were not in the harbour at the time. This helped America to comeback in the Pacific. The low civilian death toll is significant, especially when compared to later events such as the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where hundreds of thousands of civilians perished instantly.
The day after the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a powerful speech to Congress, calling December 7 “a date which will live in infamy.” The US declared war on Japan, officially entering World War II.
The Pearl Harbour attack united American citizens like never before. Young men volunteered to fight, factories increased production, and the entire nation mobilised for war. Some may recall the fictional Rosie the Riveter flexing her muscles and with the words “We can do it”. As a result, many females started working in factories making munitions. The US would go on to play a decisive role in defeating the Axis powers.
Although the bombing of Pearl Harbour was a strategic success for Japan in the short term, it was a strategic mistake in the long run. It awakened a sleeping giant. The US entry into the war helped turn the tide against Japan and its allies. In less than four years, the war ended with Japan’s defeat.
Sadako Sasaki and the sad Story of a thousand Origami paper cranes
One of the most heart-breaking stories to emerge from the aftermath of the Hiroshima atomic bombing was that of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who became a global symbol of peace, hope, and the innocent victims of war.
Sadako was just two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Though she was not visibly injured, she was exposed to the radiation from the blast. For years, she lived a happy, everyday life. She loved running and was one of the fastest members of her school relay team.
But ten years after the bombing, Sadako suddenly fell ill. In 1955, at the age of 12, she was diagnosed with leukaemia—a type of cancer caused by radiation exposure. At the hospital, Sadako learned of an old Japanese legend. If a person folds 1,000 origami paper cranes, the gods would grant them a wish. A crane is a large bird with a long neck. In Japan it represents longevity, happiness, and eternal youth, because mythical beliefs say it lives a thousand years.
Clinging to hope and determined to live, Sadako began folding paper cranes one by one. She used medicine wrappers, scraps of paper, and anything she could find. Her goal was simple but powerful: to fold 1,000 cranes and be granted the wish to recover and live.
With quiet courage, Sadako continued to fold, even as her body gradually grew weaker. She is believed to have folded more than 1,300 cranes, far exceeding her target. But despite her strength and determination, Sadako passed away on October 25, 1955, surrounded by her family.
Sadako’s story touched hearts around the world. Her classmates and friends were inspired by her bravery and began a campaign to build a monument in her honour. Today, the Children’s Peace Monument stands in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. On it are the words: “This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.” Children from all over the world send paper cranes to Hiroshima every year, keeping Sadako’s spirit alive. The day I visited Hiroshima, hundreds of schoolchildren carried flowers to lay at the base of the Memorial.
Sadako Sasaki’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, particularly on children. Her paper cranes are not just folded paper—they are folded hope, love, and the desperate wish for peace. Though she did not survive, her message lives on: Let no child ever suffer like this again.
The aftermath of the N bomb
The day after the bomb, newspapers around the world carried the dramatic headlines. Most focused on the incredible power of the bomb and its potential to end World War II swiftly. But even amid celebration and shock, some newspapers and journalists raised early warnings about the terrible dangers of this new kind of weapon.
A few brave voices quickly pointed out the grave danger of entering the nuclear age. One of the most notable warnings came from the editorial page of The New York Times itself. Just days after the bombing, on August 9, 1945, the paper published an editorial titled “The Atomic Age”, which said: “For all we know, in unleashing atomic energy, man may be opening a door that he will never be able to close.” The editorial warned that although the bomb might help end the war, it also posed a serious moral and existential threat to the future of humanity.
Similarly, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran an editorial titled “Frankenstein’s Monster”, drawing comparisons to the famous tale of a man-made creation that grew out of control. The paper inquired whether humanity had created a force that could ultimately destroy its own creator.
Shortly after the bombings, a group of scientists who had worked on the Project began to speak out. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, first published in 1945, was born out of their concern. These scientists warned that nuclear weapons must never again be used in war. Their famous “Doomsday Clock” was created to symbolise how close the world is to self-destruction. Some newspapers quoted these scientists, noting that even those who built the bomb were now afraid of its power.
