Protesters at lab recall hiroshima

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 7, 2006 | by Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig, STAFF WRITER

It was 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 6, 1945.

Keiji Tsuchiya, a 17-year-old serving in the Japanese Army, had just completed running errands for one of the captains and brought him his morning meal. Then there was what the then-teenager describes as an intense flash and loud sound that shook the barrack he was in.

Within minutes he would learn that upon the orders of President Harry Truman, the United States Army Air Forces had bombed his country.

Within hours the young soldier and other troops stationed on the island ofEdajima, about eight miles south of mainland Japan in the Seto Inland Sea, were ordered to the city of Hiroshima to perform relief work for the victims of the first atomic bomb dropped in history.

"I remember seeing countless, completely charred black, human beings and hearing screams of help from the debris," said Tsuchiya of the attack that, along with the bombing of Nagasaki three days later, would claim more than 200,000 lives over the next four months. "We had to dig people up from the rubble, and we also had to take corpses floating on the Ota River out and cremate them."

Although the devastating events are ones Tsuchiya wishes he could forget, he says remembering them is what propels him to continue to make sure history does not repeat itself.

"I'm a survivor of the Hiroshima bomb, and so for that reason, I understand what it really is like, and I don't want it to ever happen again," said Tsuchiya, 78, through interpreter Michele Mason of Oakland. "I'm here to ask that we never use a nuclear weapon again and that we work our hardest to avoid war."

The Hiroshima native, who was demobilized from the military the following month because he suffered from continuous diarrhea, bleeding gums and hair loss, traveled from his homeland to speak and participate in a non-violent ceremony, march and protest held Sunday outside the fence bordering the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

More than 100 men, women and children representing various races, faiths and backgrounds took part in the event, which began on the northeast corner of the lab's property and ended at the facility's main gate.

Wearing and carrying signs that shouted messages of "Support indigenous rights!" No war profiteering!" No nukes! No wars!" and more, the group listened to reflections and encouragement from people like Tsuchiya, who publicly speak out against nuclear weapons development. Nationally-syndicated media critic Norman Solomon; David Seaborg, son of the Nobel Prize scientist who discovered plutonium; Pentagon Papers "whistle-blower" Daniel Ellsberg; representatives from Tri-Valley CAREs and the Western States Legal Fund; and local artists, musicians and activist also took part in the peaceful protest.

"I think we're on the verge of another Hiroshima, quite possibly in Iran," said Ellsberg, shortly before talking to the crowd.

He said he fears the new Middle East crisis offers the opportunity for the United States to use its weapons of mass destruction. "Those of us (here) know this would be a tragedy beyond belief. We have to make every protest count.

"If there is going to be civil disobedience today, this is the day to do it."

Despite his beliefs, Ellsberg and the rest of the protesters did little to disturb the community nor the team of lab officials, as well sheriff's deputies and federal security police donning full riot gear, who stood waiting just inside the locked west gates into the Livermore lab.

"The frustrating part is that this is not really an issue of disagreement and objectives. Both sides would like to see a world where nuclear weapons are never used again," said David Schwoegler, a spokesman for the nuclear weapons lab. "The other frustrating part is everything they are asking for is a national policy issue and there's no one within 2,000 miles of Livermore who makes that decision. They couldn't be more geographically misdirected."

Schwoegler said their main concern is that everyone is safe during protests, which are held twice a year.

Organizers also will hold a peaceful event in front of the Bechtel Corporation headquarters in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Carrying a large blue flag with a picture of the Earth on it, Brian Dodd, who brought his son Cameron with him, said it's important to stand up for what you believe in.

"The important thing is to change the minds of the next generation, because most of the minds and souls of the current generation are already made up and they're not going to change," said the San Ramon resident. "We need to pass our beliefs down. They're the ones who inherit our mess, and they're the ones who have to clean it up."

Zen Buddhist follower Baika Pratt said she's been attending protests at the lab since the 1980s.

"I just don't want to come out here anymore," said Pratt of Martinez. "So I keep coming out and hopefully something will change one day."