Hiroshima marks 67th a-bomb anniversary

Hiroshima marks 67th a-bomb anniversary

Hiroshima has marked the 67th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the city by calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons and the development of energy sources that are safe and secure.
About 50,000 people gathered on Monday at Hiroshima's Peace Park near ground zero.At the memorial ceremony, attended by representatives of about 70 countries, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui referred to the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant last year.

He called on the government to establish an energy policy that would protect the safety and security of citizens.An updated list of 280,959 victims was placed at the cenotaph. It contains the names of 5,729 who died or were confirmed dead in the past year.The peace bell was rung at 8:15 AM to mark the exact time the atomic bomb was dropped, and all participants observed a moment of silence.

In the Peace Declaration, Mayor Matsui said Japan learned a lesson from the Fukushima nuclear accident and is now engaged in a national debate over its energy policy. He noted that some voices are insisting that humankind and nuclear energy cannot co-exist.NHK reports