City flags anti-nuclear stance on Hiroshima Day

Published on 06 August 2019

The City of Hobart has confirmed its stance as a city against nuclear weapons with a flag-unfurling ceremony on the steps of the Hobart Town Hall to mark Hiroshima Day.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds led an event to unfurl two International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) flags to adorn the flagpoles at the front of the heritage building.

The event follows on from a public forum earlier this year, at which Cr Reynolds acknowledged the City’s involvement in ICAN.

“The Council made the decision in April to join this important global movement,” she said.

“The matter was brought to Council because of the lack of action by the Australian Government on signing the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and the ongoing concern of Hobart residents about the threat nuclear weapons pose to communities throughout the world.

“Next year will mark 75 years since the atomic destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and we are still living under the shadow of the bomb.

“Almost 15,000 nuclear weapons remain in our world, held by nine nations. Cities everywhere are making a stand against the harbouring of these weapons and are proud to stand with them.”

During today’s event, a booklet produced by ICAN with the aim of encouraging the Australian Government to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was also launched.

“Nuclear weapons pose an unacceptable threat to people everywhere. No one is immune to the threat and we must continue to lobby for this threat to be removed,” Cr Reynolds said. 

PHOTO: Dr Sally Attrill of the Medical Association for Prevention of War and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds in front of the ICAN flag at the Hobart Town Hall.