Abstract
The use of weapons of mass destruction has been a burner issue in most world conferences including the UN annual summits of the Security Council and even in the meeting of the G-8 and G-20 countries. The armament and even the Non- proliferation treaties have been used to cut down the usage and the manufacture of nuclear weapons commonly called the weapons of mass destruction. However, as long as we try to fight the current challenge facing the world security today, we must not forget the past as history may repeat itself. This report seeks to look at the Second World War as the first instance in the use of the nuclear weapons. The focus in this paper is on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities of Japan. Besides, the write up also addresses the effects of this incident to the Japanese and the world at large. The future use of weapons of such a devastating nature and how this war changed the world history are also key in this report.
Main Text
On the August 6 and 9 of 1945, the two major cities of Japan, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by the US army. This was the first time that atomic bombs were used in warfare. During this war, the city of Hiroshima was of considerable Military importance. This city commanded the defense of the southern region of Japan. Majorly, it was a communication center and an assembly point for the troops. This made it an important point of the Second World War. Nagasaki on its part was by then the largest Sea port to the south of Japan. It was well industrialized including the industries for the manufacture of military equipment and many other war materials. This made it as well a target spot for the USA and aligned powers.
This incident had far reaching effects on the Japanese and the surrounding. It had grave effects on the social cultural, physical (health), economic, and ecological or environmental dimensions of the Japanese. According to a Japanese Radio station, the blasts left over half of the inhabitants of the two cities dead. This was due to the radio active emissions from the blasts. The survivors of the blasts hitherto suffer from cancer, cataracts, blood disorders like leukemia and other related diseases. The survivors’ relatives up to date are affected physically as many are still being born maimed as a result of these emissions. Survivors of the blast suffer emotionally for losing some of their limps and some of their relatives. Most of them have been left economically in distress after losing all they could term as property. The environmental effect of this is said to be far reaching as well. This is because over 90% of the buildings in those cities were destroyed by the blasts. According to a witness ands a survivor, the temperatures of the city rose to about 10 million degrees immediately after the blast that led to the burning of many people and that the light emission were more bright that that of the sun which led to blinding of many.
The aftermath of the Second World War has witnessed a rise in the number nuclear weapons made. During the war, the US was known to be the only state which was in possession of the deadly nuclear weapons. However, of late many nations in the world are in possession of these weapons. This may include nations like the Great Britain, France, Russia, India and Pakistan which are declared. Other states such as Israel and the North Korea are suspected to be in possession of the nuclear weapons but are not declared. This increased armament has posed a challenge to the world peace and security. This increased armament has led to the introduction of many disarmament policies like the Non- proliferation policies by the UN.
The importance of the bombing of the Japanese cities has been felt since the attacks in 1945. These attacks shaped the world history during the nuclear arms race until 1991 and the cold war. The attacks marked the end of the world war and shaped the US policy and the international politics. The ending of this war by bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki opened the doors for the cold war. The advent of these weapons of mass destruction paved the way for the arms race between the USA and Russia formerly the USSR that lasted for almost four years. Although there are no nuclear weapons that have been detonated since then, other countries have obtained such weapons and jeopardized to use them.. The bombing is also said to have shaped the US Japan relations and also it is historically a source of radiation related diseases among the Japanese.
Conclusion
Weapons of mass destruction are posing a great challenge to the world security ands are likely to disrupt the world peace if not well controlled. For clear understanding of this paper the historical perspective of the nuclear weapons could not be avoided. In that, this report has focused o the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings which are historically the first instances in which nuclear weapons were used.
References
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Mitchell, Greg. "A Great Nuclear-Age Mystery Solved." Editor and Publisher. 16 Jun 2005.
"Hiroshima Film Cover-Up Exposed." Editor and Publisher. 6 Aug 2005. http://www.editorandpublisher.com
"The Press and Hiroshima: August 6, 1945." Editor and Publisher. 5 Aug 2005. http://www.editorandpublisher.com
Radiation Effects Research Foundation. "Residual Radiation." 2003. http://www.rerf.or.jp
