Mayors for Peace

Local government definitely has a role to play in nuclear disarmament and engendering global peace

By Dr Brad Pettitt, Mayor of Fremantle

Mayors for Peace is a global movement formed in 1982 by the Mayor of Hiroshima to raise awareness and push for the abolition of nuclear weapons. The organisation has since grown to include 7909 member cities and shires in 164 countries.

 Fremantle joined Mayors for Peace in 2004 and is now one of 26 executive cities around the world – the only one in Australia – and is the lead city for this region.

 I had the privilege of travelling to Hiroshima in 2014 where I visited the museum and spoke to survivors of the atomic bomb attack – it was a profoundly moving experience and I learnt of the horrors of nuclear weapons and the importance of the message of peace and friendship.

 After this visit the Mayor of Hiroshima donated to the City of Fremantle some Gingko biloba seeds from a tree that survived the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. These have been planted in Fremantle’s Peace Grove at Dick Lawrence Reserve in Beaconsfield at 7:15am local time, to coincide with when the bomb was dropped at 8:15am Hiroshima time to mark the 75^th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.

Another two trees were planted at 10:02am on 9 August, the time when the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

 They will grow as a symbol of hope and courage to live in a world free of nuclear weapons.

 A plaque delivered from Hiroshima to explain the significance of the gingko trees will be unveiled at the Peace Grove on the International Day of Peace on Monday 21 September. All are welcome.

Header photo: With the Mayor of Hiroshima in 2014

_{[Opinions expressed are those of the author and not official policy of Greens WA]}