Zwickau sets a sign: flags hoist against nuclear wars!

Zwickau sets a sign: flags hoist against nuclear wars!

On July 4, 2025, many cities worldwide commemorate one of the darkest chapters in human history. 80 years ago, on August 6th and August 9, 1945, the first and so far only atomic bombs were used in the war in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These devastating attacks immediately led to an estimated 100,000 fatalities, mainly among civilians and forced laborers. By the end of 1945, another 130,000 people died of the devastating consequences such as radiation disease and injuries. This shock wave of suffering and death caused many survivors, as so -called Hibakusha, to warn of the catastrophic consequences of using nuclear weapons. The experiences from these tragedies still warn of nuclear disarmament and peaceful coexistence.

In this context, an important campaign in Germany starts on July 8, 2025: Over 600 cities will hoist the flag of the "Mayors for Peace" initiative. This network, founded in 1982 by the Mayor of Hiroshima, pursues a clear vision: the abolition of nuclear weapons and the promotion of peace and international understanding. In Germany, the network has around 900 member cities, and Zwickau is proud to be part of this global movement since the city council decision of March 31, 2022. In Hanover, where Mayor Belit Onay is active as Vice President of the Network, the message of disarmament and peace is advertised. On July 8, a legal opinion of the International Court of Justice from 1996 will also be remembered, which determines that the threat and use of nuclear weapons violate international law.

global situation of nuclear weapons

While many cities are committed to peace, our efforts to disarmament face challenges. The Stockholm Peace Research Institute Sipri estimates that around 12,241 nuclear warheads worldwide and that all nine nuclear powers are in the process of modernizing their arsenals. The fast growth of the Chinese nuclear weapons arsenal is particularly worrying. The new start contract, which limits the strategic nuclear weapons of the United States and Russia, expires at the beginning of next year without signing an extension or a replacement. This could be fueled by a new nuclear arms race that could have serious consequences in a world of increasing tensions. "Nuclear deterrence leads to even more uncertainty in an unsafe world," emphasizes Onay, who is trying to find a peaceful solution with other cities.

commemoration of the past

The flag day on July 8th is not just a gesture; It is an important sign. Especially in today's time, in which old and new conflicts collide, this action is reminiscent of the responsibility of humanity to reject nuclear weapons and to promote peace. Even 80 years after the tragic events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the appeal for disarmament remains up to date. In the memorials of both cities, the memory of the victims is kept awake, and the voices of the surviving reminds of humanity and the responsibility towards future generations.

By reminding this past and having the flag for peace, we are sending a strong sign of a world without nuclear weapons. It is up to us to continue this message and actively fight for a equipped and peaceful future. More than 8,480 cities in 166 countries are ready to go this way with us - will we too?