Bells for Peace

As a part of the global commemoration of the 75^th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you are invited to participate in events offered by the Bells for Peace Campaign.

Communities on Vancouver Island are invited to join in bell ringing and 'making a righteous noise' at the time of the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima (8:15am on August 6th) and Nagasaki (11:50am on August 9th).  Church bells, hand bells and other appropriate devices rung at those times will help us all remember and reflect.

On Thursday August 6^th at 12noon PDT attend an online presentation by Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford, Dr. Jonathan Down, and youth activist Magritte Gordaneer. In the hour long session, with time for Q&A, these experts will address the bombings, the public health impact of nuclear war, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the state of international law and other matters to help us all make meaningful the vow: “Never Again”.

Register HERE to receive the Zoom link for Thursday's session.

Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford is Past President of International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War, winner of the 1985 Noble Peace Prize. She has twice been awarded the Governor General of Canada’s Medal. She is the author of Enough Blood Shed: 101 Solutions for Violence, Terror and War”, focusing on nonviolent strategies. Dr. Ashford has participated in humanitarian missions inside North Korea.

Dr. Jonathan Down is a pediatrician at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health in Victoria and an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. Dr. Down is the President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada.

Magritte Gordaneer is a student at McGill University studying Political Science and History. She co-founded McGill Students for Peace and Disarmament, the university’s only student peace group. In 2019, Magritte traveled to Hiroshima to participate in the ICAN Academy on Nuclear Weapons and Global Security. She also participated in the United Nations Fourth Review Conference on the Landmine Ban Treaty, held in Oslo, Norway.

This event is sponsored by World BEYOND War Victoria, Victoria Multifaith Society, and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada.