What day is it?

August 6 marks a special date – “Doctors of the World for Peace”. On this day, doctors from all corners of the Earth unite in appeals against wars, armed conflicts and bloodshed. This day aims to draw the attention of politicians to manifestations of mercy and humanity. International Day “Doctors of the World for Peace” introduced by Doctors of the World for the Prevention of Nuclear Threats, whose members save hundreds of thousands of lives around the world every day. On August 6, a minute of silence is observed in honor of people who died innocently as a result of military operations.

How did the idea to celebrate the International Day “Doctors of the World for Peace” come about?

The date of August 6 was not chosen by chance, because it was on this day in 1945 that a tragic event for all mankind took place – American bombers dropped a nuclear bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

International Day “Doctors of the World for Peace” is a kind of protest against nuclear weapons. It not only reminds humanity of the terrible tragedy of the past, but also unites medical workers around the world in a relentless struggle against war.

After the devastating nuclear attack in August 1945, the world changed completely. Only general statistical data speak of the dead, the number of which exceeded 200,000 people. For many people, the threat of nuclear war is not empty words. Therefore, it is not for nothing that every year on August 6, activists in different parts of the world organize various events designed to demonstrate the shocking consequences of the attack. This attack, first of all, destroyed the lives of a huge number of civilians who did not take a direct part in the hostilities. In addition to the lost lives, these days left a deep psychological trauma in the minds of Hiroshima residents.

Organization “Doctors of the World for the Prevention of Nuclear War”

We are talking about the organization, or rather the movement of doctors from different parts of the globe. Medical workers united to prevent nuclear conflict, the organization also works towards nuclear disarmament. The “Doctors of the World for the Prevention of Nuclear War” movement was organized by American and Soviet doctors in 1980.

In 1984, the organization received the UNESCO prize, and a year later – the Nobel Peace Prize. Such merits are the result of unceasing activity and huge achievements in the field of spreading awareness among ordinary citizens about the devastating consequences of wars and changing the direction of work of political figures from war to peace. At the end of the 80s, the organization “Doctors of the World for the Prevention of Nuclear War” included about 150,000 health care workers, and by the beginning of the 90s, this figure had increased to 200,000 doctors. In 2007, the movement began work on a new campaign for complete disarmament and the destruction of nuclear weapons.

Importance for Ukraine

It is not for nothing that doctors have united around this important topic, because they are the ones who selflessly work in the field of saving human life. And their main enemy is devastating military actions that take away this life. It is on this day that medical workers of Ukraine must also unite in order to avoid the threat of nuclear war in the world in general and in our country in particular.

In recent years, this topic has become especially relevant for our country, because being in a military conflict, Ukraine is losing its citizens every day. In addition to the dead, whose number according to the latest data exceeds the mark of 10,000, many people lost their physical and mental health. Ukrainian healthcare workers are with the military directly on the battlefield. They selflessly and in difficult conditions provide professional medical assistance to victims of hostilities during the operation of the joint forces in the east of the country.

Little-known facts about nuclear weapons and the events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

• Since the first use of nuclear weapons in the summer of 1945 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this type of weapon has undergone many changes. Today it is even more devastating and powerful.
• Four Japanese cities were chosen as the targets of nuclear bombing: Kyoto (the historical capital), Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Kokura. US Secretary of War Stimson spent a honeymoon in Kyoto a few decades before the war, so he crossed this city off the list due to sentimental memories. And Kokuri was lucky to remain unscathed for other reasons: bad weather and fires in nearby Yahata prevented the bombing.
• Bonsai, which was planted in Hiroshima at the beginning of the 17th century, was able to survive the nuclear bombing. Today this tree can be seen in one of the American museums.
• In 1962, as part of the tests carried out by the United States, there was an explosion of a nuclear bomb that was hundreds of times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was detonated in outer space, at an altitude of about four hundred kilometers above the Pacific Ocean.
• The bomb that caused the devastating explosion over Hiroshima contained several 600 milligrams of the active substance.
• The largest nuclear powers include the United States of America and Russia, which have about 8,000 nuclear warheads. In other nuclear states, this number is much smaller.
• The presence of isotopes of strontium 90 and cesium 137 in nature indicate the conduct of nuclear tests. By the way, these elements did not exist in nature until the first nuclear bombs exploded in 1945.

International Day “Doctors of the World for Peace” in history

• [1945
  August 6

  American bombers dropped a nuclear bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
• 1980

  The “Doctors of the World for the Prevention of Nuclear War” movement was organized by American and Soviet doctors.
• 1984

  The organization received the UNESCO prize.
• 1985

  The movement “Doctors of the World for the Prevention of Nuclear War” received the Nobel Peace Prize.
• 2007

  The movement has begun work on a new campaign for the complete disarmament and destruction of nuclear weapons.

How to celebrate the International Day “Doctors of the World for Peace”?

The founders and organizers of the holiday – “Doctors of the World for Nuclear Disarmament” on this day continue their work related to saving and preserving human lives. However, there are measures that are significant for the whole world. Yes, for 70 years in a row, on August 6 at 8:15, every resident of the Japanese town of Hiroshima honors the memory of the dead and victims with a moment of silence.

It is worth saying that there are still eyewitnesses of these events in the city, as well as members of the families of the victims, so both older and younger Japanese are deeply mourning this day of mourning.

Subsequently, 10 years after the explosion of nuclear bombs over Japanese cities, a congress was held in Hiroshima, where the issues of banning the use of nuclear weapons were discussed.

When will we celebrate the International Day “Doctors of the World for Peace”?