The Columbia Friends Meeting will host the 34th Annual Hiroshima Remembrance event on Tuesday, August 6, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at 120 Pisgah Church Road, Columbia, SC 29203.
This interfaith peace vigil, organized by Simple Gifts, a local poetry and lyric verse group, brings together Midlands’ faith communities to create an energy of peace and promote nuclear disarmament. The event, held on the anniversary of the first atomic bomb release in Hiroshima, Japan, serves as a crucial reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear warfare. It aims to educate attendees about the ongoing threat of nuclear weapons and inspire action towards a more peaceful world.
“This annual remembrance is more important than ever,” says event organizer Sallie Prugh, “As global tensions rise, it’s crucial that we come together to reflect on the past and work towards a future free from the threat of nuclear war. This event not only honors the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki but also empowers our community to become advocates for peace and nuclear disarmament.”
The evening will feature performances and presentations by notable artists, with a special focus on poetry and lyric verse. Poetry and lyric verse play a crucial role in this remembrance, offering a powerful medium to express complex emotions, preserve memory, and inspire empathy—elements that are essential in comprehending and conveying the profound impact of nuclear warfare. The evening will feature performances and presentations by notable artists:
Miho Kinnas, a Japanese poet, author, and translator. Kinnas, a 2019 and 2023 Pushcart Prize nominee, recently published a poetry collaboration with E. Ethelbert Miller titled “We Eclipse into The Other Side” (Pinyon Publishing, 2023). Her poem “Three Shrimp Boats On The Horizon,” initially published in Wet Cement Magazine, was selected for Best American Poetry 2023. Additional artists will be available when confirmed.
These artistic expressions aim to engage attendees emotionally and intellectually, fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of nuclear disarmament and peace-building efforts. The event will also include moments of silent reflection and opportunities for attendees to learn about promoting peace in their communities and beyond.(Carolina Peace Resource Center) The Hiroshima Remembrance event is free and open to the public, and all are invited to attend. It offers a unique opportunity for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to come together, learn from the past, and commit to building a more peaceful future.
For more information, please contact Sallie Prugh at 803-780-4197.