Outside the United States, the tone of newspaper coverage was often more sombre and critical. The Manchester Guardian in the UK (now The Guardian) was one of the first newspapers to question whether the use of the atomic bomb was morally justifiable.
The London Daily Mirror ran a headline: “Japan’s New Graveyard.” It warned that the bomb represented a new kind of horror—one that could erase entire cities in a flash and leave lasting suffering for generations.
In India, which was still under British rule, newspapers like The Hindustan Times and The Bombay Chronicle questioned the ethics of using such a powerful weapon on civilians.
Those early warnings—sometimes buried in editorial pages—have proven to be prophetic. The fears raised in August 1945 are still relevant today, as nuclear weapons remain a threat in global politics.
Lessons we must learn
After visiting Hiroshima in 2000 I was hoping that very soon the world will see a change to peace. Instead, 25 years later I find conflicts in many parts of the world. The world seems to have lost its conscience. Sri Lanka came out of a terrible conflict; however, I can see more hope for reconciliation here than in many other places. Wars in Indochina escalated in the 1970s but they all are peaceful and prospering countries today. Even without nuclear power, six million Jews were killed by the Nazis during 1941 to 1945. So, let us hope that the future will be better for the human race.
Today, nearly 80 years later, Hiroshima stands as a peaceful city. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Museum serve as a reminder of the horrors of war and the urgent need for peace. Every August, people around the world observe a moment of silence to remember the victims and pray that such a tragedy never happens again. Yet, looking at the world today, we must ask: Have we truly learned the lesson of Hiroshima?
In recent years, we have witnessed terrible wars and human suffering in different parts of the world. The Russia–Ukraine conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced. Cities have been bombed, schools and hospitals destroyed, and children forced to grow up amid gunfire and fear.
In the Israel–Palestine conflict, we have seen neighbourhoods turned into rubble, families torn apart, and innocent lives lost on both sides. Airstrikes, ground assaults, and blockades have created one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent times. Wars only create widows, orphans and children without their mother or father, people without their spouses. War is not strange to us, Sri Lankans. The scars still remain, and the hatred towards the perpetrators still continues. In Sri Lanka, however, there are efforts being made to have lasting peace.
While these wars may not involve nuclear weapons, the suffering of ordinary people—especially children, women, and the elderly—is no less heart-breaking. The faces of survivors in Ukraine or Gaza today are hauntingly similar to those of Hiroshima’s Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors and those affected by radioactivity).
The world has enough weapons now to destroy its population many times over. Yet, peace remains fragile, and global regulators remain ineffective.
As global citizens, we must raise our voices against violence. We must encourage our leaders to engage in dialogue, foster compassion, and cultivate understanding. We must remember that war is not a video game or a matter of pride and superiority. It is pain, destruction, and death.
On this August 6, let us honour the victims of Hiroshima by ensuring that their suffering was not in vain. Let us work to stop the madness of war and conflicts, wherever they occur. And let us teach our children not just history, but the value of peace.
by Sunil G Wijesinha ✍️
Consultant on Productivity and Japanese Management
Recipient of the “Order of the Rising Sun;
Gold and Silver Rays” by the Government of Japan.
bizex.seminarsandconsulting@gmail.com.
Features
Mannar’s silent skies: Migratory Flamingos fall victim to power lines amid Wind Farm dispute
By Ifham Nizam
A fresh wave of concern has gripped conservationists following the reported deaths of migratory flamingos within the Vankalai Sanctuary—a globally recognised bird habitat—raising urgent questions about the ecological cost of large-scale renewable energy projects in the region.
The incident comes at a time when a fundamental rights petition, challenging the proposed wind power project, linked to India’s Adani Group, remains under examination before the Supreme Court, with environmental groups warning that the very risks they highlighted are now materialising.
At least two flamingos—believed to be part of the iconic migratory flocks that travel thousands of kilometres to reach Sri Lanka—were found dead after entanglement with high-tension transmission lines running across the sanctuary. Another bird was reportedly struggling for survival.
Professor Sampath Seneviratne, a leading ornithologist, expressed deep concern over the development, noting that such incidents are not isolated but indicative of a broader and predictable threat.
