Today marks 64 years since the first deployment of a nuclear weapon (by the U.S.—the only nation to ever do so) on human targets in Hiroshima, Japan.

Technology may make us more powerful, but not wiser.

Hiroshima, Japan

For those involved in the peace movement around the globe, thoughts this week turn once again to the horrors of Monday, August 6, 1945—when at 08:15 the first nuclear weapon ever deployed on human beings (a bomb named Little Boy) was dropped on Hiroshima by the crew of the American B-29 bomber Enola Gay. Three days later, at 11:02 on Wednesday, August 9, Nagasaki was the target of the world’s first plutonium bomb (named Fat Man) dropped by the U.S. B-29 Superfortress Bockscar, flown by the crew of 393rd Squadron.

In 2005, I was one of 24 designers invited to contribute posters for Lest We Forget: Canadian Designers on War, an initiative marking the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (I’ve posted on that previously, here). Michael Surtees attended that show opening at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton—see his flickr photo gallery from the evening here.

Image above: a moving poster designed by the late great Yusaku Kamekura, considered by many to be the father of graphic design in Japan. The poster “depicts a cluster of multicoloured burning butterflies falling from the sky, caught in the flash of an atomic blast, their wings alight with hot red and orange flames burning like streaks of blood from their delicate wings—the beauty and grace of the image serves to undermine the horror and tragedy of war.” Hiroshima Appeals is a poster series that appears annually, initiated by Japan Graphic Designers Association for the Hiroshima International Cultural Foundation.

This just in from the talented and tireless Chaz Maviyane-Davies…

Jawaharlal Nehru, Indian politician (1889-1964)

And here’s another wise quotable from the great man…

Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.

Image: a Russian stamp honouring Nehru, issued 25 years after his death.

An ancient Cherokee tale…

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life…

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.”

“One is evil— he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.”

“The other is good— he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you— and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old chief simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Peace does not require love.

Hate—without weapons—will suffice.

Any dialog—even if only accusations, denunciations and vituperation—is preferable to bullets, bombs, broken hearts and broken bodies. War (violence) is an incredibly infectious, disfiguring disease for which the only antidote is dialog.

Some of the more rewarding aspects of hosting a blog such as this are the serendipity and unexpected encounters one makes from one day to the next… for example, earlier today I received the thoughtful truism quoted above from a certain Glenn S. Michaels of Phoenix, Arizona… I thank you for sharing your wisdom!

More along this line at Veterans for Peace.

Tehran, Iran

An exhibition of posters and other works by the talented Iranian graphic designer (and mother) Parisa Tashakori is currently on display at VitrinRooz. Keep up the good work…

Images: Untitled; Peace; Khoramshahr.