“These migratory birds depend on specific flyways that have remained unchanged for centuries. When high-risk infrastructure, like poorly planned power lines, intersect these routes, collisions become inevitable,” he said. “What we are witnessing now could be just the beginning if proper mitigation measures are not urgently implemented.”
Environmentalists argue that the Mannar region—particularly the Vankalai wetland complex—is one of the most critical stopover sites in South Asia for migratory waterbirds, including flamingos, pelicans, and various species of waders. The sanctuary’s ecological value has also supported a niche with growing eco-tourism sector, drawing birdwatchers from around the world.
Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice, Dilena Pathragoda, said the incident underscores the urgency of judicial intervention and stricter environmental oversight.
“This tragedy is a direct consequence of ignoring scientifically established environmental safeguards. We have already raised these concerns before court, particularly regarding the location of transmission infrastructure within sensitive bird habitats,” Pathragoda said.
“Renewable energy cannot be pursued in isolation from ecological responsibility. If due process and proper environmental impact assessments are bypassed or diluted, then such losses are inevitable.”
Conservation groups have long cautioned that the installation of wind turbines and associated grid infrastructure—especially overhead transmission lines—within or near sensitive habitats could transform these landscapes into lethal zones for avifauna.
An environmental activist involved in the ongoing legal challenge said the latest deaths validate earlier warnings.
“This is exactly what we feared. Development is necessary, but not at the cost of biodiversity. When projects of this scale proceed without adequate ecological assessments and safeguards, the consequences are irreversible,” the activist stressed.
The debate has once again brought into focus the delicate balance between renewable energy expansion and biodiversity conservation. While wind energy is widely promoted as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, experts caution that “green” does not automatically mean “harmless.”
Professor Seneviratne emphasised that solutions do exist, including rerouting transmission lines, installing bird diverters, and conducting comprehensive migratory pathway studies prior to project approval.
“Globally, there are well-established mitigation strategies. The issue here is not the absence of knowledge, but the failure to apply it effectively,” he noted.
The timing of the incident is particularly worrying. Migratory flamingos typically remain in Sri Lanka until late April or May before embarking on their return journeys. Conservationists warn that if hazards remain unaddressed, larger flocks could face similar risks in the coming weeks.
Beyond ecological implications, experts also highlight potential economic fallout. Wildlife tourism—especially birdwatching—contributes significantly to local livelihoods in Mannar.
Repeated reports of bird deaths could deter eco-conscious travellers and damage the region’s reputation as a safe haven for migratory species.
Environmentalists are now calling for immediate intervention by authorities, including a temporary halt to high-risk operations in sensitive zones, pending a thorough environmental review.
They stress that protecting animal movement corridors—whether elephant migration routes or avian flyways—is a fundamental pillar of modern conservation.
As the controversy unfolds, one question looms large: can Sri Lanka pursue sustainable energy without sacrificing the very natural heritage that defines it?
Pathragoda added that for now, the sight of fallen flamingos in Mannar stands as a stark reminder that development, if not carefully planned, can carry a heavy and irreversible cost.
A picture of US President Donald Trump apparently being prayed for by supporters, appearing in sections of the international media, said it all loud and clear. That is, religion is being flagrantly leveraged or prostituted by politicians single-mindedly bent on furthering their power aspirations.
Although in the case of the US President the trend took on may be an exceptionally graphic or dramatic form, the ‘weaponizing’ of religion is nothing particularly new, nor is it confined to only religiously conservative sections of the West. For example, in South Asia it is an integral part of politics. The ‘South Asian Eight’ are notorious for it and it could be unreservedly stated that in Sri Lanka, the latter’s ethnic conflict would be more amenable to resolution if religion was not made a potent weapon by ambitious politicians of particularly the country’s South.
The more enlightened sections of Christian believers in the US may not have been able to contain their consternation at the sight of the US President apparently being ‘blessed’ by pastors claiming adherence to Christianity. Any human is entitled to be blessed but not if he is leading his country to war without exhausting all the options at his disposal to end the relevant conflict by peaceful means.
More compounded would be his problem if his directives lead to the death of civilians in the hundreds. In the latter case he is stringently accountable for the spilling of civilian blood, that is, the committing of war crimes.
However, the US along with Israel did just that in the recent bombings of Iran, for instance. The majority of the lives lost were those of civilians. If the US President is endowed with a Christian conscience he would have paused to consider that he is guilty of ordering the taking of the life of another human which is forbidden in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Moreover, the ‘pastors’ praying over the US President should have thought on the above lines as well. May be they were in an effort to curry the President’s favour which is as blame-worthy as legitimizing in some form the taking of civilian lives. Apparently, the realisation is not dawning on all Christian conservatives of the US that some of these ‘pastors’ could very well be the proverbial false prophets and the latter are almost everywhere, even in far distant Sri Lanka.
However, the political reality ‘on the ground’ is that the Christian Right is a stable support base of the Republican Right in the US. Considering this it should not come as a surprise to the seasoned political watcher if the Christian Right, read Christian fundamentalists, are hand-in-glove, so to speak, with President Trump. But it is a scathing indictment on these rightist sections that they are all for perpetrating war and destruction and not for the fostering of peace and reconciliation. Ideally, they should have impressed on their President the dire need to make peace.
That said, political commentators should consider it incumbent on themselves to point out that religion is being ‘weaponized’ in Iran as well. Theocratic rule in Iran has been essentially all about perpetuating the power of the clerical class. The reasons that led to the Islamic Revolution in Iran are complex and the indiscreet Westernization of Iran under the Shah dynasty is one of these but one would have expected Iran to develop from then on into a multi-party, pluralistic democratic state where people would be enjoying their fundamental rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, for example.
Moreover, Iran should have taken it upon itself to be a champion of world peace, in keeping with its Islamic credentials. But some past regimes in Iran had vowed to virtually bomb Israel out of existence and such regional policy trajectories could only bring perpetual conflict and war. Considering the current state of the Middle East it could be said that the unfettered playing out of these animosities is leading the region and the world to ‘reap the whirlwind’, having recklessly ‘sowed the wind’.
However, religious fundamentalism-inspired conflict and war has spread well beyond the Middle East into almost every region since 1979, the year of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. So much so, knowledgeable opinion now points out that religious identity has come to replace nationalism as a principal shaper of international politics or “geopolitics”, as quite a few sections misleadingly and incorrectly term it.
Elaborating on the decisive influence of religious identity, the well known and far traveled Western journalist Patrick Cockburn says in his authoritative and comprehensive book titled, ‘The Age of Jihad – Islamic State and the Great War for the Middle East’ at page 428 in connection with the war in Chechnya ; ‘If nationalism was not entirely dead, it no longer provided the ideological glue necessary to hold together and motivate people who were fighting a war. Unlike the Islamic faith, it was no longer a belief or a badge of identity for which people would fight very hard.’ (The book in reference was published by VERSO, London and New York).
In his wide coverage of Jihadist Wars the world over Cockburn goes on to state that today a call from a cleric could motivate his followers to lay down no less than their lives for a cause championed by the former. The 9/11 catastrophe alone should convince the observer that this is indeed true.
However, as often pointed out in this column, there is no alternative but to foster peace and reconciliation if a world free of bloodshed and strife is what is being sought. Fortunately we are not short of illustrious persons from the East and West who have shone a light on how best to get to a degree of peace. Besides Mahatma Gandhi of India, who was the subject of this column last week, we have former President of Iran Mohammad Khatami, who made a case for a ‘Dialogue of Civilizations’ rather than a ‘Clash of Civilizations’.
The time is more than ripe to take a leaf from these illustrious personalities, for, the current state of war in the Middle East has raised the possibility of a war that could transcend regional boundaries. The antagonists are obliged to exhaust all the peaceful options with the assistance of the UN system. Besides, war cannot ever have the blessings of the sane.
It was 35 years ago, on March 28, 1991, that Venerable Rahula Thera, then a young monk, embarked on a journey to the Na forest in Ulpathagama, Palagama, in the Anuradhapura District. Today, three and a half decades later, this mission stands as living proof of the enduring bond between Buddhist philosophy and the natural world.
Marking the 35th year of this green mission, Rahula Thera’s relentless dedication has transformed the National Namal Uyana into an environmental landmark admired not only across Sri Lanka but around the globe, as well.
When studying the life of Venerable Rahula Thera, one cannot ignore the profound connection between Buddhism and the environment. Buddhism is a philosophy deeply attuned to nature. The historical use of the sacred “Na Ruka” by all four Buddhas: Mangala Buddha, Sumana Buddha, Revata Buddha, and Sobhita Buddha — for enlightenment —demonstrates that from time immemorial, Buddhism has maintained a sacred bond with the Na tree. From the birth of Siddhartha to his enlightenment, the propagation of the Dharma, and even the great Parinirvana, all of these milestones unfolded in verdant, living landscapes.
Venerable Rahula Thera did not embark on the Namal Uyana mission seeking government support or personal gain. His commitment sprang from a deep devotion to the Buddha’s teachings on grove cultivation. A grove cultivator is one who spreads compassion for nature. As the Vanaropa Sutta teaches:
Venerable Rahula Thera reclaimed Namal Uyana which was then under the control of timber smugglers and treasure hunters. The term “Wanawasi” does not merely mean living in a forest; it signifies finding rest and enlightenment through nature, free from the destructive roots of greed, sin, and delusion.
Another defining aspect of Venerable Rahula Thera’s 35-year mission is the purification of the human mind. He has consistently taught the thousands who visit Namal Uyana that a person who loves a tree will never harm another human being. As the Dhamma proclaims:
It is important to remember that Venerable Rahula Thera devoted his life, without fear, speaking the truth and taking necessary action, tirelessly advancing the national mission he began. From 1991 to the present, he has worked with every government elected by the people, maintaining impartiality and independence from political ideology. Yet, he never hesitated to raise his voice fearlessly against any individual, of any rank or party, who committed wrongdoing.
Religious and Social Mission
The National Namal Uyana is not merely a forest; it is a magnificent heritage site, dating back to ancient times. Scattered across the landscape are boundary walls, the remains of ancient monastery complexes, and stone carvings believed to date back to the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. In earlier centuries, this sacred land had served as a meditation sanctuary for hundreds of monks. The name “National Namal Uyana,” by which this ecological and archaeological treasure is known today, was introduced by Venerable Rahula Thera in 1991. The government’s later recognition of the site as the National Namal Uyana stands as a significant achievement for both religion and national heritage.
Venerable Rahula Thera is a monk who has lived a life of renunciation. A striking example of this is his decision not to assume the position of Chief Incumbent of the National Namal Uyana Viharaya, instead entrusting the temple to the Ramanna Nikaya and its trustees. In doing so, he set a precedent for the contemporary Sangha. The Thera himself stated that he was merely the trustee of Namal Uyana, not its owner.
Legacy and Continuing Inspiration
The 35th anniversary of Venerable Wanawasi Rahula Thera’s arrival at Namal Uyana is not merely the commemoration of a period of time; it is a message of nature to future generations. Through his work, the Thera revived the ancient Hela tradition of loving trees and venerating the environment as something sacred. This religious and environmental mission remains unforgettable.
The revival experienced by Namal Uyana, after the arrival of Venerable Wanawasi Rahula Thera, is beyond simple description. Some of the major accomplishments achieved under his leadership include:
* Securing and protecting the largest Rose Quartz (Rosa Thirivana) reserve in South Asia.
* Restoring the Na forest spread across hundreds of acres, providing shelter to numerous rare plants and animal species.
* Transforming the area into a living centre for environmental education, offering practical learning experiences for thousands of schoolchildren and university students.
* Drawing the attention of world leaders and international environmentalists to Sri Lanka’s unique environmental heritage.
In recognition of his immense contribution to environmental conservation, Venerable Rahula Thera was honoured with the Presidential Environment Award and the Green Award in 2004—a significant moment in his life. Yet the Thera himself has always remained devoted to the work rather than the recognition it brings, making such appreciation even more meaningful.
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